静脉注射编码 IL-12 的自复制 RNA-脂质纳米颗粒复合物可诱导安全有效的抗肿瘤反应

Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a potent immunostimulatory cytokine mainly produced by antigen-presenting cells (e. g. , dendritic cells, macrophages) and plays an important role in innate and adaptive immunity against cancers. Therapies that can synergistically modulate innate immunity and stimulate adaptive anti-tumor responses are of great interest for cancer immunotherapy.

Here we investigated the lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated self-replicating RNA (srRNA) encoding IL-12 (referred to as JCXH-211) for the treatment of cancers. Both local (intratumoral) and systemic (intravenous) administration of JCXH-211 in tumor-bearing mice induced a high-level expression of IL-12 in tumor tissues, leading to modulation of tumor microenvironment and systemic activation of antitumor immunity.

Particularly, JCXH-211 can inhibit the tumor-infiltration of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs). When combined with anti-PD1 antibody, it was able to enhance the recruitment of T cells and NK cells into tumors. In multiple mouse solid tumor models, intravenous injection of JCXH-211 not only eradicated large preestablished tumors, but also induced protective immune memory that prevented the growth of rechallenged tumors.

Finally, intravenous injection of JCXH-211 did not cause noticeable systemic toxicity in tumor-bearing mice and non-human primates.

Thus, our study demonstrated the feasibility of intravenous administration of JCXH-211 for the treatment of advanced cancers.