A vaccine targeting resistant tumours by dual T cell plus NK cell attack

Nature. 2022 Jun;606(7916):992-998. doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-04772-4. Epub 2022 May 25.

Abstract

Most cancer vaccines target peptide antigens, necessitating personalization owing to the vast inter-individual diversity in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules that present peptides to T cells. Furthermore, tumours frequently escape T cell-mediated immunity through mechanisms that interfere with peptide presentation1. Here we report a cancer vaccine that induces a coordinated attack by diverse T cell and natural killer (NK) cell populations. The vaccine targets the MICA and MICB (MICA/B) stress proteins expressed by many human cancers as a result of DNA damage2. MICA/B serve as ligands for the activating NKG2D receptor on T cells and NK cells, but tumours evade immune recognition by proteolytic MICA/B cleavage3,4. Vaccine-induced antibodies increase the density of MICA/B proteins on the surface of tumour cells by inhibiting proteolytic shedding, enhance presentation of tumour antigens by dendritic cells to T cells and augment the cytotoxic function of NK cells. Notably, this vaccine maintains efficacy against MHC class I-deficient tumours resistant to cytotoxic T cells through the coordinated action of NK cells and CD4+ T cells. The vaccine is also efficacious in a clinically important setting: immunization following surgical removal of primary, highly metastatic tumours inhibits the later outgrowth of metastases. This vaccine design enables protective immunity even against tumours with common escape mutations.

MeSH terms

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes*
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / prevention & control
  • Skin Diseases, Genetic*
  • Vaccines*

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
  • Vaccines

Supplementary concepts

  • VEXAS syndrome