Effects of Combinatory In Vitro Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Cytarabine on the Anti-Cancer Immune Microenvironment in De Novo AML Patients

Abstract

Despite substantial progress in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) still constitutes a significant problem for patients suffering from its relapses. A comprehensive knowledge of the disease’s molecular background has led to the development of targeted therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, and demonstrated beneficial effects on several types of cancer. Here, we aimed to assess in vitro the potential of the immune checkpoint blockage for supporting anti-cancer responses to the AML backbone therapy with cytarabine. PBMCs of AML patients were collected at admission and, following the therapy, eight complete remission (CR) and eight non-responders (NR) subjects were selected. We assessed the effects of the in vitro treatment of the cells with cytarabine and the immune checkpoint inhibitors: anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1. The study protocol allowed us to evaluate the viability of the cancer and the immune cells, proliferation status, phenotype, and cytokine release. Anti-PD-L1 antibodies were found to exert the most beneficial effect on the activation of T cells, with a concomitant regulation of the immune balance through Treg induction. There was no direct influence on the blast cells; however, the modulation of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis supported the expansion of lymphocytes. Changes in the response between CR and NR patients might result from the differential expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, with lower levels in the latter group. The tested blockers appear to support the anti-cancer immune responses rather than directly improve the effects of cytarabine. In conclusion, checkpoint proteins’ modulators might improve the anti-cancer responses in the tumour environment.