Anti-4-1BB antibody-based combination therapy augments antitumor immunity by enhancing CD11c+CD8+ T cells in renal cell carcinoma

To improve the potential treatment strategies of incurable renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the present study established a combination therapy with immunostimulatory factor (ISTF) and anti-4-1BB monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to augment the antitumor response in a murine RCC model. ISTF isolated from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans stimulates macrophages, dendritic cells and B cells to produce IL-6, TNF-α, nitric oxide and major histocompatibility complex class II expression. 4-1BB (CD137) is expressed in activated immune cells, including activated T cells, and is a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. The administration of anti-4-1BB mAbs promoted antitumor immunity via enhancing CD11c⁺CD8⁺ T cells. The CD11c⁺CD8⁺ T cells were characterized by high killing activity and IFN-γ-producing ability, representing a phenotype of active effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The present study showed that combination therapy with ISTF and anti-4-1BB mAbs promoted partial tumor regression with established RCC, but monotherapy with ISTF or anti-4-1BB mAbs did not. These effects were speculated to be caused by the increase in CD11c⁺CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen and tumor, and IFN-γ production. These insights into the effector mechanisms of the combination of ISTF and anti-4-1BB mAbs may be useful for targeting incurable RCC.