MEK inhibition enhances presentation of targetable MHC-I tumor antigens in mutant melanomas

Abstract

ABSTRACTCombining multiple therapeutic strategies in NRAS/BRAF mutant melanoma – namely MEK/BRAF kinase inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and targeted immunotherapies – may offer an improved survival benefit by overcoming limitations associated with any individual therapy. Still, optimal combination, order, and timing of administration remains under investigation. Here, we measure how MEK inhibition (MEKi) alters anti-tumor immunity by utilizing quantitative immunopeptidomics to profile changes in the peptide MHC (pMHC) repertoire. These data reveal a collection of tumor antigens whose presentation levels are selectively augmented following therapy, including several epitopes present at over 1000 copies-per-cell. We leveraged the tunable abundance of MEKi-modulated antigens by targeting 4 epitopes with pMHC-specific T cell engagers and antibody drug conjugates, enhancing cell killing in tumor cells following MEK inhibition. These results highlight drug treatment as a means to enhance immunotherapy efficacy by targeting specific upregulated pMHCs and provide a methodological framework for identifying, quantifying, and therapeutically targeting additional epitopes of interest.SIGNIFICANCEKinase inhibitor treatment in NRAS/BRAF mutant melanoma can sensitize tumors to immunotherapy, in part through an increase in average surface presentation of peptide MHC molecules. Here, we demonstrate that MEK inhibition selectively boosts epitope abundance of select tumor-associated antigens in vitro and in vivo, enhancing targeted immunotherapy efficacy against these treatment-modulated epitopes.