Increased Interferon Gamma Research Articles

Abstract PO5-02-05: Assessing Vaccine-Mediated Cellular Immune Responses in Patients Receiving Combined Vaccine and Chemotherapy Treatment

Abstract Background: We showed recently that immunizing breast cancer patients with the P10s-PADRE vaccine in combination with chemotherapy activates both humoral and cellular immune responses. Induction of specific antibody response was easily determined by measuring anti-P10s antibodies, however, we observed increase in serum interferon-gamma (IFNg) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) as well as activation of Natural Killer (NK) and T-cells, accurate assessing of which proved complicated due to the non-specific impact of chemotherapy. This study was undertaken to further distinguish the vaccine-induced cellular immune responses from the immune effects induced by chemotherapy, and to evaluate their potential contributions to anti-tumor activity. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from twenty-five subjects who received a combination of P10s-PADRE and standard-of-care chemotherapy were utilized for gene expression analysis and various immune assays. PBMC samples collected before and after treatment were subjected to flow cytometry and ELISpot assays, as well as bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses. For functional assays PBMCs were stimulated with P10s, P10s-PADRE, anti-CD3/CD28, and tumor cell lysates. Differential gene expression analysis, gene set analysis, Hiearchical Clustering, and principal component analysis were performed. Results: Non-specific (anti-CD3/CD28) and specific (peptide, cancer cells) stimulation of PBMCs significantly activated immune cells in post-immune samples compared to pre-immune samples as measured by cytokine secretion, with IFNg being the dominant cytokine secreted. Flow cytometry showed activation of both natural killer and CD8+ cells measured by a significant increase in CD69 expression. These data plus detection of Ab response suggests induction of both humoral and cellular immune responses. However, bulk RNA-seq performed on 24 patients indicate a dramatic reduction of B, T, and NK cells in the post-immune samples. Deconvolution reanalysis of the bulk sequencing data together with complementary scRNA-seq analysis of PBMCs of select subjects supports vaccine-mediated activation of both CD8+ and NK cells and suggests NK cells as a source of detected serum increase in IFNg and TNFα. Conclusions: The P10s-PADRE vaccine elicits substantial and quantifiable cellular and humoral immune responses, despite the deleterious effects of chemotherapy on effector immune cells involved. The evidence indicates that the activation of both CD8+ and NK cells is facilitated by the vaccine. It is probable that the NK cells are the primary contributors of IFNγ and TNFα. These findings carry considerable implications for the structuring of advanced phase trials and the potential application of the vaccine in treating other forms of malignancies. Citation Format: Donald Johann, Fariba Jousheghany, Emily Blitz, Bernice Nounamo, Sam Makhoul, Eric Siegel, Thomas Kieber-Emmons, Behjatolah Monzavi-Karbassi. Assessing Vaccine-Mediated Cellular Immune Responses in Patients Receiving Combined Vaccine and Chemotherapy Treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-02-05.

Characterization of Th17 tissue-resident memory cells in non-inflamed intestinal tissue of Crohn's disease patients

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the bowel wall. Tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells are implicated in CD, yet their characteristics remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the transcriptional profiles and functional characteristics of Trm cells in the small bowel of CD and their interactions with immune cells. Seven patients with CD and four with ulcerative colitis as controls were included. Single-cell RNA sequencing and paired T cell receptor sequencing assessed T cell subsets and transcriptional signatures in lamina propria (LP) and submucosa/muscularis propria-enriched fractions (SM/MP) from small bowel tissue samples. We detected 58,123 T cells grouped into 16 populations, including the CD4+ Trm cells with a Th17 signature and CD8+ Trm clusters. In CD, CD4+ Trm cells with a Th17 signature, termed Th17 Trm, showed significantly increased proportions within both the LP and SM/MP areas. The Th17 Trm cluster demonstrated heightened expression of tissue-residency marker genes (ITGAE, ITGA1, and CXCR6) along with elevated levels of IL17A, IL22, CCR6, and CCL20. The clonal expansion of Th17 Trm cells in CD was accompanied by enhanced transmural dynamic potential, as indicated by significantly higher migration scores. CD-prominent Th17 Trm cells displayed an increased interferon gamma (IFNγ)-related signature possibly linked with STAT1 activation, inducing chemokines (i.e., CXCL10, CXCL8, and CXCL9) in myeloid cells. Our findings underscored the elevated Th17 Trm cells throughout the small bowel in CD, contributing to disease pathogenesis through IFNγ induction and subsequent chemokine production in myeloid cells.

