Targeting tumor-associated CCR2+ macrophages to inhibit pancreatic cancer recurrence following irreversible electroporation

Sci Adv. 2025 Jul 25;11(30):eadw2937. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adw2937. Epub 2025 Jul 23.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with pronounced resistance to conventional therapies. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a promising therapy for PDAC; however, its clinical efficacy is limited by a high recurrence rate. Here, using a preclinical PDAC model, we characterized the tumor immune microenvironment following insufficient IRE (iIRE) through single-cell RNA sequencing. We found that iIRE induces a CCR2+ tumor-associated macrophage (CCR2+ TAM)-mediated immunosuppressive microenvironment in residual tumors. Consequently, we developed a macrophage-based proteolipid vesicle (mPLV) coencapsulating the CCR2 antagonist PF-4136309 (PF) and gemcitabine (GEM), named PF/GEM@mPLV. Our findings suggest that PF/GEM@mPLV achieves high drug accumulation within tumors through iIRE-induced inflammation. Reduction of CCR2+ TAMs enhances antitumor immunity and improves chemotherapeutic response. PF/GEM@mPLV markedly inhibits tumor recurrence following iIRE, diminishes hepatic metastases, and prolongs survival in preclinical PDAC models. These findings uncover the role of CCR2+ TAMs in iIRE-induced immunosuppression, offering a promising strategy to enhance the clinical potential of IRE in PDAC.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal* / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal* / therapy
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electroporation* / methods
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Receptors, CCR2* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, CCR2* / metabolism
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages* / drug effects
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages* / immunology
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages* / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Receptors, CCR2
  • Gemcitabine
  • Deoxycytidine