Comparing neoantigen cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint therapy unveils an effective vaccine and anti-TREM2 macrophage-targeting dual therapy

The goal of therapeutic cancer vaccines and immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) is to promote T cells with anti-tumor capabilities. Here, we compared mutant neoantigen (neoAg) peptide-based vaccines with ICT in preclinical models. NeoAg vaccines induce the most robust expansion of proliferating and stem-like PD-1⁺TCF-1⁺ neoAg-specific CD8 T cells in tumors. Anti-CTLA-4 and/or anti-PD-1 ICT promotes intratumoral TCF-1⁻ neoAg-specific CD8 T cells, although their phenotype depends in part on the specific ICT used. Anti-CTLA-4 also prompts substantial changes to CD4 T cells, including induction of ICOS⁺Bhlhe40⁺ T helper 1 (Th1)-like cells. Although neoAg vaccines or ICTs expand iNOS⁺ macrophages, neoAg vaccines maintain CX3CR1⁺CD206⁺ macrophages expressing the TREM2 receptor, unlike ICT, which suppresses them. TREM2 blockade enhances neoAg vaccine efficacy and is associated with fewer CX3CR1⁺CD206⁺ macrophages and induction of neoAg-specific CD8 T cells. Our findings highlight different mechanisms underlying neoAg vaccines and different forms of ICT and identify combinatorial therapies to enhance neoAg vaccine efficacy.