P1194 Single-cell analysis reveals clonal expansions of pro-inflammatory tissue-resident memory Th17 cells in Crohn's disease

Abstract Background Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the bowel wall. Tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells are implicated in CD, yet their characteristics remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the transcriptional profiles and functional characteristics of Trm cells in the small bowel of CD and their interactions with immune cells. Methods Seven patients with CD and four with ulcerative colitis as controls were included. Single-cell RNA sequencing and paired T cell receptor sequencing assessed T cell subsets and transcriptional signatures in lamina propria (LP) and submucosa/muscularis propria-enriched fractions (SM/MP) from small bowel tissue samples. Results We identified 58,123 T cells grouped into 16 populations, including the Th17 Trm, CD4+ Trm, and CD8+ Trm clusters. In patients with CD, we identified Trm cells with a Th17 signature (termed Th17 Trm) in the bowel, demonstrating significantly increased proportions of the Th17 Trm cluster in both the LP and SM/MP areas. The Th17 Trm cluster demonstrated heightened expression of canonical tissue-residency marker genes (ITGAE, ITGA1, and CXCR6) along with elevated levels of IL17A, IL22, CCR6, and CCL20. The clonal expansion of Th17 Trm cells in CD was accompanied by enhanced transmural dynamic potential, as indicated by significantly higher migration scores. CD-prominent Th17 Trm cells displayed an increased interferon gamma (IFNγ)-related signature linked with STAT1 activation, inducing chemokines (i.e., CXCL10, CXCL8, and CXCL9) in myeloid cells. Conclusion Our findings underscored the elevated Th17 Trm cells throughout the small bowel in CD, contributing to disease pathogenesis through IFNγ induction and subsequent chemokine production in myeloid cells.

DEAD-box helicase 1 inhibited CD8+ T cell antitumor activity by inducing PD-L1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) does not respond well to current treatments, even immune checkpoint inhibitors. PD-L1 (programmed cell death ligand 1 or CD274 molecule)-mediated immune escape of tumor cells may be a key factor affecting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. However, the regulatory mechanisms of PD-L1 expression and immune escape require further exploration. Here, we observed that DDX1 (DEAD-box helicase 1) was overexpressed in HCC tissues and associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Additionally, DDX1 expression correlated negatively with CD8+ T cell frequency. DDX1 overexpression significantly increased interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-mediated PD-L1 expression in HCC cell lines. DDX1 overexpression decreased IFN-γ and granzyme B production in CD8+ T cells and inhibited CD8+ T cell cytotoxic function invitro and invivo. In conclusion, DDX1 plays an essential role in developing the immune escape microenvironment, rendering it a potential predictor of ICI therapy efficacy in HCC.

A novel patient-derived 3D model recapitulates mantle cell lymphoma lymph node signaling, immune profile and in vivo ibrutinib responses

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a rare and aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mainly develops in the lymph node (LN) and creates a protective and immunosuppressive niche that facilitates tumor survival, proliferation and chemoresistance. To capture disease heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment (TME) cues, we have developed the first patient-derived MCL spheroids (MCL-PDLS) that recapitulate tumor oncogenic pathways and immune microenvironment in a multiplexed system that allows easy drug screening, including immunotherapies. MCL spheroids, integrated by tumor B cells, monocytes and autologous T-cells self-organize in disc-shaped structures, where B and T-cells maintain viability and proliferate, and monocytes differentiate into M2-like macrophages. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that tumor cells recapitulate hallmarks of MCL-LN (proliferation, NF-kB and BCR), with T cells exhibiting an exhaustion profile (PD1, TIM-3 and TIGIT). MCL-PDLS reproduces in vivo responses to ibrutinib and demonstrates that combination of ibrutinib with nivolumab (anti-PD1) may be effective in ibrutinib-resistant cases by engaging an immune response with increased interferon gamma and granzyme B release. In conclusion, MCL-PDLS recapitulates specific MCL-LN features and in vivo responses to ibrutinib, representing a robust tool to study MCL interaction with the immune TME and to perform drug screening in a patient-derived system, advancing toward personalized therapeutic approaches.

