Immunosuppressive Effects and Potent Anti-tumor Efficacy of mTOR Inhibitor Everolimus in Breast Tumor-bearing Mice

Abstract

To investigate the effects of everolimus, a mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, on tumor growth and immune response in a mouse model of breast
cancer.

Human hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth receptor 2-negative (HER2-) MC4-L2 cell line was used to establish a mouse model of breast cancer. The inhibitory effects of high (10 mg/kg) and low (5 mg/kg) doses of everolimus were investigated on tumor growth. Additionally, the frequency of CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs), CD8⁺Foxp3⁺ Tregs, and CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells expressing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) was explored by flow cytometry in bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen.

Our results showed that both 10 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg doses of everolimus efficiently inhibited tumor growth, resulting in reduced breast tumor volume. In addition, it was revealed that everolimus-treated mice induced a higher frequency of CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ Tregs, CD8⁺Foxp3⁺ Tregs, and CD4⁺Foxp3⁺CTLA-4⁺ Tregs as well as CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells expressing CTLA-4 in their bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen compared with standard control (vehicle-treated) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that everolimus treatment with 10 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg increased the frequency of Helios⁺Foxp3⁺ Tregs in the bone marrow of treated mice compared with the control group.

Our results indicate that treatment with everolimus not only inhibits tumor growth but also exerts an immunomodulatory effect by inducing Tregs in the lymphoid organs of breast cancer-bearing mice. The combination of therapy with other anti-cancer agents may negate immune suppression and improve the efficacy of mTOR-targeted breast cancer therapy.