ERBB2 signaling drives immune cell evasion and resistance against immunotherapy in small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Abstract Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by its highly aggressive phenotype and dismal outcome. Despite the benefit of adding immune checkpoint blockade to standard chemotherapy, tumors acquire the ability to evade immunosurveillance and develop resistance. To investigate these underlying mechanisms, we perform high-dimensional profiling of human and murine SCLC specimens. In matched primary and metastatic human samples, we observe MHC-I loss in metastases, highlighting its role in immune evasion. Correspondingly, silencing MHC-I in SCLC cells drastically reduces immune infiltration and promotes metastasis in mice. Using mass spectrometry and phospho-tyrosine kinase analyses, we identify ERBB2 signaling as a suppressor of MHC-I and driver of immune-modulatory transcripts. Mechanistically, genetic and pharmacologic blockade of ERBB2 induces MHC-I in a STING-dependent manner and prevents immune evasion in autochthonous murine SCLC. Strikingly, combining ERBB2 inhibition with anti-PD-1 elicits profound synergistic responses in preclinical models, suggesting this combination for future clinical trials in SCLC patients.

Affiliated Institutions

• Goethe University Frankfurt DE
• Freie Universität Berlin DE
• Universitätsklinikum Erlangen DE
• German Cancer Research Center DE
• Frankfurt Cancer Institute DE
• Deutschen Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin DE
• Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin DE
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg DE
• University Hospital Bonn DE
• Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen DE
• University Hospital Cologne DE
• University of Cologne DE
• Heidelberg University DE

Related Publications