Breast cancer cells survive chemotherapy by activating targetable immune-modulatory programs characterized by PD-L1 or CD80

Breast cancer cells must avoid intrinsic and extrinsic cell death to relapse following chemotherapy. Entering senescence enables survival from mitotic catastrophe, apoptosis and nutrient deprivation, but mechanisms of immune evasion are poorly understood. Here we show that breast tumors surviving chemotherapy activate complex programs of immune modulation. Characterization of residual disease revealed distinct tumor cell populations. The first population was characterized by interferon response genes, typified by Cd274, whose expression required chemotherapy to enhance chromatin accessibility, enabling recruitment of IRF1 transcription factor. A second population was characterized by p53 signaling, typified by CD80 expression. Treating mammary tumors with chemotherapy followed by targeting the PD-L1 and/or CD80 axes resulted in marked accumulation of T cells and improved response; however, even combination strategies failed to fully eradicate tumors in the majority of cases. Our findings reveal the challenge of eliminating residual disease populated by senescent cells expressing redundant immune inhibitory pathways and highlight the need for rational immune targeting strategies.

Automated summary

Breast cancer cells surviving chemotherapy activate complex immune modulation programs, with residual disease characterized by interferon response genes and p53 signaling.