Improving combination therapies: targeting A2B-adenosine receptor to modulate metabolic tumor microenvironment and immunosuppression

Authors

Jason V. Evans, Department of Internal Medicine, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Shankar Suman, Department of Internal Medicine, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Mounika Uttam Goruganthu, Department of Internal Medicine, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Elena E. Tchekneva, Department of Internal Medicine, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Shuxiao Guan, Department of Internal Medicine, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Rajeswara Rao Arasada, Department of Internal Medicine, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Anneliese Antonucci, Department of Internal Medicine, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Longzhu Piao, Department of Internal Medicine, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Sergey Ryzhov, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, Maine USA.Follow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-8-2023

Institution/Department

MaineHealth Institute for Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, Oncology

Journal Title

Journal of the National Cancer Institute

MeSH Headings

Humans; Animals; Mice; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy); Receptor, Adenosine A2B (metabolism); Tumor Microenvironment; Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology); Immunosuppression Therapy; Adenosine (metabolism); Phosphates; Cell Line, Tumor

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We investigated the role of A2B-adenosine receptor in regulating immunosuppressive metabolic stress in the tumor microenvironment. Novel A2B-adenosine receptor antagonist PBF-1129 was tested for antitumor activity in mice and evaluated for safety and immunologic efficacy in a phase I clinical trial of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: The antitumor efficacy of A2B-adenosine receptor antagonists and their impact on the metabolic and immune tumor microenvironment were evaluated in lung, melanoma, colon, breast, and epidermal growth factor receptor-inducible transgenic cancer models. Employing electron paramagnetic resonance, we assessed changes in tumor microenvironment metabolic parameters, including pO2, pH, and inorganic phosphate, during tumor growth and evaluated the immunologic effects of PBF-1129, including its pharmacokinetics, safety, and toxicity, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. RESULTS: Levels of metabolic stress correlated with tumor growth, metastasis, and immunosuppression. Tumor interstitial inorganic phosphate emerged as a correlative and cumulative measure of tumor microenvironment stress and immunosuppression. A2B-adenosine receptor inhibition alleviated metabolic stress, downregulated expression of adenosine-generating ectonucleotidases, increased expression of adenosine deaminase, decreased tumor growth and metastasis, increased interferon γ production, and enhanced the efficacy of antitumor therapies following combination regimens in animal models (anti-programmed cell death 1 protein vs anti-programmed cell death 1 protein plus PBF-1129 treatment hazard ratio = 11.74 [95% confidence interval = 3.35 to 41.13], n = 10, P < .001, 2-sided F test). In patients with non-small cell lung cancer, PBF-1129 was well tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities; demonstrated pharmacologic efficacy; modulated the adenosine generation system; and improved antitumor immunity. CONCLUSIONS: Data identify A2B-adenosine receptor as a valuable therapeutic target to modify metabolic and immune tumor microenvironment to reduce immunosuppression, enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies, and support clinical application of PBF-1129 in combination therapies.

First Page

1404

Last Page

1419

Recommended Citation

Evans JV, Suman S, Goruganthu MUL, et al. Improving combination therapies: targeting A2B-adenosine receptor to modulate metabolic tumor microenvironment and immunosuppression. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023;115(11):1404-1419. doi:10.1093/jnci/djad091