Cited by 1,216Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkersinterferon and immune responsesImmunotherapy and Immune Responses

Tumor Interferon Signaling Regulates a Multigenic Resistance Program to Immune Checkpoint Blockade

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Benci, Joseph L., Xu, Bihui, Qiu, Yu, Wu, Tony J., Dada, Hannah, Twyman-Saint Victor, Christina, Cucolo, Lisa, Lee, David S.M. +11 more·2016·Cell

Abstract

Therapeutic blocking of the PD1 pathway results in significant tumor responses, but resistance is common. We demonstrate that prolonged interferon signaling orchestrates PDL1-dependent and PDL1-independent resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and to combinations such as radiation plus anti-CTLA4. Persistent type II interferon signaling allows tumors to acquire STAT1-related epigenomic changes and augments expression of interferon-stimulated genes and ligands for multiple T cell inhibitory receptors. Both type I and II interferons maintain this resistance program. Crippling the program genetically or pharmacologically interferes with multiple inhibitory pathways and expands distinct T cell populations with improved function despite expressing markers of severe exhaustion. Consequently, tumors resistant to multi-agent ICB are rendered responsive to ICB monotherapy. Finally, we observe that biomarkers for interferon-driven resistance associate with clinical progression after anti-PD1 therapy. Thus, the duration of tumor interferon signaling augments adaptive resistance and inhibition of the interferon response bypasses requirements for combinatorial ICB therapies.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2016.11.022

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  • IFNγ and TNFα are key effector cytokines that contribute to anti-tumour immune responses, and genes associated with IFN and TNF signaling pathways contribute to immune evasion.

    “IFN γ and TNF α are key effector cytokines that contribute to anti-tumour immune responses 9,11,27-30 , and genes associated with IFN and TNF signaling pathways contribute to immune evasion 4,9,29 .”

    From Targeting TBK1 to overcome resistance to cancer immunotherapy (2023) · cites this paper as [28]

    The Introduction says IFNγ favors rejection of highly immunogenic tumors, and the Discussion links sustained IFN signaling to adaptive immune resistance. The Results identify IFN-regulated inhibitory ligands and genes, but the cited passages do not establish the corresponding claims about TNFα or TNF signaling. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Chronic IFN signaling can promote an immune suppressive environment.

    “Chronic IFN signaling can also promote an immune suppressive environment126.”
  • The expression of PD-L1 and MHC II is regulated by tumor IFN signaling.

    “The expression of PD-L1 and MHC II, which may cause exhaustion by binding to T-cell programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3), respectively, is regulated by tumor interferon (IFN) signaling.”
  • In solid tumors, a tumor IFN-stimulated gene signature termed ISG.RS is associated with a multigenic program of T-cell exhaustion and worse outcomes after immune checkpoint blockade.

    “In solid tumors, a tumor IFN–stimulated gene signature termed ISG.RS is associated with a multigenic program of T-cell exhaustion and worse outcomes after immune checkpoint blockade.”
  • One part of this program is to increase tumor expression of multiple T-cell ligands that lead to exhaustion of T cells infiltrating the TME.

    “One part of this program is to increase tumor expression of multiple T-cell ligands that lead to exhaustion of T cells infiltrating the TME.”

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Authors
Benci, J. L., Xu, B., Qiu, Y., Wu, T. J., Dada, H., Twyman-Saint Victor, C., Cucolo, L., Lee, D. S. M., Pauken, K. E., Huang, A. C., Gangadhar, T. C., Amaravadi, R. K., Schuchter, L. M., Feldman, M. D., Ishwaran, H., Vonderheide, R. H., Maity, A., Wherry, E. J., & Minn, A. J.
Affiliations
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • University of Miami (US)
  • Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (US)
Corresponding author
Minn, Andy J.
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-12
Volume
167
Issue
6
Pages
1540-1554.e12
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2558219863
Cited by
1,216
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 150 · 2025: 124 · 2024: 127 · 2023: 135 · 2022: 128 · 2021: 140 · 2020: 140 · 2019: 114 · 2018: 92 · 2017: 64 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 1
FWCI
48.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Apollo
Funders
  • Melanoma Research Alliance
  • Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy
  • Robertson Foundation
  • Cancer Research Institute Irvington Fellowship
  • NIH (P50CA174523, R01CA163739, R01CA158186, P30CA016520, U19AI082630, R01AI105343, U01AI095608, P01AI112521)
  • Basser Research Center for BRCA
  • Abramson Cancer Center Translational Center of Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer
  • Department of Defense Era of Hope Scholar (W81XWH-09-1-0339)
  • NCI (R01CA172651)
  • Merck
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › interferon and immune responses
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
Keywords
immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance, type I interferon, interferon-gamma, PD-1 pathway, PD-L1, STAT1, interferon-stimulated genes, T cell inhibitory receptors, T cell exhaustion, radiotherapy, tumor immune microenvironment, resistance biomarkers, anti-PD-1 therapy
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Interferons, Melanoma, Neoplasm Transplantation, T-Lymphocytes, Radioimmunotherapy, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Cell Line, Tumor, STAT1 Transcription Factor, Mice, B7-H1 Antigen, CTLA-4 Antigen, Heterografts

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