APR-246 increases tumor antigenicity independent of p53.

TitleAPR-246 increases tumor antigenicity independent of p53.
Publication TypeJournal
Year of Publication2024
AuthorsMichels J, Venkatesh D, Liu C, Budhu S, Zhong H, George MM, Thach D, Yao Z-K, Ouerfelli O, Liu H, Stockwell BR, Campesato LFelipe, Zamarin D, Zappasodi R, Wolchok JD, Merghoub T
KeywordsAnimals, Antigens, Neoplasm, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Melanoma, Mice, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
Abstract

We previously reported that activation of p53 by APR-246 reprograms tumor-associated macrophages to overcome immune checkpoint blockade resistance. Here, we demonstrate that APR-246 and its active moiety, methylene quinuclidinone (MQ) can enhance the immunogenicity of tumor cells directly. MQ treatment of murine B16F10 melanoma cells promoted activation of melanoma-specific CD8+ T cells and increased the efficacy of a tumor cell vaccine using MQ-treated cells even when the B16F10 cells lacked p53. We then designed a novel combination of APR-246 with the TLR-4 agonist, monophosphoryl lipid A, and a CD40 agonist to further enhance these immunogenic effects and demonstrated a significant antitumor response. We propose that the immunogenic effect of MQ can be linked to its thiol-reactive alkylating ability as we observed similar immunogenic effects with the broad-spectrum cysteine-reactive compound, iodoacetamide. Our results thus indicate that combination of APR-246 with immunomodulatory agents may elicit effective antitumor immune response irrespective of the tumor's p53 mutation status.

DOI10.26508/lsa.202301999
PubMed ID37891002
PubMed Central IDPMC10610029
Grant ListP30 CA008748 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States