Distinct T cell functions enable efficient immunoediting and prevent tumor emergence of developing sarcomas

Abstract

T cells edit tumors by eliminating neoantigen-expressing tumor cells. Yet, how and when this is achieved remains uncertain. Using a murine sarcoma model with fluorescent neoantigens, we found that tumors developed later and in fewer T cell-sufficient mice (∼53% penetrance) than T cell-deficient mice (∼100%). With T cells, all emergent tumor cells had silenced neoantigens, but neoantigen-negative tumor cells were also present in every T cell-deficient mouse. This suggested silencing was necessary but not sufficient for outgrowth. Genetic removal of neoantigens restored tumor penetrance if implemented on day 5 post-tumor initiation, but not day 10, because CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells infiltrated the tissue and eliminated most neoantigen-positive and -negative tumor cells within 8 days. Single-cell analyses on day-7 tumors showed oncogenic changes including increased proliferation and T cell-dependent upregulation of the IFNγ-response gene Cd274 (PD-L1). T cell-depletion rescued both neoantigen-positive and -negative cells, while IFNγ blockade rescued only negative cells. This shows that T cells efficiently edit sarcomas of neoantigens and prevent early tumors via IFNγ-independent and IFNγ-dependent (bystander) mechanisms.