Checkpoint Genes at the Cancer Side of the Immunological Synapse in Bladder Cancer
TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY
Authors: Dobosz, Paula; Stempor, Przemyslaw A.; Roszik, Jason; Herman, Amir; Layani, Adi; Berger, Raanan; Avni, Dror; Sidi, Yechezkel; Leibowitz-Amit, Raya
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy, but not all cancers respond to the currently available drugs, and even within cancers considered responsive to such modality, response rates range between 15 and 40%, depending on the cancer type, the line of treatment, and yet unknown clinical/molecular factors. Coordinated expression of checkpoint proteins was shown to occur on T cells, probably allowing fine-tuning of the signal transmitted to the cell. We performed a bioinformatic analysis of the expression of putative checkpoint mRNAs at the cancer side of the immunological synapse from the bladder cancer tumorgenome atlas (TCGA) database. Fifteen mRNAs, corresponding to both coinhibitory and costimulatory checkpoints, were shown to be expressed above a designated threshold. Of these, seven mRNAs were found to be coexpressed: CD277, PD-1L, CD48, CD86, galectin-9, TNFRSF14 (HVEM), and CD40. The expression of 2 of these mRNAs-BTN3A1 (CD277) and TNFRSF14 (HVEM)-was positively correlated with overall survival in the TCGA database. All these seven mRNA share putative binding sites of a few transcription factors (TFs). Of these, the expression of the TF BACH-2 was positively correlated with the expression of checkpoint mRNAs from the network. This suggests a joint transcriptional regulation on the expression of checkpoint mRNAs at the bladder tumor side of the immunological synapse.
Phase Ib study of anti-CSF-1R antibody emactuzumab in combination with CD40 agonist selicrelumab in advanced solid tumor patients
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
Authors: Machiels, Jean-Pascal; Gomez-Roca, Carlos; Michot, Jean-Marie; Zamarin, Dmitriy; Mitchell, Tara; Catala, Gaetan; Eberst, Lauriane; Jacob, Wolfgang; Jegg, Anna-Maria; Cannarile, Michael A.; Watson, Carl; Babitzki, Galina; Korski, Konstanty; Klaman, Irina; Teixeira, Priscila; Hoves, Sabine; Ries, Carola; Meneses-Lorente, Georgina; Michielin, Francesca; Christen, Randolph; Ruttinger, Dominik; Weisser, Martin; Delord, Jean-Pierre; Cassier, Philippe
Abstract
Background This phase Ib study evaluated the safety, clinical activity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics (PD) of emactuzumab (anti-colony stimulating factor 1 receptor monoclonal antibody (mAb)) in combination with selicrelumab (agonistic cluster of differentiation 40 mAb) in patients with advanced solid tumors. Methods Both emactuzumab and selicrelumab were administered intravenously every 3 weeks and doses were concomitantly escalated (emactuzumab: 500 to 1000 mg flat; selicrelumab: 2 to 16 mg flat). Dose escalation was conducted using the product of independent beta probabilities dose-escalation design. PD analyzes were performed on peripheral blood samples and tumor/skin biopsies at baseline and on treatment. Clinical activity was evaluated using investigator-based and Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors V.1.1-based tumor assessments. Results Three dose-limiting toxicities (all infusion-related reactions (IRRs)) were observed at 8, 12 and 16 mg of selicrelumab together with 1000 mg of emactuzumab. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached at the predefined top doses of emactuzumab (1000 mg) and selicrelumab (16 mg). The most common adverse events were IRRs (75.7%), fatigue (54.1%), facial edema (37.8%), and increase in aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine phosphokinase (35.1% both). PD analyzes demonstrated an increase of Ki67(+)-activated CD8(+) T cells accompanied by a decrease of B cells and the reduction of CD14(Dim) CD16(bright) monocytes in peripheral blood. The best objective clinical response was stable disease in 40.5% of patients. Conclusion Emactuzumab in combination with selicrelumab demonstrated a manageable safety profile and evidence of PD activity but did not translate into objective clinical responses. Trialregistration number .