Abstract 246: Application of the 3d fresh patient tumoroid platform 3d-explore to assess the immunomodulatory and phagocytic activity of the receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Sunitinib

Abstract

Abstract Background: The receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) Sunitinib has proven useful in the treatment of a variety of tumors. Sunitinib has shown therapeutic activity in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and currently represents a frontline therapy for this disease. The immune modulatory effect of Sunitinib on immune cells within the tumor microenvironment has been well documented. Here, we developed a novel 3D ex-vivo platform (3D-EXplore) using fresh patient tumor samples with intact stromal components and tumor immune microenvironment to assess the therapeutic efficacy of Sunitinib. Methods: All tumor samples were obtained with patient consent and relevant IRB approval. Unpropagated 3D tumoroids with intact TME measuring 150 µm in size were prepared from fresh tumor samples of renal cell carcinoma using a proprietary technology developed at Nilogen Oncosystems. Tumoroids prepared from each patient’s tumor sample were pooled to represent the tumor heterogeneity and treated ex vivo with Sunitinib for 48h to detect treatment-mediated changes in tumor immune cell composition including CD4 and CD8 T-cells, NK cells, and macrophages. Additionally, we analyzed treatment-mediated changes in T-cell activation and phagocytic activity of myeloid cells. Results: Multiparameter flow analysis revealed that Sunitinib treatment led to an increase in CD8+CD25+ central memory-like phenotype and increased granzyme B expression in CD4 and CD8+ T cells indicating T cell activation. Furthermore, multiparameter flow cytometry analysis showed increased EdU uptake by CD8 and NK cells with sunitinib treatment, while cytokine release assays demonstrated increased IFN-γ and IL-2 production accompanied by downregulation of IL-10 and IL-6 cytokines. We observed Sunitinib mediated phagocytotic activity by tumor resident myeloid macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells using a quantitative phagocytosis assay. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that 3D-EXplore using fresh tumor samples provides a clinically relevant platform to assess drug response and serves as a critical tool for reflecting the true intact tumor microenvironment for novel immune-oncology drug development. Citation Format: Brittany Bunch, Krithika N. Kodumudi, Jared Ehrhart, Matt Weitzman, Olivia MacIntosh, Kelly Sussman, Soner Altiok. Application of the 3d fresh patient tumoroid platform 3d-explore to assess the immunomodulatory and phagocytic activity of the receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Sunitinib [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 246.