Tumor lymphatic function regulates tumor inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironments Journal Article


Authors: Kataru, R. P.; Ly, C. L.; Shin, J.; Park, H. J.; Baik, J. E.; Rehal, S.; Ortega, S.; Lyden, D.; Mehrara, B. J.
Article Title: Tumor lymphatic function regulates tumor inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironments
Abstract: Proliferation of aberrant, dysfunctional lymphatic vessels around solid tumors is a common histologic finding. Studies have shown that abnormalities in lymphatic function result in accumulation of inflammatory cells with an immunosuppressive profile. We tested the hypothesis that dysfunctional lymphatic vessels surrounding solid tumors regulate changes in the tumor microenvironment and tumor-specific immune responses. Using subcutaneously implanted mouse melanoma and breast cancer tumors in a lymphatic endothelial cell-specific diphtheria toxin receptor transgenic mouse, we found that local ablation of lymphatic vessels increased peritumoral edema, as compared with controls. Comparative analysis of the peritumoral fluid demonstrated increases in the number of macrophages, CD4+ inflammatory cells, F4/80+/Gr-1+ (myeloid-derived suppressor cells), CD4+/ Foxp3+ (Tregs) immunosuppressive cells, and expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα, IFNγ, and IL1b following lymphatic ablation. Tumors grown in lymphatic ablated mice exhibited reduced intratumoral accumulation of cytotoxic T cells and increased tumor PD-L1 expression, causing rapid tumor growth, compared with tumors grown in nonlymphatic-ablated mice. Our study suggests that lymphatic dysfunction plays a role in regulating tumor microenvironments and may be therapeutically targeted in combination with immunotherapy to prevent tumor growth and progression. © 2019 American Association for Cancer Research.
Journal Title: Cancer Immunology Research
Volume: 7
Issue: 8
ISSN: 2326-6066
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 2019-08-01
Start Page: 1345
End Page: 1358
Language: English
DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.Cir-18-0337
PUBMED: 31186247
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC6677612
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Babak Mehrara
    449 Mehrara
  2. Raghu Prasad Kataru
    61 Kataru
  3. Catherine L Ly
    15 Ly
  4. Sonia Rehal
    5 Rehal
  5. Jungeun Baik
    13 Baik
  6. Hyeung Ju Park
    20 Park
  7. Jinyeon Shin
    22 Shin