Abstract 4780: CD4 T-lymphocyte responses to the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in patients (pts) with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Abstract

Abstract Background: hTERT is a potential target for cancer immunotherapy because it is highly expressed in tumor cells. To assess the applicability of hTERT-based immunotherapy in NSCLC, we aimed to analyse the natural anti-hTERT CD4 T-lymphocyte responses in advanced NSCLC pts. Methods: We included in a prospective, monocentric study chemonaive NSCLC pts. Pts were required to present stage III or IV tumor, without any immune deficiency or immunosuppressive drug. Before start of chemotherapy, the anti-hTERT T-lymphocyte responses were assessed in whole blood by ELISPOT test. We evaluated the presence or absence of hTERT-specific CD4 T lymphocytes. Thereafter, we analyzed its link with age (< 70 vs. ≥ 70 yrs), ECOG performance status PS (0-1 vs. 2-3), tumoral stage (IIIA vs. IIIb + IV), histological subtype (adenocarcinoma vs. other) and smoking status (never smoker vs. smoker). Statistical analysis was performed using chi-Square or Fischer test. Results: Between February 2008 and October 2009, fifty-one NSCLC pts were included. They presented a stage IIIa (n = 5), IIIb (n = 5) or IV (n = 41) disease. Median age was 66 yrs [39-89]. Nineteen pts presented anti-telomerase CD4 T lymphocytes (37 %); among them we found 14 stage IV (73 %), 13 pts < 70 yrs (68 %), 12 pts with PS 0/1 (63 %), 18 adenocarcinoma/undifferentiated carcinoma (94 %), 13 pts with stable disease/ partial response (68%). Furthermore, all non smokers have anti-telomerase immune response. Conclusions: These preliminary results demonstrate that natural anti-hTERT immune response exists in NSCLC pts, even in case of advanced disease. However the presence of immune response is more frequently found in pts less than 70 yrs with good PS, in non squamous cell carcinoma and in pts with non progressive disease. The study is ongoing to evaluate if baseline anti-hTERT immune response could be used as selection criteria for telomerase vaccination in NSCLC. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4780.