The absence of IL17A favours cytotoxic cell function and improves antigen-specific immunotherapies in pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The pancreatic tumour microenvironment (TME) is a complex ecosystem where tumour cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells interact, often in ways that contribute to tumour growth. The role of interleukin (IL17)A in pancreatic cancer progression is now more defined, and it is known to sustain a pro-tumoural microenvironment and inhibit the immune response. Here, we explore the effect of combining IL17A depletion with a cancer vaccine to enhance anti-tumour immunity. METHODS: We used genetically engineered mice proficient or deficient in IL17A, and orthotopically injected mice with pancreatic tumour cells depleted or not in IL17A, to examine the vaccine effects on tumour growth and immune responses. Both humoral and cellular immune responses were analysed following vaccination in IL17A-deficient and control mice. RESULTS: Mice lacking IL17A-either genetically or through pharmacological depletion-exhibited prolonged survival and smaller tumours, compared to vaccinated controls. Vaccination in IL17A-deficient mice significantly increased the influx of immune cells, including Natural Killer (NK) and effector/memory CD8 T cells, which displayed higher cytotoxic activity. CD8 T-cell depletion in these models notably reduced vaccine efficacy, underscoring the essential role of these cells. NK cell depletion in untreated models further demonstrated NK cells' critical function in controlling tumour growth when IL17A was absent. Overall, IL17A depletion enhanced both antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, indicating a shift towards a more robust and responsive immune environment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal that the absence of IL17A in the pancreatic TME reprograms it into a more immune-supportive environment, favouring the recruitment of effector/memory immune cells upon vaccination. This approach paves the way for novel therapeutic combinations in pancreatic cancer, where IL17A depletion may boost both immunotherapy efficacy and anti-tumour responses.
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BibTeX
@article{tiberi2026absence,
title = {{The absence of IL17A favours cytotoxic cell function and improves antigen-specific immunotherapies in pancreatic adenocarcinoma}},
author = {Giorgia Tiberi and Alessandro Scagliotti and Claudia Curcio and Ermes Candiello and Paula Ariadna Diez Villegas and Silvia Brugiapaglia and Gianluca Mucciolo and Cecilia Roux and Giancarlo Castellano and Roberta Curto and Maddalena Arigoni and Raffaele A. Calogero and Giuseppina Barutello and Niccolò Bolli and Mauro Giulio Papotti and Giulia Adriani and Francesco Novelli and Paola Cappello},
journal = {Clinical and Translational Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/ctm2.70442},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05776449v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The absence of IL17A favours cytotoxic cell function and improves antigen-specific immunotherapies in pancreatic adenocarcinoma
AU - Giorgia Tiberi
AU - Alessandro Scagliotti
AU - Claudia Curcio
AU - Ermes Candiello
AU - Paula Ariadna Diez Villegas
AU - Silvia Brugiapaglia
AU - Gianluca Mucciolo
AU - Cecilia Roux
AU - Giancarlo Castellano
AU - Roberta Curto
AU - Maddalena Arigoni
AU - Raffaele A. Calogero
AU - Giuseppina Barutello
AU - Niccolò Bolli
AU - Mauro Giulio Papotti
AU - Giulia Adriani
AU - Francesco Novelli
AU - Paola Cappello
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/03
JO - Clinical and Translational Medicine
DO - 10.1002/ctm2.70442
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05776449v1
AB - BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The pancreatic tumour microenvironment (TME) is a complex ecosystem where tumour cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells interact, often in ways that contribute to tumour growth. The role of interleukin (IL17)A in pancreatic cancer progression is now more defined, and it is known to sustain a pro-tumoural microenvironment and inhibit the immune response. Here, we explore the effect of combining IL17A depletion with a cancer vaccine to enhance anti-tumour immunity. METHODS: We used genetically engineered mice proficient or deficient in IL17A, and orthotopically injected mice with pancreatic tumour cells depleted or not in IL17A, to examine the vaccine effects on tumour growth and immune responses. Both humoral and cellular immune responses were analysed following vaccination in IL17A-deficient and control mice. RESULTS: Mice lacking IL17A-either genetically or through pharmacological depletion-exhibited prolonged survival and smaller tumours, compared to vaccinated controls. Vaccination in IL17A-deficient mice significantly increased the influx of immune cells, including Natural Killer (NK) and effector/memory CD8 T cells, which displayed higher cytotoxic activity. CD8 T-cell depletion in these models notably reduced vaccine efficacy, underscoring the essential role of these cells. NK cell depletion in untreated models further demonstrated NK cells' critical function in controlling tumour growth when IL17A was absent. Overall, IL17A depletion enhanced both antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, indicating a shift towards a more robust and responsive immune environment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal that the absence of IL17A in the pancreatic TME reprograms it into a more immune-supportive environment, favouring the recruitment of effector/memory immune cells upon vaccination. This approach paves the way for novel therapeutic combinations in pancreatic cancer, where IL17A depletion may boost both immunotherapy efficacy and anti-tumour responses.
SN - 2001-1326
ER -