What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to explore the role of MHC-II expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and its potential impact on immune responses and treatment outcomes.

April 5, 2026

Abstract 7716: Tumor-intrinsic MHC-II activation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma enhances immune response and treatment efficacy

Key Points

The aim is to explore the role of MHC-II expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and its potential impact on immune responses and treatment outcomes.
Utilized single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to analyze tumor cells.
Conducted bulk RNA sequencing and multiplex immunohistochemistry for protein assessments.
Employed ex vivo studies in human and mouse models to evaluate MHC-II effects.
Examined CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration and co-localization with plasma cells in PDAC.
Elevated MHC-II expression in malignant cells correlated with increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration.
Pharmacologic induction of MHC-II by cobimetinib treatment improved response to immune checkpoint blockade in mouse models.
MHC-II expression serves as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in PDAC.

Abstract

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by an immunosuppressivetumor microenvironment (TME) and poor prognosis. While major histocompatibility complexclass II (MHC-II) expression is traditionally associated with professional antigen-presentingcells, its role in PDAC malignant cells remains underexplored. Herein, we utilized single-cellRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics, bulk RNA sequencing, multipleximmunohistochemistry (mIHC) and ex vivo studies in culture with both human and murinemodels to investigate the prognostic relevance of MHC-II expression in malignant PDACcells. Elevated MHC-II expression in malignant cells was strongly associated with increasedinfiltration of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in human PDAC, and pronounced co-localization withplasma cells, indicative of an antigen-activated immune microenvironment. In the KPCmouse model of PDAC, pharmacologic induction of MHC-II expression by cobimetinibtreatment in malignant epithelial cells significantly enhanced the therapeutic response toimmune checkpoint blockade (ICB). These findings highlight the role of malignant cell-intrinsic MHC-II expression in promoting antigen presentation and fostering an anti-tumorimmune microenvironment. Our results position MHC-II as a promising prognostic biomarkerand therapeutic target in PDAC, paving the way for novel immunomodulatory strategies. Citation Format: Canping Chen, Kyle P. Gribbin, Xi Li, Tugba Ozmen, Furkan Ozmen, Shamilene Sivagnanam, James Kim, Katie E. Blise, Xinxing Yang, Yi Zhang, Dove Keith, Mara H. Sherman, Mushui Dai, Lisa M. Coussens, Charles D. Lopez, Rosalie C. Sears, Gordon B. Mills, Katelyn T. Byrne, Zheng Xia. Tumor-intrinsic MHC-II activation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma enhances immune response and treatment efficacy abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 7716.

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