An anti-CD40 activating antibody induces dendritic cell maturation and promotes autologous anti-tumor T cell responses in an in vitro mixed autologous tumor cell/lymph node cell model

Abstract

2537 Background: CD40-mediated interactions play an important role in the response to a variety of diseases, including cancer. Engagement of CD40 on antigen-presenting cells (APC) by CD40L leads to maturation and upregulation of co-stimulatory molecules, B7.1 and B7.2 (CD80 and CD86), which are requisite in the activation of T cells. Clinical trials involving immunologic interventions have shown clinical responses confirming that the immune system can be harnessed for the treatment of cancer. However, the clinical response rate has been low, signifying the need for new immunotherapeutic strategies. To this end, an agonist antibody specific for CD40 has been developed and is being evaluated as a potential anti-cancer agent. Methods: The activation capacity of anti-CD40 antibody CP-870,893 was analyzed by performing flow cytometric analysis of APC maturation markers following incubation of monocyte derived dendritic cells (DC) with the antibody. IL-12 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (Mip1 α) secretion were also analyzed. The effect of the antibody on anti-tumor T cell responses was tested in an autologous human model consisting of tumor cells as stimulator cells and tumor-draining lymph node cells as responders from a series of cancer patients. Results: Cultured DC treated with CP-870,893 consistently display a mature phenotype: robust upregulation of CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR expression, increased Mip1 α secretion, and the loss of antigen presenting capability. IL-12 secretion was not detected. CP-870,893 also promotes the responsiveness of lymph node derived T cells to autologous tumor, indicated by IFNγ and IL-2 ELISpot. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that CP-870,893 binds to and activates DC. A fully autologous mixed lymph node cell/tumor cell model was used to demonstrate that this activation promotes tumor-specific T cell responses. T cells from the tumor draining lymph node are not responsive to autologous tumor cells, however in the presence of CP-870,893 this unresponsiveness is reversed. These data indicate that CP-870,893 warrants further study as an immunotherapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.