Tumor-targeted self-assembled micelles reducing PD-L1 expression combined with ICIs to enhance chemo-immunotherapy of TNBC

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy targeting programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) had exhibited significant clinical benefits for cancer treatment such as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the relatively low anti-tumor immune response rate and ICIs drug resistance highlight the necessity of developing ICIs combination therapy strategies to improve the anti-tumor effect of immunotherapy. Herein, the immunomodulator epigallocatechin gallate palmitate (PEGCG) and the immunoadjuvant metformin (MET) self-assembled into tumor-targeted micelles via hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction, which encapsulated the therapeutic agents doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded PEGCG-MET micelles (PMD) and combined with ICIs (anti-PD-1 antibody) as therapeutic strategy to reduce the endogenous expression of PD-L1 and improve the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. The results presented that PMD integrated chemotherapy and immunotherapy to enhance antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo, compared with DOX or anti-PD-1 antibody for the therapy of TNBC. PMD micelles might be a potential candidate, which could remedy the shortcomings of antibody-based ICIs and provide synergistic effect to enhance the antitumor effects of ICIs in tumor therapy.