The Role of CD8+ T Cell Phenotype and Cytotoxicity on Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer vaccines can fail despite the induction of large numbers of CD8+ T cells. Two categories of memory CD8+ T cells have been defined; central memory (TCM, IL-7RαhighCD44highCD62Lhigh) and effector memory (TEM, IL-7RαhighCD44highCD62Llow). It is clear that the memory phenotype of CD8+ T cells can affect vaccine potential; however methods to augment a beneficial phenotype are not clear. I have compared three vaccine delivery systems: Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and the particulate liposomal adjuvant, archaeosomes, for their efficacy to protect against murine melanoma. My study revealed that the anti-tumour response is strongly influenced by the kinetics, phenotype, and lymph node homing potential of CD8+ T cells. Listeria monocytogenes-ovalbumin (LM-OVA) induced TCM cells were adept at long lasting protection against B16-OVA melanoma due to their increased homeostatic and antigen-induced proliferation, interleukin-2 production, and ability to extravasate into tumour draining lymph nodes. Conversely, although Salmonella Typhimurium-ovalbumin (ST-OVA) induced TEM, produced IFN-γ, and killed target cells, this was insufficient for long-term tumour protection. Selectin-ligand engagements of TCM cells influenced their homing potential and efficacy against murine melanoma. Fucosyltransferase deficient (FtDKO) mice, lacking functional selectin ligands, were vaccinated with LM-OVA; despite the activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, there was a reduced protection against murine melanoma compared to wild-type. FtDKO CD8+ T cells exhibited reduced extravasation into FtDKO lymph nodes compared to wild-type. Additionally, fewer FtDKO CD8+ T cells compared to wild-type migrated into tumour sites. Archaeosome vaccination was used to compare the influence of CD8+ T cell quantity versus phenotype. Single or multiple therapeutic vaccinations with archaeosome-OVA yielded transient melanoma tumour protection, despite an increased frequency of circulating and tumour infiltrating CD8+ T cells. This correlated with increased expression of Program death receptor-1 (PD-1) on CD8+ T cells and induction of regulatory T cells. Prophylactic archaeosome-OVA vaccination resulted in a maximal frequency of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells of ~50-60 % with just three injections, and ~50 % of the mice were of mice were afforded long-term tumour protection (> 90 days). Overall, my study shows that the choice of vaccine adjuvant and/or vector can profoundly influence CD8+ T cell quality and cancer vaccine efficacy