MAL2 drives immune evasion in breast cancer by suppressing tumor antigen presentation

Immune evasion is a pivotal event in tumor progression. To eliminate human cancer cells, current immune checkpoint therapy is set to boost CO8(+) T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. However, this action is eventually dependent on the efficient recognition of tumor-specific antigens via T cell receptors. One primary mechanism by which tumor cells evade immune surveillance is to downregulate their antigen presentation. Little progress has been made toward harnessing potential therapeutic targets for enhancing antigen presentation on the tumor cell. Here, we identified MAL2 as a key player that determines the turnover of the antigen-loaded MHC-I complex and reduces the antigen presentation on tumor cells. MAL2 promotes the endocytosis of tumor antigens via direct interaction with the MHC-I complex and endosome-associated RAB proteins. In preclinical models, depletion of MAL2 in breast tumor cells profoundly enhanced the cytotoxicity of tumor-infiltrating CD8(+) T cells and suppressed breast tumor growth, suggesting that MAL2 is a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer immunotherapy.

Automated summary

Immune evasion is a critical event in tumor progression, and downregulation of antigen presentation by tumor cells is a primary mechanism of immune escape. The identification of MAL2 as a key player in enhancing antigen presentation on tumor cells and increasing cytotoxicity of immune cells suggests its potential as a therapeutic target for breast cancer immunotherapy.