STING agonist enhances the efficacy of programmed death-ligand 1 monoclonal antibody in breast cancer immunotherapy by activating the interferon-β signalling pathway

• Published in: Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) Tex.), 2022-04, Vol.21 (8), p.767-779
• Main Authors: Yin, Mingming, Hu, Jinlong, Yuan, Zhongxu, Luo, Guangyi, Yao, Jiaming, Wang, Rundong, Liu, Dongquan, Cao, Baoqiang, Wu, Wenyong, Hu, Zhiqi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - pharmacology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Atezolizumab; B7-H1 Antigen; BCa immunotherapy; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Female; Humans; IFN-β; Immunotherapy; Interferon-beta; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Mice; PD-L1; Research Paper; Signal Transduction; STING agonist
• ISSN: 1538-4101; 1551-4005
• DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2029996

This study aimed to explore the role of a stimulator of interferon (IFN) gene (STING) agonist in breast cancer (BCa) immunotherapy. Clinical samples were collected from 37 patients with BCa. A tumor-bearing mouse model was established by injecting 4T1 cells into the mammary fat pad of mice. STING agonist and atezolizumab were injected in the mice twice a week for 2 weeks. Peripheral blood, tumor mass, lung, liver, brain cortex and kidney samples of the tumor-bearing mice were collected. Anti-IFN alpha receptor subunit 1 (IFNAR1) was used to treat 4T1 cells. Tumor tissues of patients with BCa exhibited lower STING and high programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed death-ligand 1 protein expressions. The STING agonist inhibited 4T1 cell growth in mice (P