Transient EZH2 suppression by Tazemetostat during in vitro expansion maintains T-cell stemness and improves adoptive T-cell therapy

Abstract The histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) plays important roles in T-cell differentiation, proliferation and function. Previous studies have demonstrated that genetic deletion of EZH2 in CD8+ or total T cells impairs their antiviral and antitumor activity, cytokine production and ability to expand upon rechallenge. Contrary to the detrimental role of deleting T cell–intrinsic EZH2, here we have demonstrated that transient inhibition of EZH2 in T cells prior to the phenotypic onset of exhaustion with a clinically approved inhibitor, Tazemetostat, delayed their dysfunctional progression and preserved T-cell stemness and polyfunctionality but had no negative impact on cell proliferation. Tazemetostat induced T-cell epigenetic reprogramming and increased the expression of the self-renewal T-cell transcription factor TCF1 by reducing H3K27 methylation at its promoter preferentially in rapidly dividing T cells. In a murine melanoma model, T cells depleted of EZH2 induced poor tumor control, whereas adoptively transferred T cells pretreated with tazemetostat exhibited superior antitumor immunity, especially when used in combination with anti-PD-1 blockade. Collectively, these data highlight the potential of transient epigenetic reprogramming by EZH2 inhibition to enhance adoptive T-cell immunotherapy.