Tumor-reprogrammed resident T cells resist radiation to control tumors

Ainhoa Arina, Michael Beckett, Christian Fernandez, Wenxin Zheng, Sean Pitroda, Steven J. Chmura, Jason J. Luke, Martin Forde, Yuzhu Hou, Byron Burnette, Helena Mauceri, Israel Lowy, Tasha Sims, Nikolai Khodarev, Yang Xin Fu, Ralph R. Weichselbaum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

146 Scopus citations

Abstract

Successful combinations of radiotherapy and immunotherapy depend on the presence of live T cells within the tumor; however, radiotherapy is believed to damage T cells. Here, based on longitudinal in vivo imaging and functional analysis, we report that a large proportion of T cells survive clinically relevant doses of radiation and show increased motility, and higher production of interferon gamma, compared with T cells from unirradiated tumors. Irradiated intratumoral T cells can mediate tumor control without newly-infiltrating T cells. Transcriptomic analysis suggests T cell reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment and similarities with tissue-resident memory T cells, which are more radio-resistant than circulating/lymphoid tissue T cells. TGFβ is a key upstream regulator of T cell reprogramming and contributes to intratumoral Tcell radio-resistance. These findings have implications for the design of radio-immunotherapy trials in that local irradiation is not inherently immunosuppressive, and irradiation of multiple tumors might optimize systemic effects of radiotherapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number3959
JournalNature communications
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Tumor-reprogrammed resident T cells resist radiation to control tumors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this