Macrophage-tumor chimeric exosomes accumulate in lymph node and tumor to activate the immune response and the tumor microenvironment

Despite multiple immunotherapeutic technologies that achieve potent T cell activation, effector T cells still lack efficiency because of the highly immunosuppressive conditions in the tumor microenvironment. Inspired by recent advances in nano-sized secreted vesicles known as exosomes as therapeutic agents and research revealing that circulating cancer cells have a homing capacity to return to the main tumor sites, we generated macrophage-tumor hybrid cells. We introduced nuclei isolated from tumor cells into activated M1-like macrophages to produce chimeric exosomes (aMT-exos). The aMT-exos were able to accumulate in both lymph nodes and diverse tumors of xenograft mice. They entered lymph nodes and primed T cell activation in both the classical antigen-presenting cell-induced immunostimulatory manner and a unique direct exosome interactionmanner. aMT-exos also had strong homing behavior to tumor sites, where they ameliorated immunosuppression. They were effective in inducing tumor regression and extending survival in primary mouse models of lymphoma and breast and melanoma cancers. In addition, when combined with anti-programmed death 1 (a-PD1) treatment, aMT-exos were able to extend survival of metastatic and postsurgical tumor recurrence mouse models. Such a coactivation of the immune response and the tumor microenvironment enabled aMT-exos to confer efficient inhibition of primary tumors, tumor metastases, and postoperative tumor recurrence for personalized immunotherapy, which warrants further exploration in the clinical setting.

Automated summary

A novel approach using macrophage-tumor hybrid cells to produce chimeric exosomes that can accumulate in lymph nodes and various tumors, demonstrating effectiveness in inducing tumor regression and improving survival in mouse models. Combination with anti-programmed death 1 (a-PD1) treatment further extends survival in metastatic and postsurgical tumor recurrence models, highlighting potential for personalized immunotherapy.