Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Estrogens determine the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in obese males with melanoma

Published inJCI insight, vol. 10, no. 14, e189758
Publication date2025-07-22
First online date2025-06-12
Abstract

Although obesity is a major risk factor for cancer, it may also improve the response to cancer therapy. Here we investigated the impact of obesity on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). In male mice, obesity promoted tumor growth but enhanced the response to ICI. This was associated with higher expression of immune-related genes within the tumor and enhanced infiltration of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells. Further, obesity in mice was associated with higher estrogen levels and enrichment of estrogen response genes in the tumor, and anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) efficacy was reduced upon administration of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole, which blocks the production of estrogens. Mechanistically, adipocyte-derived estrogens increased antigen presentation by dendritic cells and tumor-specific CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity. Last, overweight and obese men with melanoma responded better to ICI, with high estrogen levels being associated with improved response and survival. Our results suggest that estrogens may serve as a predictive factor of response to ICI in men with melanoma.

Keywords
  • Cancer immunotherapy
  • Immunology
  • Obesity
  • Oncology
Funding
Citation (ISO format)
DUPUYCHAFFRAY, Eloise et al. Estrogens determine the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in obese males with melanoma. In: JCI insight, 2025, vol. 10, n° 14, p. e189758. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.189758
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Additional URL for this publicationhttps://insight.jci.org/articles/view/189758
Journal ISSN2379-3708
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