Vaccines combined with immune checkpoint antibodies promote cytotoxic T cell activity and tumor eradication

Abstract

We demonstrate that a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) cancer vaccine can be used in combination with immune checkpoint antibodies, anti–CTLA-4 or anti–PD-1, to enhance cytotoxic T cell (CTL) activity and induce the regression of solid B16 tumors in mice. Combination therapy obviated the need for vaccine boosting and significantly skewed intratumoral reactions toward CTL activity, resulting in the regression of B16 tumors up to 50mm ² in size and 75% survival rates. These data suggests that combining material-based cancer vaccines with checkpoint antibodies has the potential to mediate tumor regression in humans.