Abstract NG01: Dendritic cell intrinsic androgen receptor signaling reduces dendritic cell function and anti-tumor immunity

Abstract NG01: Dendritic cell intrinsic androgen receptor signaling reduces dendritic cell function and anti-tumor immunity

T Cell Nrf2/Keap1 Gene Editing Using CRISPR/Cas9 and Experimental Kidney Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Aims: T cells play pathophysiologic roles in kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Nrf2/Keap1) pathway regulates T cell responses. We hypothesized that clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-mediated Keap1-knockout (KO) augments Nrf2 antioxidant potential of CD4+ T cells, and that Keap1-KO CD4+ T cell immunotherapy protects from kidney IRI. Results: CD4+ T cell Keap1-KO resulted in significant increase of Nrf2 target genes NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1, heme oxygenase 1, glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit, and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit. Keap1-KO cells displayed no signs of exhaustion, and had significantly lower levels of interleukin 2 (IL2) and IL6 in normoxic conditions, but increased interferon gamma in hypoxic conditions in vitro. In vivo, adoptive transfer of Keap1-KO CD4+ T cells before IRI improved kidney function in T cell-deficient nu/nu mice compared with mice receiving unedited control CD4+ T cells. Keap1-KO CD4+ T cells isolated from recipient kidneys 24 h post IR were less activated compared with unedited CD4+ T cells, isolated from control kidneys. Innovation: Editing Nrf2/Keap1 pathway in murine T cells using CRISPR/Cas9 is an innovative and promising immunotherapy approach for kidney IRI and possibly other solid organ IRI. Conclusion: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Keap1-KO increased Nrf2-regulated antioxidant gene expression in murine CD4+ T cells, modified responses to in vitro hypoxia and in vivo kidney IRI. Gene editing targeting the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway in T cells is a promising approach for immune-mediated kidney diseases.

Single cell analysis via mass cytometry of spontaneous intestinal perforation reveals alterations in small intestinal innate and adaptive mucosal immunity.

Spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) is a poorly understood severe gastrointestinal complications of prematurity which is poorly understood. Extremely premature infants born prior to 28 weeks' gestation develop a localized perforation of the terminal ileum during the first week of life and therapy involves surgery and cessation of enteral feeds. Little is known regardj g the impact of mucosal immune dysfunction on disease pathogenesis. We performed mass cytometry time of flight (CyTOF) of small intestinal mucosa of patients with SIP (Gestational age (GA) 24 - 27 weeks, n=8) compared to patients who had surgery for non-SIP conditions (neonatal (GA >36 weeks, n=5 ) and fetal intestine from elective terminations (GA 18-21 weeks, n=4). CyTOF analysis after stimulation of T cells with PMA/Ionomycin was also performed. We noted changes in innate and adaptive mucosal immunity in SIP. SIP mucosa had an expansion of ckit+ neutrophils, an influx of naïve CD4 and CD8 T cells and a reduction of effector memory T cells. SIP T cells were characterized by reduced CCR6 and CXCR3 expression and increased interferon gamma expression after stimulation. These findings suggest that previously unrecognized immune dysregulation is associated with SIP and should be explored in future studies.

Translational potential of JAX humanized APOE mice: Peripheral interferon gamma induces systemic immuno‐metabolic dysfunction

