Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Combinatorial therapies are often employed to improve treatment efficacy and reduce the risk of recurrence. Hyperthermia (HT), a minimally invasive treatment, has shown potential to enhance immunotherapy outcomes. In the EMT6 breast tumor model, elevated CD200 expression is associated with tumor progression, and blockade of the CD200/CD200R signaling pathway has been reported to enhance anti-tumor immune responses. This study presents a preliminary evaluation of the therapeutic effects of local HT combined with anti-CD200 blockade in a preclinical mouse model. EMT6 tumors were established in Balb/c mice via subcutaneous inoculation. Local HT was applied on days 7, 8, and 9 post-inoculation, and anti-CD200 monoclonal antibody was administered intraperitoneally on days 7, 9, and 11. The combination therapy significantly reduced tumour progression and improved survival. Moreover, treated mice showed increased activation of CD8+ T cells in draining lymph nodes and enhanced tumor infiltration by T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, alongside a marked reduction in immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). These findings highlight the need for further studies to validate and better understand the therapeutic potential of this combination approach in breast cancer.
Zawawi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.