Amlexanox enhances the antitumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody

Cancer immunotherapy, especially treatment with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that block programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling, has attracted attention as a new therapeutic option for cancer. However, only limited number of patients have responded to this approach. In study, we searched compounds enhance the efficacy anti-PD-1 mAb using mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), which is culture system two key cells (dendritic and T cells) involved in tumor immunity. We found amlexanox enhanced production interferon (IFN)-γ, an indicator activation, by mAb. Amlexanox also induced PD-L1 expression dendritic MLR, whereas it did not stimulate interleukin-2 Jurkat cells. These results suggest acts on cells, MLR. Furthermore, antitumor effect vivo mouse tumor-bearing model. The combination increased Ifng encoding IFN-γ, IFN-γ-related genes, Cd274 PD-L1, cytotoxic cell-related genes tumors. conclusion, stimulates acting turn activates