Combinatorial Immunotherapy with Agonistic CD40 Activates Dendritic Cells to Express IL12 and Overcomes PD-1 Resistance

Abstract Checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment, but resistance remains a significant clinical challenge. Myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment can modulate checkpoint resistance by either supporting or suppressing adaptive immune responses. Using an anti–PD-1–resistant mouse melanoma model, we show that targeting the myeloid compartment via CD40 activation and CSF1R blockade in combination with anti–PD-1 results in complete tumor regression in a majority of mice. This triple therapy combination was primarily CD40 agonist-driven in the first 24 hours after therapy and showed a similar systemic cytokine profile in human patients as was seen in mice. Functional single-cell cytokine secretion profiling of dendritic cells (DC) using a novel microwell assay identified a CCL22+CCL5+ IL12-secreting DC subset as important early-stage effectors of triple therapy. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are both critical effectors of treatment, and systems analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data supported a role for DC-secreted IL12 in priming T-cell activation and recruitment. Finally, we showed that treatment with a novel IL12 mRNA therapeutic alone was sufficient to overcome PD-1 resistance and cause tumor regression. Overall, we conclude that combining myeloid-based innate immune activation and enhancement of adaptive immunity is a viable strategy to overcome anti–PD-1 resistance.