Synthetic tumor-specific antigenic peptides with a strong affinity to HLA-A2 elicit anti-breast cancer immune response through activating CD8+ T cells

2580 Background: Women with high risk breast cancer still succumb to their disease despite existing programs of adjuvant therapy. Thus, new approaches for adjuvant therapy are needed. Her-2-Neu overexpression on a breast cancer cells correlates with recurrence, metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The immune response is tolerant of tumor associated antigens (TAA) like Her-2-Neu since they have been present on epithelial cells since birth. The immune response to vaccines in women with breast cancer is limited by the diminished number of CD4 and CD8 T cells and qualitative defects of CD4 cells in individuals above the age of 50. Methods: The following strains of mice were vaccinated: 6–8 week old hMUC-1.Tg mice, and rH2N.Tg mice, as well as 18 month and 2 month old C57BL/6J mice, by injecting subcutaneously the Ad-sig-TAA/ecdCD40L vector prime followed by sc injections of the TAA/ecdCD40L protein boost. Results: Vaccination of 18 month old mice with the Ad-sig-TAA/ecdCD40L vector prime protein boost produce regressions of TAA positive sc tumor and a 5 fold increase in antigen specific spleen cells, a 10X increase in subcutaneous tumor nodules of antigen specific effector CD8 T cells by tetramers, and a 2X decrease of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ cells. Vaccination of rH2N.Tg mice starting at 6 weeks with the Ad-sig-rH2N/ecdCD40L vector prime/protein boost prevented the development of breast cancer in 50% of the mice. The Ad-sig-hMUC-1/ecdCD40L vector prime/ hMUC-1/ecdCD40L protein boost induced hMUC-1 specific antibodies in hMUC-1.Tg mice which bound to human breast cancer specimens. The rH2N/ecdCD40L vector prime/protein boost vaccine suppressed growth of rH2N positive tumor cells and this effect was potentiated by concomitant administration of chemotherapy. Conclusions: These results suggest that the Ad-sig-TAA/ecdCD40L platform can be used to suppress the growth of existing breast cancer even in old mice and prevent the development of breast cancer. We are preparing a phase I clinical trial of this approach in the setting of breast cancer patients who have failed first line adjuvant therapy. In this trial, the vaccine will be added to established salvage therapy and both in vivo evaluations of tumor response, in vitro assays of immune response and toxicity will be measured. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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323 Systemic administration of ladiratuzumab vedotin alone or in combination with pembrolizumab results in significant immune activation in the tumor microenvironment in metastatic breast cancer patients

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer ◽

10.1136/jitc-2020-sitc2020.0323 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽

pp. A349-A349

Author(s):

Lajos Pusztai ◽

Hailing Lu ◽

Christopher Hale ◽

Anne Grosse-Wilde ◽

Jennifer Specht ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Gene Expression ◽

Immune Response ◽

T Cells ◽

Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Immune Activation ◽

Metastatic Breast ◽

Breast Cancer Patients

BackgroundLadiratuzumab vedotin (LV) is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a humanized anti-LIV-1 IgG1 conjugated with monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), a microtubule-disrupting agent. LV targets LIV-1, a protein expressed by various cancers. Along with a cytotoxic effect, LV has been shown to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) in preclinical studies. LV is currently being investigated as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic breast cancer and other solid tumors. This correlative biomarker study aims to assess the ability of LV to modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) in breast cancer patients.MethodsIn the SGNLVA-001 trial, metastatic breast cancer patients, predominantly of the triple negative subtype (TNBC), received LV monotherapy (2.0 or 2.5 mg/kg, every 3 weeks [q3w]). In the SGNLVA-002 trial, patients with metastatic TNBC received LV (2.0 or 2.5 mg/kg, q3w) plus pembrolizumab (200 mg, q3w). To investigate the potential effect of LV or LV plus pembrolizumab on the TME, paired pre-treatment and on-treatment tumor biopsies (Cycle [C] 1 Day [D] 5 or C1D15) were collected and analyzed by RNAseq and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining.ResultsGene expression analysis of paired biopsy TNBC samples (n=59; baseline and C1D5) showed that LV monotherapy treatment significantly induces immune response-related gene expression, MHC, co-stimulatory molecules, and PD-L1. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated enrichment of macrophage and tumor inflammation signature genes, supporting the induction of ICD and enhancement of innate immune response. Paired tumor samples from subjects treated with LV plus pembrolizumab (n=16; baseline and C1D15) showed a broader range of gene expression changes on RNAseq compared to LV monotherapy. GSEA evidenced enrichment of genes associated with cytotoxic CD8 T cells, CD4 T helper cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, further demonstrating the induction of ICD and activation of an innate immune response. Importantly, the combination had a unique adaptive immune response induction signature. IHC analysis confirmed the increased infiltration of macrophages after LV monotherapy. The combination with pembrolizumab resulted in a further increase in macrophages and a prominent influx of CD8 T cells.ConclusionsSystemic administration of LV monotherapy resulted in immune activation in the TME and macrophage infiltration. The combination of LV plus pembrolizumab resulted in a more potent immune activation in the TME and a prominent influx of CD8 T cells in addition to macrophages. Together these results provide a rationale for the continued clinical investigation of LV alone or in combination with pembrolizumab.Trial RegistrationNCT01969643 and NCT03310957Ethics ApprovalThe study protocols for clinical trials represented in this publication were reviewed by the respective IRB/IEC at each study site and approved before trial participants were screened and enrolled.ConsentNot applicable.

