Key role for neutrophils in radiation-induced antitumor immune responses: Potentiation with G-CSF

Tsuguhide Takeshima, Laurentiu M. Pop, Aaron Laine, Puneeth Iyengar, Ellen S. Vitetta, Raquibul Hannan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

119 Scopus citations

Abstract

Radiation therapy (RT), a major modality for treating localized tumors, can induce tumor regression outside the radiation field through an abscopal effect that is thought to involve the immune system. Our studies were designed to understand the early immunological effects of RT in the tumor microenvironment using several syngeneic mouse tumor models. We observed that RT induced sterile inflammation with a rapid and transient infiltration of CD11b+Gr-1high+ neutrophils into the tumors. RT-recruited tumor-associated neutrophils (RT-Ns) exhibited an increased production of reactive oxygen species and induced apoptosis of tumor cells. Tumor infiltration of RT-Ns resulted in sterile inflammation and, eventually, the activation of tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells, their recruitment into the tumor site, and tumor regression. Finally, the concurrent administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) enhanced RT-mediated antitumor activity by activating RT-Ns. Our results suggest that the combination of RT and G-CSF should be further evaluated in preclinical and clinical settings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11300-11305
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume113
Issue number40
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 4 2016

Keywords

  • G-CSF
  • Radiation therapy
  • Tumor-associated neutrophils

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Key role for neutrophils in radiation-induced antitumor immune responses: Potentiation with G-CSF'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this