AbstractBackgroundInflammation is a well‐documented feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in human brain. Previous findings from our group demonstrated upregulated immune transcripts in the AD brain as well as sex differences in immune transcript levels during pre‐clinical midlife aging. Using our humanized APOE mouse model, we identified elevated immune transcripts in the female brain including interferon signaling genes, CD3, CD4, and MHCII. We hypothesized that activation via increased interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) during endocrine aging may disrupt the immune‐metabolic balance in the brain and therefore advance changes in grey and white matter. With this study, we test the hypothesis that increased levels of peripheral IFN‐γ induces genotype dependent immuno‐metabolic changes in the JAX humanized APOE (hAPOE) mouse model.MethodTo determine the role of IFN‐γ in female midlife aging and AD risk, pre‐menopausal and peri‐menopausal hAPOE mice were intraperitoneally treated with recombinant IFN‐γ for 9 days. Immunophenotyping using multi‐color flow cytometry was conducted microglial reactivity, phagocytosis, neutral lipid content, oxidative stress, and the presence of lymphocytes were determined. Structural and diffusion weighted analysis using MRI was conducted to evaluate grey and white matter structural integrity in the brain. ELISA assays were conducted to assess the presence of beta amyloid 40 and 42 and levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines.ResultIFN‐γ treated animals exhibited upregulation of markers that perpetuate neuroinflammation and white matter catabolism including MHCII, CD8, pHrodo, and BODIPY. Peripheral immune effects were genotype dependent while immune signaling in brain largely exhibited treatment‐dependent effects. Fasting blood glucose levels were significantly increased by IFN‐γ consistent with an accelerated aging profile. Diffusion metrics including mean and radial kurtosis in addition to mean, axial, and radial diffusivity were greater in IFN‐treated animals.ConclusionPeripheral increase of interferon gamma signaling during female endocrine aging in hAPOE mice induced 1) dysfunction of metabolic systems and neuroinflammatory response and 2) decreases in white and grey matter microstructural integrity throughout the brain. These outcomes support the investigation of therapeutic strategies targeting interferon signaling pathways at the earliest stages of midlife aging to reduce risk of AD or delay AD onset.

Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist R848 alters the immune tumor microenvironment and enhances SBRT-induced antitumor efficacy in murine models of pancreatic cancer

BackgroundStereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been increasingly used as adjuvant therapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and induces immunogenic cell death, which leads to the release of tumor antigen and...

Targeting the Axl and mTOR Pathway Synergizes Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy to Butylidenephthalide in a Recurrent GBM.

Background The role of inherent tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive microenvironment in therapeutic resistance has been determined to be of importance for the better management of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Some studies have suggested that combined drugs with divergent mechanisms may be promising in treating recurrent GBM. Methods Intracranial sustained (Z)-n-butylidenephthalide [(Z)-BP] delivery through Cerebraca Wafers (CWs) to eliminate unresectable brain tumors was combined with the administration of temozolomide (TMZ), pembrolizumab, and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells for treating a patient with recurrent glioblastoma. Neurological adverse events and wound healing delay were monitored for estimating tolerance and efficacy. Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology criteria were applied to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS); further, the molecular characteristics of GBM tissues were analyzed, and the underlying mechanism was investigated using primary culture. Results Intracerebral (Z)-BP in residual tumors could not only inhibit cancer stem cells but also increase interferon gamma levels in serum, which then led to the regression of GBM and an immune-responsive microenvironment. Targeting receptor tyrosine kinases, including Axl and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and inhibiting the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) through (Z)-BP were determined to synergize CIK cells in the presence of pembrolizumab and TMZ in recurrent GBM. Therefore, this well-tolerated regimen could simultaneously block multiple cancer pathways, which allowed extended PFS and improved quality of life for 22 months. Conclusion Given the several unique functions of (Z)-BP, greater sensitivity of chemotherapy and the synergism of pembrolizumab and CIK cells could have affected the excellent prognosis seen in this patient with recurrent GBM.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) circulating tumor cells influence myeloid cell differentiation to support their survival and immunoresistance in portal vein circulation.