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High KDM1A Expression Associated with Decreased CD8+T Cells Reduces the Breast Cancer Survival Rate in Patients with Breast Cancer

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10051112 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 1112

Author(s):

Hyung Suk Kim ◽

Byoung Kwan Son ◽

Mi Jung Kwon ◽

Dong-Hoon Kim ◽

Kyueng-Whan Min

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Immune Response ◽

T Cells ◽

Survival Rate ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Specific Gene ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Gene Sets

Background: Lysine-specific demethylase 1A (KDM1A) plays an important role in epigenetic regulation in malignant tumors and promotes cancer invasion and metastasis by blocking the immune response and suppressing cancer surveillance activities. The aim of this study was to analyze survival, genetic interaction networks and anticancer immune responses in breast cancer patients with high KDM1A expression and to explore candidate target drugs. Methods: We investigated clinicopathologic parameters, specific gene sets, immunologic relevance, pathway-based networks and in vitro drug response according to KDM1A expression in 456 and 789 breast cancer patients from the Hanyang university Guri Hospital (HYGH) and The Cancer Genome Atlas, respectively. Results: High KDM1A expression was associated with a low survival rate in patients with breast cancer. In analyses of immunologic gene sets, high KDM1A expression correlated with low immune responses. In silico flow cytometry results revealed low abundances of CD8+T cells and high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in those with high KDM1A expression. High KDM1A expression was associated with a decrease in the anticancer immune response in breast cancer. In pathway-based networks, KDM1A was linked directly to pathways related to the androgen receptor signaling pathway and indirectly to the immune pathway and cell cycle. We found that alisertib effectively inhibited breast cancer cell lines with high KDM1A expression. Conclusions: Strategies utilizing KDM1A may contribute to better clinical management/research for patients with breast cancer.

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Two Antigenic Peptides from Genes m123 and m164 of Murine Cytomegalovirus Quantitatively Dominate CD8 T-Cell Memory in the H-2d Haplotype

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.76.1.151-164.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

pp. 151-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 107

Author(s):

Rafaela Holtappels ◽

Doris Thomas ◽

Jürgen Podlech ◽

Matthias J. Reddehase

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Acute Infection ◽

Cd8 T Cell ◽

Murine Cytomegalovirus ◽

Antigenic Peptides ◽

Human Cmv

ABSTRACT The importance of CD8 T cells for the control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has raised interest in the identification of immunogenic viral proteins as candidates for vaccination and cytoimmunotherapy. The final aim is to determine the viral “immunome” for any major histocompatibility complex class I molecule by antigenicity screening of proteome-derived peptides. For human CMV, there is a limitation to this approach: the T cells used as responder cells for peptide screening are usually memory cells that have undergone in vivo selection. On this basis, pUL83 (pp65) and pUL123 (IE1 or pp68 to -72) were classified as immunodominant proteins. It is an open question whether this limited “memory immunome” really reflects the immunogenic potential of the human CMV proteome. Here we document an analogous focus of the memory repertoire on two proteins of murine CMV. Specifically, ca. 80% of all memory CD8 T cells in the spleen as well as in persisting pulmonary infiltrates were found to be specific for the known IE1 peptide 168YPHFMPTNL176 and for the peptide 257AGPPRYSRI265, newly defined here, derived from open reading frame m164. Notably, CD8 T-cell lines of both specificities protected against acute infection upon adoptive transfer. In contrast, the natural immune response to acute infection in draining lymph nodes and in the lungs indicated a somewhat broader specificity repertoire. We conclude that the low number of antigenic peptides identified so far for CMVs reflects a focused memory repertoire, and we predict that more antigenic peptides will be disclosed by analysis of the acute immune response.

