Robust Antitumor Effects of Combined Anti–CD4-Depleting Antibody and Anti–PD-1/PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Antibody Treatment in Mice

Depletion of CD4 + cells in tumor-bearing mice has strong antitumor effects. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects and the therapeutic benefits of CD4 + cell depletion relative to other immunotherapies have not been fully evaluated. Here, we investigated the antitumor effects of an anti–CD4-depleting mAb as a monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint mAbs. In B16F10, Colon 26, or Lewis lung carcinoma subcutaneous tumor models, administration of the anti-CD4 mAb alone had strong antitumor effects that were superior to those elicited by CD25 + Treg depletion or other immune checkpoint mAbs, and which were completely reversed by CD8 + cell depletion. CD4 + cell depletion led to the proliferation of tumor-specific CD8 + T cells in the draining lymph node and increased infiltration of PD-1 + CD8 + T cells into the tumor, with a shift toward type I immunity within the tumor. Combination treatment with the anti-CD4 mAb and immune checkpoint mAbs, particularly anti–PD-1 or anti–PD-L1 mAbs, synergistically suppressed tumor growth and greatly prolonged survival. To our knowledge, this work represents the first report of robust synergy between anti-CD4 and anti–PD-1 or anti–PD-L1 mAb therapies. Cancer Immunol Res; 3(6); 631–40. ©2015 AACR .