Reversal of tumoral immune resistance by inhibition of tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase

L Pilotte, P Larrieu, V Stroobant… - Proceedings of the …, 2012 - National Acad Sciences
L Pilotte, P Larrieu, V Stroobant, D Colau, E Dolušić, R Frédérick, E De Plaen, C Uyttenhove…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012National Acad Sciences
Tryptophan catabolism mediated by indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO1) is an important
mechanism of peripheral immune tolerance contributing to tumoral immune resistance, and
IDO1 inhibition is an active area of drug development. Tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase (TDO)
is an unrelated hepatic enzyme that also degrades tryptophan along the kynurenine
pathway. Here, we show that enzymatically active TDO is expressed in a significant
proportion of human tumors. In a preclinical model, TDO expression by tumors prevented …
Tryptophan catabolism mediated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) is an important mechanism of peripheral immune tolerance contributing to tumoral immune resistance, and IDO1 inhibition is an active area of drug development. Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) is an unrelated hepatic enzyme that also degrades tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway. Here, we show that enzymatically active TDO is expressed in a significant proportion of human tumors. In a preclinical model, TDO expression by tumors prevented their rejection by immunized mice. We developed a TDO inhibitor, which, upon systemic treatment, restored the ability of mice to reject TDO-expressing tumors. Our results describe a mechanism of tumoral immune resistance based on TDO expression and establish proof-of-concept for the use of TDO inhibitors in cancer therapy.
National Acad Sciences