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A first-in-human phase 1 study of a novel PARP7 inhibitor RBN-2397 in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.3000 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 3000-3000

Author(s):

Gerald Steven Falchook ◽

Manish R. Patel ◽

Timothy A. Yap ◽

Kristen McEachern ◽

Kristy Kuplast-Barr ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Immune Response ◽

T Cells ◽

Nucleic Acid ◽

Solid Tumors ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Type I ◽

Advanced Solid Tumors ◽

Type I Ifn ◽

Intermittent Schedule

3000 Background: Targeting cytosolic nucleic acid sensing pathways and the Type I interferon (IFN) response is an emerging therapeutic strategy in oncology. PARP7 is a member of the monoPARP class of enzymes and a newly identified negative regulator of nucleic acid sensing in tumor cells. PARP7 expression is increased by cellular stress and aromatic hydrocarbons, and the PARP7 gene is amplified in multiple cancers. RBN-2397 is a potent, selective inhibitor of PARP7. In preclinical models, RBN-2397 restored Type I IFN signaling in tumors, caused complete tumor regressions, and induced adaptive immunity. Methods: Patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors were treated with RBN-2397 on either a continuous or 14-of-21-day intermittent schedule using a 3+3 dose escalation design. Primary objective: establish MTD and/or RP2D. Secondary obj.: safety, activity, PK of unmicronized/micronized tablets. Exploratory obj.: Pd. Results: As of 4 January 2021, 47 pts were treated: 25 pts in the intermittent schedule (25 to 500 mg BID) and 22 patients in the continuous schedule (100 to 400 mg BID). The most frequent RBN-2397-related AEs (all grades) were dysgeusia (26%), decreased appetite (13%), fatigue (11%), and diarrhea (11%). Gr 3/4 RBN-2397-related AEs all occurred in 7 pts (15%) at doses ≥ 200 mg: diarrhea (2 pts, 4%), increased ALT, AST, and bilirubin (1 pt, 2%), and fatigue, anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia in 1 pt (2%) each. The 2 DLTs were Gr 3 febrile neutropenia (400 mg continuous schedule) and Gr 4 increase in ALT/AST (500 mg intermittent schedule). Plasma exposures generally increased dose dependently with the majority at or above the projected efficacious range based on animal studies. All evaluable baseline tumor biopsies showed evidence of PARP7 expression as measured by mRNA in situ hybridization (n = 11; Median tumor H score: 128). In 5 evaluable tumor biopsy pairs, increases in interferon-stimulated gene expression were observed post RBN-2397, consistent with activation of Type I IFN. CXCL10 mRNA increased in all evaluable on-treatment biopsies (1.5 to 8-fold). Several on-treatment biopsies showed enrichment for immune response gene sets that was accompanied by an increase in CD8+ T cells and Granzyme B expression, evidence for induction of an adaptive immune response post RBN-2397. This increase in immune response related genes and CD8+ T cells was observed in a pt with metastatic squamous NSCLC who has been on study for 16+ months. 1 pt with HR+, HER2- breast cancer achieved a confirmed PR at 100 mg and 8 pts had SD for ≥18 weeks (RECIST 1.1). Conclusions: To date, RBN-2397 is well tolerated and demonstrates dose dependent increases in plasma exposures, evidence of target inhibition, and preliminary signs of clinical activity. Determination of MTD/RP2D is imminent and study expansion is planned to evaluate safety and efficacy in squamous NSCLC, HNSCC, HR+ breast cancer, and PARP7 amplified tumors. Clinical trial information: NCT04053673.

