Copenhagen, Denmark
Onsite/Online

ESTRO 2022

Session Item

Immuno-radiobiology
8010
Poster (digital)
Radiobiology
M1 microglia polarization induced by radiotherapy and dendritic cell immunotherapy combination.
Valentina Pinzi , Italy
PO-1827

Abstract

M1 microglia polarization induced by radiotherapy and dendritic cell immunotherapy combination.
Authors:

Valentina Pinzi1,2, Natalia Di Ianni3, Maria Luisa Fumagalli4, Martina Maffezzini3, Laura Fariselli5, Serena Pellegatta3

1Fondazione IRCCS Istituto neurologico Carlo Besta, Neurosurgery, Radiotherapy Unit, Milan, Italy; 2University of Milan-Bicocca, Neuroscience, Milan, Italy; 3Fondazione IRCCS Istituto neurologico Carlo Besta, Unit of Immunotherapy of Brain Tumors, Unit of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Milan, Italy; 4Fondazione IRCCS Istituto neurologico Carlo Besta, Health Department, Milan, Italy; 5Fondazione IRCCS Istituto neurologico Carlo Besta, Radiotherapy Unit, Neurosurgery Department, Milan, Italy

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Purpose or Objective

Radiotherapy (RT), providing immunomodulation on tumor microenvironment, can increase the sensitivity to the specific immune response of cold tumors such as glioblastoma (GBM). To investigate the RT effects as both exclusive and combinatorial strategies with immunotherapy (IT), we treated immune-competent glioma-bearing mice with both local fractionated RT and RT followed by dendritic cell (DC) IT.

Material and Methods

GL261-glioma bearing mice were locally irradiated with a total dose of 15 Gy in 3 consecutive fractions of 5 Gy on day 7, 8, and 9 after tumor implantation. For combinatorial treatment, DC-IT were injected subcutaneously on day 16, 23, and 30 after tumor implantation. Changes in tumor microenvironment were investigated by assessing microglial and chemokine gene expression on gliomas of RT, RT-IT treated and control mice. The microglia cells from explanted tumours were analyzed as well.

Results

RT promoted a polarization from M2 to M1 of microglia/macrophages (GAMs) within the microenvironment, characterized by increased production of pro-inflammatory antitumor cytokines such as TNF-α and IFN-γ and high level of iNOS. Indeed, M2 phenotype markers, TGF-β1 and IL-10, were significantly decreased in irradiated mice at the earlier time point (day 16). Moreover, RT-IT influenced CD45dim/CD11b+/CD172A+ microglia activation, characterized by a M1 signature, and CD4+ T cells recruitment as well as a robust infiltration of CD8+ T cells. The overall survival of glioma-bearing mice was higher in the RT-IT group. 

Conclusion

Our preliminary data suggest that the RT-IT combination is efficient in promoting a proinflammatory microenvironment and re-educating microglia as anti-tumor effector cells.