The portal venous circulation provides a conduit for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor cells to the liver parenchyma sinusoids, a frequent site of metastasis. Turbulent flow in the portal circulation promotes retention of PDAC shed circulating tumor cells (CTC) and myeloid-derived immunosuppressor cells (MDSC). Excessive colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R) signaling can induce myeloid differentiation to MDSC and transformation of MDSC to myeloid-derived fibroblasts (M-FB). Interactions between PDAC CTC and M-FB in the portal blood promotes the formation of immunoresistant clusters that enhance CTC proliferation, migration, and survival. Analysis of portal and peripheral blood samples collected intraoperatively from 30 PDAC patients undergoing pancreatico-duodenectomy showed that PDAC patient plasma contained high levels of macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF/CSF1), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF/CSF2), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-34 (IL-34) compared to healthy control levels. Moreover, the level of M-CSF in portal blood was significantly higher than that detected in the peripheral blood of PDAC patients. PDAC CTC aseptically isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) out of freshly collected patient portal blood mononuclear cells (PortalBMC) had elevated RNA expression of IL34 (IL-34 gene) and CSF1 (M-CSF/CSF1 gene) which both signal through CSF1R. PDAC CTC also had high levels of RNA expression for CXCL8, the gene encoding chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) which can attract myeloid cells through their CXCR2 receptors. FACS-isolated portal PDAC CTC and M-FB co-cultured ex vivo had increased CTC proliferation, motility, and cluster formation compared to CTC cultured alone. CSF1R and CXCR2 cell surface expression were found on PDAC portal blood CTC and M-FB, suggesting that both cell types may respond to M-CSF, IL-34, and IL-8-mediated signaling. Portal PDAC CTC displayed enhanced RNA expression of CSF1 and IL34, while CTC+M-FB+ clusters formed in vivo had increased RNA expression of CSF2 and IL34. Portal M-FB were found to have high CSF1R RNA expression. CTC isolated from ex vivo 7-day cultures of PDAC patient portal blood mononuclear cells (PortalBMC) expressed elevated CSF1, IL34, and IL8 RNA, and CSF1 expression was elevated in M-FB. Treatment with rabbit anti-CSF1R antibodies decreased CTC proliferation. Treatment of PortalBMC cultures with humanized anti-CSF1R, humanized anti-IL-8, or anti-IL-34 antibodies disrupted CTC cluster formation and increased CTC apoptosis. U937 myeloid precursor cell line cultures treated with conditioned media from PortalBMC ex vivo cultures without treatment or treated with anti-IL-8 and/or anti-CSF1R did not prevent myeloid differentiation in the myeloid precursor cell line U937 to macrophage, dendritic cell, MDSC, and M-FB phenotypes; whereas, U937 cultures treated with conditioned media from PortalBMC ex vivo cultures exposed to anti-IL-34 were significantly inhibited in their myeloid differentiation to all but the M-FB phenotype. PDAC patient T cells that were found phenotypically anergic (CD3+CD25+CTLA4+PD1L1+) in PortalBMC could be re-activated (CD3+CD25+CTLA4-PD1L1-), and displayed increased interferon gamma (IFNγ) production when PortalBMC ex vivo cultures were treated with anti-CSF1R, anti-IL-8, and anti-IL-34 antibodies alone or in combination. These findings suggest that PDAC CTC have the potential to influence myeloid differentiation and/or antigen presenting cell activation in the PDAC portal blood microenvironment, and that disruption of CTC/M-FB interactions may be potential targets for reversing the immunosuppression supporting CTC survival in the portal blood.

Abstract P5-16-02: Updated efficacy, safety and translational data from MARIO-3, a phase II open-label study evaluating a novel triplet combination of eganelisib (IPI-549), atezolizumab (atezo), and nab-paclitaxel (nab-pac) as first-line (1L) therapy for locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)

