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

## TL;DR

A new cancer treatment combines interferon and topical TLR7/8 agonists to fight metastasis and prevent tumor recurrence.

## Contribution

The study introduces a synergistic therapy using systemic IFN-I and topical TLR7/8 agonists to enhance dendritic cell activity in cancer immunotherapy.

## Key findings

- Systemic IFN-I and topical TLR7/8 agonists together suppress metastatic tumors.
- The treatment activates plasmacytoid and conventional dendritic cells, enhancing IL-12 and CCL2 production.
- The therapy synergizes with PD-1 blockade to prevent cancer recurrence.

## Abstract

Advancing targeted cancer immunotherapy is pivotal for overcoming distant metastasis and tumor relapse. The recent study in Nature Cancer 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.