{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "0e9b6e33c6254715b9eaf16751f25ea0", "timestamp": "2026-08-20T21:11:40.348Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/0e9b6e33c6254715b9eaf16751f25ea0.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/0e9b6e33c6254715b9eaf16751f25ea0"}}, "title": "Intratumoral administration of pro-inflammatory allogeneic dendritic cells improved the anti-tumor response of systemic anti-CTLA-4 treatment via unleashing a T cell-dependent response.", "authors": [{"family": "Jin", "given": "Chuan", "initials": "C"}, {"family": "Ali", "given": "Arwa", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Iskantar", "given": "Alexandros", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Fotaki", "given": "Grammatiki", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "Wang", "given": "Hai", "initials": "H"}, {"family": "Essand", "given": "Magnus", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Karlsson-Parra", "given": "Alex", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Yu", "given": "Di", "initials": "D", "orcid": "0000-0002-8636-0351", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/80a3098e7db143a5b76d27912d59852f.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2022-07-13", "journal": {"title": "Oncoimmunology", "issn": "2162-402X", "volume": "11", "issue": "1", "pages": "2099642", "issn-l": "2162-4011"}, "abstract": "Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the oncology field. However, a significant number of patients do not respond, at least partly due to the lack of preexisting anti-tumor T-cell immunity. Therefore, it is emergent to add an immune-priming step to improve efficacy. Here, we report a combined approach consisting of intratumoral administration of pro-inflammatory allogeneic dendritic cells (AlloDCs) and systemic treatment with \u03b1CTLA-4 that can drastically improve the anti-tumor efficacy compared to \u03b1CTLA-4 monotherapy. When evaluated in mice with large established CT-26 tumors, monotherapy with \u03b1CTLA-4 neither delayed tumor progression nor improved mice survival. However, combination treatment of AlloDCs and \u03b1CTLA-4 drastically improved the effectiveness, with 70% of mice being cured. This effect was T cell-dependent, and all survived mice rejected a subsequent tumor re-challenge. Further investigation revealed an immune-inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) in the combination treatment group characterized by enhanced infiltration of activated antigen-presenting endogenous DCs and CD8+ T cells with a tissue-resident memory (TRM) phenotype (CD49a+CD103+). This correlated with elevated levels of tumor-specific CD39+CD103+CD8+ T cells in the tumor and \"tumor-matching\" NKG2D+CD39+CX3CR1+CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood. Moreover, splenocytes from mice in the combination treatment group secreted significantly higher IFN-\u03b3 upon stimulation with the peptide from the endogenous CT-26 retroviral gp70 (model neoantigen), confirming the induction of a tumor-specific CD8+ T-cell response. Taken together, these data indicate a strong anti-tumor synergy between AlloDCs and \u03b1CTLA-4 that warrant further clinical investigation with the corresponding human AlloDC product (ilixadencel) for patients receiving \u03b1CTLA-4 therapy.", "doi": "10.1080/2162402X.2022.2099642", "pmid": "35859733", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC9291714"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "2099642"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T09:37:35.234Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T09:37:35.307Z"}