Tumor-infiltrating mast cells are associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy

Anti-PD-1 therapy is used as a front-line treatment for many cancers, but mechanistic insight into this therapy resistance is still lacking. Here we generate a humanized (Hu)-mouse melanoma model by injecting fetal liver-derived CD34(+) cells and implanting autologous thymus in immune-deficient NOD-scid IL2R gamma(null) (NSG) mice. Reconstituted Hu-mice are challenged with HLA-matched melanomas and treated with anti-PD-1, which results in restricted tumor growth but not complete regression. Tumor RNA-seq, multiplexed imaging and immunohistology staining show high expression of chemokines, as well as recruitment of FOXP3(+) Treg and mast cells, in selective tumor regions. Reduced HLA-class I expression and CD8(+)/Granz B+ T cells homeostasis are observed in tumor regions where FOXP3(+) Treg and mast cells co-localize, with such features associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 treatment. Combining anti-PD-1 with sunitinib or imatinib results in the depletion of mast cells and complete regression of tumors. Our results thus implicate mast cell depletion for improving the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy.

Automated summary

The study established a humanized mouse melanoma model and found high expression of chemokines in specific tumor regions, which is associated with resistance to PD-1 therapy. Further investigations showed reduced HLA-class I expression and CD8/Granz B+ T cell homeostasis in tumor areas where FOXP3 regulatory T cells and mast cells co-localize.