Abstract Background: Eganelisib is a first-in-class, oral, immuno-oncology macrophage reprogramming agent. The IMpassion130 randomized trial in 1L advanced TNBC has demonstrated improved efficacy with the addition of atezo to nab-pac in patients with PD-L1+ tumors. Adding eganelisib to the approved doublet of atezo and nab-pac is expected to improve patient benefit regardless of PD-L1 status. Methods: Eligible patients (pts) had measurable unresectable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC and no prior systemic therapy for advanced disease. A safety run-in assessed the safety of the triplet of oral eganelisib 30 mg daily in combination with IV nab-pac 100 mg/m2 given on days 1, 8, & 15, and IV atezo 840 mg given on days 1 & 15 of a 28 day cycle. After establishing tolerability and confirmation of the 30 mg dose in the safety run-in (n=6), the expansion phase of the phase II study was initiated to enroll approximately 60 pts (30 PD-L1+ and 30 PD-L1-). Cycles are repeated until loss of clinical benefit, unacceptable toxicity or consent withdrawal. The primary efficacy endpoint is confirmed complete response (CR) rate per RECIST v1.1. Secondary endpoints include the overall response rate (ORR), progression free survival and safety assessment. Results: As of 6/26/2021, data from the safety run-in and the expansion cohorts are reported for 43 pts evaluable for safety and 38 evaluable for efficacy defined as having at least one post-baseline tumor assessment. 2 CRs (2/38), 19 PRs (19/38), and 11 SDs (11/38) were observed with an ORR of 55.3% (21/38) and a disease control rate (DCR) of 84.2% (32/38). Responses were seen irrespective of PD-L1 status; in PD-L1+ pts, ORR is 66.7% (8/12) and DCR is 91.7% (11/12), and in PD-L1- pts, ORR is 47.8% (11/23) and DCR is 78.3% (18/23). The most common all-grade adverse events were nausea (51.2%), fatigue (48.8%), alopecia (32.6%), diarrhea (32.6%), rash maculo-papular (30.2%), ALT increased (27.9%), and AST increased (25.6%). The most common grade ≥3 adverse events were ALT increased (18.6%), AST increased (14.0%), neutrophil count decreased (9.3%) and rash maculo-papular (9.3%). The safety profile is acceptable and in line with expectations of component drugs with no additive or new safety signals. Translational data from paired biopsies show a shift in tumor associated macrophages towards an immune activated state as well as an increase in cytotoxic T cells. In addition, a subset of tumors with baseline PD-L1 negative status show conversion to PD-L1 positive status post treatment. Consistent with immune activation, increased interferon gamma signature, increased proinflammatory cytokines and T cell invigoration were observed in peripheral blood cells. Conclusions: The novel triplet regimen of eganelisib, atezo, and nab-pac shows promising anti-tumor activity (ORR 55.3% and DCR 84.2%) irrespective of PD-L1 status and has manageable toxicity. . Translational data from paired biopsies and peripheral blood show evidence of immune activation regardless of PD-L1 status as well as conversion from PD-L1 negative to PD-L1 positive subtype within a subset of patients treated with the triplet regimen. The expansion phase of the phase II study is currently enrolling. At the time of presentation, we will have updated efficacy, safety and translational data. Citation Format: Soliman Hatem, Jeffrey Hargis, Anthony Elias, Arielle Lee, Rachel Swart, Shaker Dahkil, Alexandra Drakaki, Vu Phan, Frederic Kass, Melody Cobleigh, Sanil Babu, Katherine Tkaczuk, Brenda O'Connell, Jennifer Roberts, Nora Zizlsperger, Erika Hamilton. Updated efficacy, safety and translational data from MARIO-3, a phase II open-label study evaluating a novel triplet combination of eganelisib (IPI-549), atezolizumab (atezo), and nab-paclitaxel (nab-pac) as first-line (1L) therapy for locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-16-02.

Abstract OT1-16-01: A multicenter phase II study of vaccines to prevent recurrence in patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer

Abstract Background: HER2-positive breast cancer patients are commonly treated with neoadjuvant therapy including HER2-targeted therapy. Patients who have residual invasive disease have less favorable outcomes with an increased risk of recurrent disease than patients with complete pathologic response (pCR). It has also been observed that these non-pCR patients have low or absent anti-HER-2 CD4 Th1 responses. We hypothesized that correcting the anti-HER-2 CD4 Th1 response using vaccines will increase interferon gamma production which we have shown is a potent inducer of apoptosis and senescence in HER2-positive breast cancer. This study will be evaluating safety and immunogenicity of two vaccines (multivalent anti-oncodriver DNA vaccine (WOKVAC) or HER-2-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine (DC1)). Methods: This is a multi-center, phase 2, randomized study to determine the safety and tolerability of HER2 vaccines (DC1 and WOKVAC), assess immunogenicity, and evaluate recurrence free survival. Patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (stage I-III) are eligible if they have residual invasive disease in the breast or axilla at surgery after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus HER2 -targeted therapy. Patients are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive 1 of 2 adjuvant HER2 vaccines, either DC1 or WOKVAC for 1 year. A permuted-block randomization scheme was used with stratification according to residual cancer burden (RCB) (1+2 vs 3). The primary end points are safety and immunogenicity (immune response rate measured by ELISPOT). Each treatment arm will be assessed separately. Any statistical comparison between arms is purely exploratory, as this study is neither designed nor powered for comparative hypotheses. Secondary endpoints include recurrence-free survival. Exploratory analyses include the assessment of prognostic and predictive biomarkers including circulating tumor cells, serum HER2 levels, and other immune markers. The enrollment began in 2018 and we plan to accrue the total of 110 patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03384914 Citation Format: Hyo S Han, Mary Disis, Robert Wesolowski, Carla Fisher, Shipra Gandhi, Nancy Chan, William Gwin, Keerthi Gogineni, Rosemarie Mick, Christina Sierra Rodriguez, Deanna Hogue, Hien Liu, Ricardo Costa, Brian Czerniecki. A multicenter phase II study of vaccines to prevent recurrence in patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT1-16-01.

