Dual inhibition of tumor cells and tumor-associated neutrophils by anti-CXCR2 antibodies suppresses tumor growth and augments immunotherapy efficacy in ARID1A-deficient pancreatic cancer
- 1National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is largely resistant to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) due to its highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. How to switch the “immune-cold” microenvironment to “immune hot” one is a clinical unmet need. We recently generated a genetically engineered PDAC mouse model (KAR) by combining K-Ras mutation and AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A (ARID1A) inactivation in the pancreas. Compared to the KPC (K-Ras mutation + p53 inactivation) tumors, KAR tumors express higher C-X-C chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) and have more CXCR2+ neutrophils infiltration. Our previous study demonstrated that activation of CXCR2 by its cognate ligands promotes proliferation and drug resistance in PDAC cells. In addition, increase in tumor-associated neutrophils and high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are associated with worse prognosis in PDAC patients. Here, we developed a monoclonal antibody against human CXCR2 (huCXCR2-Ab) and tested its therapeutic effect in cells and in animals. Treatment with huCXCR2-Ab inhibited IL-8–induced downstream signaling, and the proliferation of human PDAC cancer cells. In addition, huCXCR2-Ab suppressed PDAC growth in an orthotopic nude mouse model. We next developed a monoclonal antibody against mouse CXCR2 (muCXCR2-Ab) and investigated its immune regulatory effect in vivo. We showed that muCXCR2-Ab reduced tumor burden, increased CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration, and decreased immunosuppressive neutrophils in the KAR mice. Moreover, muCXCR2-Ab augments the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-L1. Thus, dual targeting of CXCR2+ tumor cells and tumor-associated neutrophils remodels tumor microenvironment and enhances immunotherapy response in ARID1A-deficient PDAC, providing a new strategy for precision therapy of PDAC.
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BibTeX
@article{kuo2026dual,
title = {{Dual inhibition of tumor cells and tumor-associated neutrophils by anti-CXCR2 antibodies suppresses tumor growth and augments immunotherapy efficacy in ARID1A-deficient pancreatic cancer}},
author = {Tzu-Lei Kuo and Kuan-Chung Hsiao and Ko-Jiunn Liu and Li-Tzong Chen and Wen-Chun Hung},
journal = {Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1007/s00262-026-04498-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-026-04498-6},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dual inhibition of tumor cells and tumor-associated neutrophils by anti-CXCR2 antibodies suppresses tumor growth and augments immunotherapy efficacy in ARID1A-deficient pancreatic cancer
AU - Tzu-Lei Kuo
AU - Kuan-Chung Hsiao
AU - Ko-Jiunn Liu
AU - Li-Tzong Chen
AU - Wen-Chun Hung
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
DO - 10.1007/s00262-026-04498-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-026-04498-6
AB - Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is largely resistant to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) due to its highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. How to switch the “immune-cold” microenvironment to “immune hot” one is a clinical unmet need. We recently generated a genetically engineered PDAC mouse model (KAR) by combining K-Ras mutation and AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A (ARID1A) inactivation in the pancreas. Compared to the KPC (K-Ras mutation + p53 inactivation) tumors, KAR tumors express higher C-X-C chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) and have more CXCR2+ neutrophils infiltration. Our previous study demonstrated that activation of CXCR2 by its cognate ligands promotes proliferation and drug resistance in PDAC cells. In addition, increase in tumor-associated neutrophils and high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are associated with worse prognosis in PDAC patients. Here, we developed a monoclonal antibody against human CXCR2 (huCXCR2-Ab) and tested its therapeutic effect in cells and in animals. Treatment with huCXCR2-Ab inhibited IL-8–induced downstream signaling, and the proliferation of human PDAC cancer cells. In addition, huCXCR2-Ab suppressed PDAC growth in an orthotopic nude mouse model. We next developed a monoclonal antibody against mouse CXCR2 (muCXCR2-Ab) and investigated its immune regulatory effect in vivo. We showed that muCXCR2-Ab reduced tumor burden, increased CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration, and decreased immunosuppressive neutrophils in the KAR mice. Moreover, muCXCR2-Ab augments the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-L1. Thus, dual targeting of CXCR2+ tumor cells and tumor-associated neutrophils remodels tumor microenvironment and enhances immunotherapy response in ARID1A-deficient PDAC, providing a new strategy for precision therapy of PDAC.
SN - 1432-0851
SN - 0340-7004
ER -