Systemic IFN-I Synergizes with Topical TLR7/8 Agonists to Suppress Metastatic Tumors

Advancing targeted cancer immunotherapy is pivotal for overcoming distant metastasis and tumor relapse. The recent study in <i>Nature Cancer</i> by Sanlorenzo et al. demonstrates a breakthrough strategy combining systemic type I interferon with topical Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonists, where oral imiquimod primes plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs) to produce type I interferon, thereby sensitizing conventional DCs in tumors to local Toll-like receptor 7 activation. This approach triggers c-Jun-dependent IL-12 production and CCL2-mediated plasmacytoid DC recruitment, enabling localized and systemic tumor suppression. Importantly, the therapy synergizes with PD-1 blockade to prevent recurrence, representing a significant advance in DC-targeted cancer immunotherapy.