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CD8 T Cells and Immunoediting of Breast Cancer

10.21236/ada624685 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Keith L. Knutson

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

T Cells ◽

Cd8 T Cells

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Double positive CD4+CD8+ T cells are part of the adaptive immune response against Candida albicans

Human Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.humimm.2019.09.008 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 80 (12) ◽

pp. 999-1005 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Barbara Misme-Aucouturier ◽

Adel Touahri ◽

Marjorie Albassier ◽

Francine Jotereau ◽

Patrice Le Pape ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

T Cells ◽

Candida Albicans ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Adaptive Immune Response ◽

Double Positive ◽

Adaptive Immune

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Inhibition of the PI3K/mTOR Pathway in Breast Cancer to Enhance Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Breast Cancer

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22105207 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (10) ◽

pp. 5207

Author(s):

Chi Yan ◽

Jinming Yang ◽

Nabil Saleh ◽

Sheau-Chiann Chen ◽

Gregory D. Ayers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

T Cells ◽

Tumor Growth ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Immune Checkpoint ◽

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Mtor Pathway ◽

Complete Regression ◽

Mtor Inhibition

Objectives: Inhibition of the PI3K/mTOR pathway suppresses breast cancer (BC) growth, enhances anti-tumor immune responses, and works synergistically with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). The objective here was to identify a subclass of PI3K inhibitors that, when combined with paclitaxel, is effective in enhancing response to ICI. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were orthotopically implanted with syngeneic luminal/triple-negative-like PyMT cells exhibiting high endogenous PI3K activity. Tumor growth in response to treatment with anti-PD-1 + anti-CTLA-4 (ICI), paclitaxel (PTX), and either the PI3Kα-specific inhibitor alpelisib, the pan-PI3K inhibitor copanlisib, or the broad spectrum PI3K/mTOR inhibitor gedatolisib was evaluated in reference to monotherapy or combinations of these therapies. Effects of these therapeutics on intratumoral immune populations were determined by multicolor FACS. Results: Treatment with alpelisib + PTX inhibited PyMT tumor growth and increased tumor-infiltrating granulocytes but did not significantly affect the number of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and did not synergize with ICI. Copanlisib + PTX + ICI significantly inhibited PyMT growth and increased activation of intratumoral CD8+ T cells as compared to ICI alone, yet did not inhibit tumor growth more than ICI alone. In contrast, gedatolisib + ICI resulted in significantly greater inhibition of tumor growth compared to ICI alone and induced durable dendritic-cell, CD8+ T-cell, and NK-cell responses. Adding PTX to this regimen yielded complete regression in 60% of tumors. Conclusion: PI3K/mTOR inhibition plus PTX heightens response to ICI and may provide a viable therapeutic approach for treatment of metastatic BC.

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TAMI-07. THE IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT IN LOWER GRADE GLIOMAS

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noaa215.896 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. ii214-ii214

Author(s):

Anupam Kumar ◽

Katharine Chen ◽

Claudia Petritsch ◽

Theodore Nicolaides ◽

Mariarita Santi-Vicini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

T Cells ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

T Regulatory Cells ◽

Immune Cell ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Cytotoxic T Cell ◽

Lower Grade ◽

Functional Relationships

Abstract The determinants of the tumor-associated immune response in brain tumors are poorly understood. Using tumor samples from two molecularly distinct subtypes of lower grade glioma, MAPK-driven glioma with biallelic inactivation of CDKN2A (n=30) and IDH-mutant, 1p/19q-intact astrocytoma (n=29), we demonstrate qualitative and quantitative differences in the tumor-associated immune response and we investigate the molecular mechanisms involved. Histologically the MAPK-driven gliomas were comprised of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) (n=11) and anaplastic PXA (n=19). Seven patients had paired samples from two sequential surgeries. Immune cell populations and their activity were determined by quantitative multiplex immunostaining and Digital Spatial Profiling and gene expression was analyzed by Nanostring. Functional studies were performed using established cell lines and two new patient-derived lines from MAPK-driven LGGs. MAPK-driven tumors exhibited an increased number of CD8+ T cells and tumor-associated microglial/macrophage (TAMs), including CD163+ TAMs, as compared to IDH-mutant astrocytoma. In contrast, IDH-mutant tumors had increased FOXP3+ immunosuppressive T regulatory cells. Transcriptional and protein level analyses in MAPK-driven tumors suggested an active cytotoxic T cell response with robust expression of granzyme B, present on 27% of CD8+ T cells, increased MHC class I expression, and altered cytokine profiles. Interestingly, MAPK-driven tumors also had increased expression of immunosuppressive molecules, including CXCR4, PD-L1, and VEGFA. Expression differences for cell surface and secreted proteins were confirmed in patient-derived tumor lines and functional relationships between altered chemokine expression and immune cell infiltration was investigated. Our data provide novel insights into the immune contexture of MAPK driven LGGs and suggest MAPK driven gliomas with biallelic inactivation of CDKN2A may be particularly vulnerable to immunotherapeutic modulation

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