Abstract LB-B01: Investigation of immuno-oncology drugs with humanized mouse models: a panel of technologies to evaluate different pharmacological approaches

Abstract

Abstract Immunotherapy is one of the most exciting recent breakthroughs in the field of cancer treatment. Different approaches are developed such as cancer vaccines, adoptive cellular immunotherapy or immune checkpoint blockade, and a number have been regulatory approved or are currently investigated in clinic. Effective immunity against cancer involves complex interaction between the tumor, the host and the environment. The assessment of cancer immunotherapy approaches in preclinical settings requires the use of appropriate animal models that sufficiently reflect the physiological situation in humans and that must be chosen carefully to address specific mechanisms of action. In light of evaluating the therapeutic potential of different immunomodulatory agents in mice xenografted with cancer cell lines or patient-derived xenografts, we developed multiple humanization strategies on different immuno-deficient mouse strains. Either human PBMCs, Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), or specific human immune cells such as Dendritic Cells (DCs), T cells, subset of T cells (e.g. gamma9 delta2 T cells) and NK cells were used, but also the combinations of immune subpopulations such as the co-transfer of autologous T cells and DCs. We will highlight some results of our therapeutic efficacy investigation and evaluation of novel immuno-oncology therapies eg. adoptive cell therapy, bispecific T-cell engager antibody, and vaccine immunomodulatory agents in such humanized mouse models, assessing survival, tumor growth and effects on tumors and immune cells by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry analyses. All these different humanized models can permit to evidence significant in vivo antitumor efficacy of immunomodulatory agents and might help to increase the success rate in clinical trials. Citation Format: Caroline Mignard, Olivier Duchamp, Josselin Caradec, Francis Bichat, Damien France, Fabrice Viviani, Jean François Mirjolet. Investigation of immuno-oncology drugs with humanized mouse models: a panel of technologies to evaluate different pharmacological approaches [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-B01. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-LB-B01