Immune Activation in Mismatch Repair-Deficient Carcinogenesis: More Than Just Mutational Rate.

TitleImmune Activation in Mismatch Repair-Deficient Carcinogenesis: More Than Just Mutational Rate.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsWillis, JA, Reyes-Uribe, L, Chang, K, Lipkin, SM, Vilar, E
JournalClin Cancer Res
Volume26
Issue1
Pagination11-17
Date Published2020 Jan 01
ISSN1078-0432
Abstract

Mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient colorectal cancers (dMMR colorectal cancer) are characterized by the expression of highly immunogenic neoantigen peptides, which stimulate lymphocytic infiltration as well as upregulation of inflammatory cytokines. These features are key to understanding why immunotherapy (specifically PD-1 and/or CTLA-4 checkpoint blockade) has proved to be highly effective for the treatment of patients with advanced dMMR colorectal cancer. Importantly, preclinical studies also suggest that this correlation between potent tumor neoantigens and the immune microenvironment is present in early (premalignant) stages of dMMR colorectal tumorigenesis as well, even in the absence of a high somatic mutation burden. Here, we discuss recent efforts to characterize how neoantigens and the tumor immune microenvironment coevolve throughout the dMMR adenoma-to-carcinoma pathway. We further highlight how this preclinical evidence forms the rational basis for developing novel immunotherapy-based colorectal cancer prevention strategies for patients with Lynch syndrome.

DOI10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-18-0856
Alternate JournalClin. Cancer Res.
PubMed ID31383734
PubMed Central IDPMC6942620
Grant ListR01 CA219463 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U01 CA233056 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
T32 CA009666 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P30 CA016672 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R25 CA057730 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States