Immunotherapy Targeting CCR8⁺ Regulatory T Cells Induces Antitumor Effects via Dramatic Changes to the Intratumor CD8⁺ T Cell Profile

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to the formation of a tumor-immunosuppressive microenvironment. CCR8 is reportedly selectively expressed in tumor Tregs, and an anti-CCR8 Ab can exert potent antitumor effects by eliminating intratumor Tregs in murine tumor models. In this study, we analyzed changes to intratumor immunity after anti-CCR8 Ab administration, especially in CD8(+) T cells, which are involved in cancer cell killing, using the CT26 colorectal carcinoma mouse model. Immunophenotyping of tumor-infiltrating cells by mass cytometry after Ab administration on day 5 of tumor inoculation revealed that CD8(+) T cell subsets were dramatically altered in the CCR8 Ab-treated group, with an increase in naive cells and nonexhausted effector cells and a decrease in exhausted cells with high expression levels of TOX. These results were corroborated with flow cytometry analysis. Delayed administration of the anti-CCR8 Ab on day 9 or 12, when the amount of CCR8(+) Tregs and CD8(+) T cell exhaustion were more progressed, also resulted in a decrease in exhausted CD8(+) T cells, leading to tumor regression. Finally, we confirmed that high CCR8(+) Treg infiltration was associated with high TOX expression in CD8(+) T cells in human cancer patients. In conclusion, administration of an anti-CCR8 Ab can dramatically alter the activation and exhaustion state of intratumor CD8(+) T cells, resulting in strong antitumor effects. In cancer patients with an advanced tumor-immunosuppressive environment, CD8(+) T cell exhaustion has progressed along with CCR8(+) Treg induction. Therefore, targeted depletion of CCR8(+) Tregs is expected to be effective in these patients.