The Interface of Metastatic Tumours and the Immune System

Abstract

Primary tumours are rarely lethal; instead most cancer deaths are due to the spreading of the tumour to other sites in the body (metastasis). One major pathway of metastatic disease is the migration of tumour cells from the primary tumour to the draining lymph node. In this study, we examined the interaction of tumour cells and their apoptotic vesicles (ApoV) with CD169+ macrophages within the subcapsular sinus of the lymph node using CD169-/- mice. As previously shown by our laboratory, lymphoma-derived microvesicles bind to the CD169 receptor expressed by macrophages. In this study, we have successfully confirmed the binding of melanoma-derived ApoV by CD169. We then established lymph node metastatic models of B16 melanoma using forelimb, ear, and skin tumour implantation. In addition, we have attempted a novel flank abrasion method developed by Dr. Jason Waithman (Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Australia). We next addressed the importance of CD169-macrophage lymph node barriers on tumour spread and the impact of metastatic disease in the lymph node on the immune response against tumours. Strikingly, tumour progression within the draining lymph node was significantly lower in CD169-/- mice compared to wild-type mice. However, this finding was confined only to our murine subcutaneous melanoma model, and not the intravenous lung metastases model. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of melanoma-derived ApoV on the lung tumour progression. Interestingly, pretreatment of mice with tumour ApoV significantly increased the number of metastatic foci on lungs. This suggests that chemotherapy of tumours may cause the release of ApoV as pro-metastatic agents. To our knowledge, this is the first report of apoptotic cell products enhancing tumour metastasis. Therefore our results provide an important starting point to understand the role of CD169 and tumour vesicles in the anti-tumour response and in preventing metastatic disease.