Topical imiquimod has therapeutic and immunomodulatory effects against intracranial tumors.
Topical imiquimod has therapeutic and immunomodulatory effects against intracranial tumors.
复制标题
DOI：
10.1097/cji.0b013e318209eed4
复制
发表时间：
2011-04
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Ohlfest JR
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Xiong Z;Ohlfest JR
Topical imiquimod cream (trade name, Aldara) is a toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 agonist that is approved for the treatment of cutaneous tumors. Aldara is also employed as a vaccine adjuvant in clinical trials in patients with glioma and other tumors. The main mechanism of action ascribed to Aldara has been the local activation of TLR7+ cells near the application site. Here we report the unexpected finding that Aldara has therapeutic and immunomodulatory activity as a single agent in mice bearing intracranial tumors. Repeated administration of Aldara onto the skin significantly increased the survival of mice bearing intracranial GL261 glioma and EMT6 breast carcinoma. Aldara treatment was associated with a reduction in the number CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in the blood and brain tumor site. Mice treated with Aldara exhibited a generalized lymphopenia in the blood amidst an increase in brain tumor infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and dendritic cells. Brain infiltrating CD8+ T cells were tumor-reactive as demonstrated by degranulation and interferon gamma secretion in a GL261-dependent manner. Additionally, soluble imiquimod directly inhibited the proliferation of GL261 cells in a TLR7-independent manner. This is the first report demonstrating that topical application of imiquimod can enhance T cell responses to intracranial tumors as a single agent. The results must be interpreted with caution considering anatomical and biological differences between mice and humans. Nevertheless, Aldara that is being used as a vaccine adjuvant in clinical trials may have direct anti-tumor effects that are independent of exogenous antigen. Further studies in humans are warranted.
