Effects of regorafenib on the mononuclear/phagocyte system and how these contribute to the inhibition of colorectal tumors in mice

BACKGROUND: Regorafenib was previously shown to reduce tumor-associated macrophages and potently inhibit colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), also known as CD115, in biochemical assays. The CSF1R signaling pathway is essential in the biology of the mononuclear/phagocyte system, which can promote the development of cancer. METHODS: A deeper investigation of regorafenib’s effects on CSF1R signaling was performed using preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies with syngeneic CT26 and MC38 mouse models of colorectal cancer. Peripheral blood and tumor tissue were analyzed mechanistically by flow cytometry using antibodies against CD115/CSF1R and F4/80 and by ELISA for chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) levels. These read-outs were correlated with drug levels for the detection of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships. RESULTS: Potent inhibition of CSF1R by regorafenib and its metabolites M-2, M-4, and M-5 was confirmed in vitro in RAW264.7 macrophages. The dose-dependent growth inhibition of subcutaneous CT26 tumors by regorafenib was associated with a significant reduction in both the number of CD115(hi) monocytes in peripheral blood and the number of selective subpopulations of intratumoral F4/80(hi) tumor-associated macrophages. CCL2 levels were not affected by regorafenib in blood but increased in tumor tissue, which may contribute to drug resistance and prevent complete tumor remission. An inverse relationship between regorafenib concentration and the number of CD115(hi) monocytes and CCL2 levels was observed in peripheral blood, supporting the mechanistic involvement of regorafenib. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may be clinically useful in optimizing drug dosing using blood-based pharmacodynamic markers and in identifying resistance mechanisms and ways to overcome them by appropriate drug combinations. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40001-023-01099-2.