Epigenetic reprogramming sensitizes immunologically silent EBV+ lymphomas to virus-directed immunotherapy.

TitleEpigenetic reprogramming sensitizes immunologically silent EBV+ lymphomas to virus-directed immunotherapy.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsDalton T, Doubrovina E, Pankov D, Reynolds R, Scholze H, Selvakumar A, Vizconde T, Savalia B, Dyomin V, Weigel C, Oakes CC, Alonso A, Elemento O, Pan H, Phillip JM, O'Reilly RJ, Gewurz BE, Cesarman E, Giulino-Roth L
JournalBlood
Volume135
Issue21
Pagination1870-1881
Date Published2020 May 21
ISSN1528-0020
KeywordsAnimals, Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic, Apoptosis, Burkitt Lymphoma, Cell Proliferation, Decitabine, Epigenesis, Genetic, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections, Herpesvirus 4, Human, Humans, Immunotherapy, Mice, Mice, Inbred NOD, Mice, SCID, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, Tumor Cells, Cultured, Viral Proteins, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
Abstract

Despite advances in T-cell immunotherapy against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected lymphomas that express the full EBV latency III program, a critical barrier has been that most EBV+ lymphomas express the latency I program, in which the single Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA1) is produced. EBNA1 is poorly immunogenic, enabling tumors to evade immune responses. Using a high-throughput screen, we identified decitabine as a potent inducer of immunogenic EBV antigens, including LMP1, EBNA2, and EBNA3C. Induction occurs at low doses and persists after removal of decitabine. Decitabine treatment of latency I EBV+ Burkitt lymphoma (BL) sensitized cells to lysis by EBV-specific cytotoxic T cells (EBV-CTLs). In latency I BL xenografts, decitabine followed by EBV-CTLs results in T-cell homing to tumors and inhibition of tumor growth. Collectively, these results identify key epigenetic factors required for latency restriction and highlight a novel therapeutic approach to sensitize EBV+ lymphomas to immunotherapy.

DOI10.1182/blood.2019004126
Alternate JournalBlood
PubMed ID32157281
PubMed Central IDPMC7243148
Grant ListK08 CA219473 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P30 CA008748 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States