UC Davis

The goal of this study was to evaluate combination of a novel taxoid, DHA-SBT-1214 chemotherapy, in modulating immune checkpoint marker expression and ultimately in improving antibody-based checkpoint blockade therapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). DHA-SBT-1214 was encapsulated in an oil-in-water nanoemulsion and administered systemically in Panc02 syngeneic PDAC-bearing C57BL/6 mice. Following treatment with DHA-SBT-1214, expression levels of PD-L1 were measured and anti-PD-L1 antibody was administered in combination. The effects of combination therapy on efficacy and the molecular basis of synergistic effects were evaluated. PD-L1 expression was lower on Panc02 pancreatic tumor cells in vitro, which significantly increased after exposure to different chemotherapy drugs. Administration of DHA-SBT-1214, gemcitabine, and PD-L1 antibody alone failed to increase CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration inside tumors. However, combination of anti-PD-L1 therapy with a novel chemotherapy drug DHA-SBT-1214 in nanoemulsion (NE-DHA-SBT-1214) significantly enhanced CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration and the therapeutic effects of the anti-PD-L1 antibody. Furthermore, in the Panc02 syngeneic model, the NE-DHA-SBT-1214 combination therapy group reduced tumor growth to a higher extend than paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane), gemcitabine, or single anti-PD-L1 antibody therapy groups. Our results indicate that NE-DHA-SBT-1214 stimulated immunogenic potential of PDAC and provided an enhanced therapeutic effect with immune checkpoint blockade therapy, which warrants further evaluation.