3O VHIO immune gene-expression signature (VIGex) to enrich patient selection in immunotherapy phase I clinical trials

e20693 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revoluzionized the therapeutic paradigm for different types of cancer including NSCLC. Clinical benefit, however, is limited to a minority of patients. The only adopted predictive biomarker, PD-L1 IHC testing, suffers from some limitations. A better understanding of biomarkers associated with response to ICIs is needed. Here, we studied immune gene expression profile and association with clinical response to immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients (pts) treated with ICI. Methods: A total of 37 Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from advanced NSCLCs were analyzed by RNA-Seq using the Oncomine Immuno Response Assay (OIRRA) (ThermoFisher Scientific) to measure the expression level of 395 genes associated with 36 functional groups including checkpoint pathways, lymphocyte regulation and cytokine interactions, using the Ion Chef and Ion Torrent PGM. Gene level differential expression analysis were performed with the Torrent Suite and Transcriptome Analysis Console (TAC) 4.0 Software. Gene network analysis based on Bayesian algorithm was performed by GeneMANIA database querying with the genes selected through mRNA expression analysis. Results: Among 37 FFPE samples only 18 showed more than 300 OIRRA detectable target genes. In this subgroup, gene expression analysis revealed 7 genes (CCR2, CRTAM, FASLG, SELL, TIGIT, TNFRSF4, and TP63) up-regulated and one gene (CXCL8) down-regulated (p-value < 0.05) in ICI-responders compare to ICI-no responders. Bayesian enrichment computational analysis of the eight gene expression signature showed a more complex network which involves other 10 genes (SIRPG, GZMK, XCL2, CD8A, CD2, IFNG, SIT1, TAGAP, PTPRC and GZMH), correlated with different functional groups. Three main immune-pathways were identified (p < 0.01) (T cell activation, leucocyte activation and migration) involving TIGIT, TNFRSF4, CCR2 and CXCL8 genes among the gene expression signature identified. Conclusions: Our results revealed an immune response gene expression signature of 8 genes differentially expressed between ICI and ICI-no responders. Cancer systems biology analysis approach strengthen our findings identifying an immune molecular network and confirm the correlation of the gene expression signature with relevant immune regulatory functions. If validated, our results may have an important role for the development of a robust test to select patients properly and predict immune response to enable precision immunotherapy.

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Integrated immune gene expression signature and molecular classification in gastric cancer: New insights

Journal of Leukocyte Biology ◽

10.1002/jlb.4mr0120-221r ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 108 (2) ◽

pp. 633-646 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maria Grazia Refolo ◽

Claudio Lotesoriere ◽

Caterina Messa ◽

Maria Gabriella Caruso ◽

Rosalba D'Alessandro

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Gastric Cancer ◽

Gene Expression Signature ◽

Molecular Classification ◽

Immune Gene ◽

Expression Signature ◽

Immune Gene Expression

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EXTH-67. PHARMACOLOGIC INHIBITION OF LYSINE SPECIFIC DEMETHYLASE-1 (LSD1) AS AN ADJUVANT IMMUNE-SENSITIZATION STRATEGY IN DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA (DIPG)

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noaa215.421 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. ii102-ii102

Author(s):

Cavan Bailey ◽

Tiara Collier ◽

Verlene Henry ◽

Michelle Monje ◽

Javad Nazarian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Mouse Models ◽

Gene Expression Signature ◽

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma ◽

Immune Gene ◽

Pontine Glioma ◽

Expression Signature ◽

Immune Gene Expression ◽

Lysine Specific Demethylase

Abstract Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), including brainstem DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), are incurable pediatric brain tumors. Mutations in the H3 histone tail (H3.1/3.3-K27M) are a feature of DIPG, highlighting epigenetic aberrations in these tumors. Lysine specific demethylase-1 (LSD1), is an enzyme that acts upon mono and di-methylated histone H3K4/K9, and pharmacological inhibitors of its enzymatic and scaffolding domains are clinically viable. Patient-derived DIPG cell lines, orthotopic mouse models, and pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) datasets were used to evaluate effects of LSD1 inhibitors on cytotoxicity and immune gene expression. Because an unique immune signature was sen with enzymatic LSD1 inhibitors in DIPG cells in vitro, immune cell cytotoxicity was assessed in DIPG cells pre-treated with LSD1 inhibitors and informatics platforms were used to determine immune infiltration of pHGG. Selective cytotoxicity and an immunogenic gene expression signature was established in DIPG cell lines and in brainstem tumor-bearing mice using clinically-relevant LSD1 inhibitors. Pediatric HGG patient sequencing data demonstrated survival benefit using this LSD1-dependent gene expression signature. On-target binding of catalytic LSD1 inhibitors was confirmed in DIPG and pre-treatment of DIPG with these inhibitors increased lysis by natural killer (NK) cells. CIBERSORT analysis of patient data confirmed NK infiltration is beneficial to patient survival while CD8 T-cells are negatively prognostic. Catalytic LSD1 inhibitors are non-perturbing to NK cells while scaffolding LSD1 inhibitors are toxic to NK cells and do not induce the gene expression signature in DIPG cells. Treatment of orthotopic xenograft bearing DIPG mouse models with catalytic LSD1 inhibitors and NK cells showed a significant reduction in tumor burden. In summary, we find that LSD1 inhibition using catalytic inhibitors is both selectively cytotoxic and promotes a functional immune gene expression signature that is associated with NK cell killing, representing a therapeutic opportunity for pHGG.

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