Inhibition of Colony-Stimulating Factor-1 Receptor Enhances the Efficacy of Radiotherapy and Reduces Immune Suppression in Glioblastoma

Aim: To use inhibition of colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-IR) to target tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and improve the efficacy of radiotherapy in glioblastoma (GBM). Materials and Methods: The CSF-IR inhibitor BLZ-945 was used to examine the impact of CSF-IR inhibition on M2 polarization in vitro. Using an orthotopic, immunocompetent GBM model, mice were treated with vehicle, RT, BLZ-945, or RT plus BLZ-945. Results: BLZ-945 reduced M2 polarization in vitro. BLZ-945 alone did not improve median overall survival (mOS=29 days) compared to control mice (mOS=27 days). RT improved survival (mOS=45 days; p=0.02), while RT plus BLZ-945 led to the longest survival (mOS=not reached; p=0.005). Resected tumors had a relatively large population of M2 TAMs in GBM at baseline, which was increased in response to RT. BLZ-945 reduced RT-induced M2 infiltration. Conclusion: Inhibition of CSF-IR improved response to RT in the treatment of GBM and may represent a promising strategy to improve RT-induced antitumor immune responses.

Automated summary

Inhibition of CSF-IR improved the response to radiotherapy in treating GBM by reducing M2 polarization, with the combination of radiotherapy and BLZ-945 leading to the longest survival in mouse models. Ultimately, targeting TAMs through CSF-IR inhibition may enhance the antitumor immune response induced by radiotherapy.