Open AccessThe effect of low-dose chemotherapy on the tumor microenvironment and its antitumor activity combined with anti-PD-1 antibody
Author(s) -
Feng-Sheng Lin,
Hao Chen,
Tao Jiang,
Jie Zheng,
Qin Liu,
Baofeng Yang,
Xinli Wang,
Xiaoyan Lin
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
immunotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.127
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1750-7448
pISSN - 1750-743X
DOI - 10.2217/imt-2021-0018
Subject(s) - tumor microenvironment , cd8 , cancer research , immune system , medicine , antibody , cancer , chemotherapy , cytotoxic t cell , immunology , flow cytometry , chemistry , in vitro , biochemistry
Aim: This study aimed to explore the effects of low-dose chemotherapy in the tumor microenvironment (TME) on a gastric cancer xenograft and its antitumor activity combined with the anti-PD-1 antibody. Materials & methods: Mice with gastric cancer were divided into four groups. The body weight and tumor volume of the mice were recorded. The TME was analyzed using flow cytometry. Results: Low-dose paclitaxel increased the PD-L1 expression level and the number of CD8 + T cells, but not the CD4 + T and myeloid-derived suppressor cells or PD-1 + CD8 + T cells in the TME. Low-dose 5-fluorouracil reduced the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and PD-1 + CD8 + T cells, but the PD-L1 expression level and the number of CD4 + T and CD8 + T cells did not change in the TME. The anti-PD-1 antibody inhibited tumor growth, but the combination therapy did not show superior antitumor activity. Conclusion: Low-dose chemotherapy altered the TME but failed to improve the responses to the anti-PD-1 antibody.