HKUMed uncovers an unexpected T cell exhaustion factor driving cancer immunotherapy resistance

A research team from the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has identified an unexpected driver of cancer immunotherapy resistance: the harmful effect of chronic Type I Interferon signalling on tumour-killing CD8⁺ T cells. These findings provided new insights into the development of exhausted CD8⁺ T cells, which no longer effectively limit tumour growth, and highlighted a new target for immunotherapy improvement. The research has been published in Cell Reports [link to publication].

Background

Immunotherapy, where drugs reactivate the body’s immune system to fight diseases, is an increasingly popular first-line treatment against various cancers. While numerous cancer patients have benefited from it, the majority are still non-responsive to the therapy, or rapidly develop therapy resistance. The current dismal effective response rate of 20%-30% is the result of many unknown contributing factors.

Cancer is usually kept in check by the anti-tumour effector functions of CD8⁺ T cells. When these cancer-fighting T cells become exhausted (exhausted CD8⁺ T cells, Tex), the protective response fades away, thus allowing the tumour to undergo immune escape and grow uncontrollably. Preventing and reversing Tex is the primary goal of cancer immunotherapy. However, with the terminal development of Tex resistant to immunotherapy, its efficacy is limited to 20-30%. The research aims to understand the drivers of terminal Tex, and uncover new therapeutic targets to improve cancer immunotherapy.

Research findings

The research team uncovered a surprising detrimental effect of chronic Type I Interferon (IFN-I)^[1] exposure on Tex development and immunotherapy resistance. Cancer patients resistant to immunotherapy also tended to exhibit higher levels of IFN-I signalling.

Through re-analysis of public patient datasets,^[2] immune cell culture, and animal models, the research team showed that chronic IFN-I signalling drove CD8⁺ T cell fate commitment towards terminal exhaustion via promoting lipid peroxidation (LPO), cumulating in therapy resistance.^[3]

Research significance

Dr Heidi Ling Guang Sheng, Assistant Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, HKUMed and her team identified that the detrimental IFN-I-LPO pathway can be used to advise patients’ treatment regimens by serving as a biomarker, thus improving the personalisation of patient therapy. Moreover, further study of the role of IFN-I opens up avenues for new treatment options to improve patient immunotherapy response.

‘These research findings pave the way for new approaches to improve immunotherapy efficacy against cancer. Nevertheless, clinical trials must be conducted to validate the timing, efficacy and safety of IFN-I blockade,’ remarked Dr Ling.

About the research team

This research was led by Dr Heidi Ling Guang Sheng, Assistant Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, HKUMed. Chen Weixin, PhD student, was the first author, with assistance from Teo Jia Ming Nickolas, PhD student; Yau Siu-wah, research assistant; and Dr Melody Wong Yee-man, technical manager, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation. Other collaborators included Dr Lok Chun-nam, Professor Che Chi-ming, the State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, HKU; Dr Javed Asif, Dr Huang Yuanhua and Professor Stephanie Ma Kwai-yee, School of Biomedical Sciences, HKUMed.

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by grants from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (Early Career Scheme (ECS 27118520); General Research Fund (GRF 17116622); and Research Fellow Scheme (RFS2122-7S05)).

Media enquiries

Please contact LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong by email ([email protected]).

_{[1]  IFN-Is are a group of small molecules that influence the function of CD8⁺ T cell. During viral infections, they activate the immune system and boost the functionality of CD8⁺ T cells to promote viral clearance. Hence, IFN-I has been thought to benefit the cancer-fighting abilities of CD8⁺ T cells.}

_{[2] Public patient datasets include The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) database (https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/ccg/research/structural-genomics/tcga) and gene expression database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/) of National Center for Biotechnology Information.}

_{[3] The researchers observed that prolonged IFN-I stimulation resulted in both increased fatty acid uptake and disrupted fatty acid usage in CD8⁺ T cells. This altered metabolism resulted in increased levels of lipid peroxides and potentiated the metabolic and functional exhaustion of CD8⁺ T cells in cancer.}