Potential synergistic anti-tumor activity between lenalidomide and sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and Aim The immune modulatory drug lenalidomide has shown promising anti‐tumor activity in a clinical trial of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study explored whether lenalidomide can enhance the anti‐tumor activity of sorafenib, the standard molecular targeted therapy for HCC. Methods The anti‐tumor efficacy of single‐agent or combination treatment was measured by change in tumor volume and animal survival using an orthotopic liver cancer model. Distribution of T‐cell subpopulations in tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and splenocytes derived from tumor‐implanted mice was measured by flow cytometry. Depletion of relevant T‐cell subpopulations or cytokines was done by co‐administration of relevant antibodies with study drug treatment. Tumor cell apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis were measured by transferase deoxytidyl uridine end labeling assay and immunohistochemical study, respectively. Results Combination of sorafenib and lenalidomide produced significant synergistic anti‐tumor efficacy in terms of tumor growth delay and animal survival. This synergistic effect was associated with a significant increase in interferon‐γ expressing CD8+ lymphocytes in TILs and a significantly higher number of granzyme‐ or perforin‐expressing CD8+ T cells, compared with vehicle‐ or single‐agent treatment groups. Combination treatment significantly increased apoptotic tumor cells and vascular normalization in tumor tissue. The synergistic anti‐tumor effect was abolished after CD8 depletion. Conclusions Lenalidomide can enhance the anti‐tumor effects of sorafenib in HCC through its immune modulatory effects, and CD8+ TILs play an important role in the anti‐tumor synergism.