Disrupting CD38-driven T cell dysfunction restores sensitivity to cancer immunotherapy

A central problem in cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is the development of resistance, which affects 50% of patients with metastatic melanoma 1,2 . T cell exhaustion, resulting from chronic antigen exposure in the tumour microenvironment, is a major driver of ICB resistance 3 . Here, we show that CD38, an ecto-enzyme involved in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ) catabolism, is highly expressed in exhausted CD8 + T cells in melanoma and is associated with ICB resistance. Tumour-derived CD38 hi CD8 + T cells are dysfunctional, characterised by impaired proliferative capacity, effector function, and dysregulated mitochondrial bioenergetics. Genetic and pharmacological blockade of CD38 in murine and patient-derived organotypic tumour models (MDOTS/PDOTS) enhanced tumour immunity and overcame ICB resistance. Mechanistically, disrupting CD38 activity in T cells restored cellular NAD + pools, improved mitochondrial function, increased proliferation, augmented effector function, and restored ICB sensitivity. Taken together, these data demonstrate a role for the CD38-NAD + axis in promoting T cell exhaustion and ICB resistance, and establish the efficacy of CD38 directed therapeutic strategies to overcome ICB resistance using clinically relevant, patient-derived 3D tumour models.