The Therapeutic Effect of Traditional LiuJunZi Decoction on Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma in Balb/C Mice

Aim To investigate the therapeutic effect of LiuJunZi decoction (LJZD) in an experimental model of asthma and uncover its potential mechanism. Materials and Methods The ovalbumin (OVA) was applied to induce asthma in Balb/C mice, and LJZD was orally administrated to asthmatic mice. The lung function and histological lesion were evaluated by airway hyperresponsiveness assay, lung edema assay, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The amounts of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ TReg cells were analyzed through combining fluorescent antibody staining with flow cytometry assay. The levels of inflammatory factors and immunoglobulins were detected by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of miR-21 and miR-146a was investigated by real-time PCR. The protein expression of activating protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and NF-κB inhibitor alpha (IκBα) was determined by western blotting. Results LJZD improves OVA-induced asthma in Balb/C mice, which is manifested by decreasing lung edema, Penh levels, lung histological lesion, and inflammatory cell infiltration. LJZD increased the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ TReg cells in blood mononuclear cells from asthmatic mice. Furthermore, LJZD reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin- (IL-) 4, IL-6, IgG1, and IgE, but increased interferon gamma (IFN-γ) expression, in serum of asthmatic mice, and also decreased the expression of IL-17a, IL-23, IL-25, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (Tslp) in lung tissues. In addition, miR-21 and miR-146a expression and phospho (p)-NF-κB, p-IκBα, and AP-1 protein expression were inhibited by LJZD in lung tissues from asthmatic mice. Conclusion LJZD improved OVA-induced asthma in Balb/C mice by inhibiting allergic inflammation and Th2 immunoreaction, which might be associated with the inactivation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

MP48-02 SINGLE CELL RNA SEQUENCING OF UTUC IS FEASIBLE AND REVEALS HETEROGENEITY OF THE TUMOR AND IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT

You have accessJournal of UrologyBladder Cancer: Upper Tract Transitional Cell Carcinoma II (MP48)1 Sep 2021MP48-02 SINGLE CELL RNA SEQUENCING OF UTUC IS FEASIBLE AND REVEALS HETEROGENEITY OF THE TUMOR AND IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT Peter Reisz, Andrew Tracey, Fengshen Kuo, Jasmine Thomas, Quinlan Demac, Tim Clinton, Hong Truong, Andrew Lenis, Lucas Nogueira, Karan Nagar, Taha Merghoub, Bernard Bochner, Eugene Pietzak, David Solit, Kwanghee Kim, and Jonathan Coleman Peter ReiszPeter Reisz More articles by this author , Andrew TraceyAndrew Tracey More articles by this author , Fengshen KuoFengshen Kuo More articles by this author , Jasmine ThomasJasmine Thomas More articles by this author , Quinlan DemacQuinlan Demac More articles by this author , Tim ClintonTim Clinton More articles by this author , Hong TruongHong Truong More articles by this author , Andrew LenisAndrew Lenis More articles by this author , Lucas NogueiraLucas Nogueira More articles by this author , Karan NagarKaran Nagar More articles by this author , Taha MerghoubTaha Merghoub More articles by this author , Bernard BochnerBernard Bochner More articles by this author , Eugene PietzakEugene Pietzak More articles by this author , David SolitDavid Solit More articles by this author , Kwanghee KimKwanghee Kim More articles by this author , and Jonathan ColemanJonathan Coleman More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002074.02AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) has unique clinical and molecular characteristics compared to bladder UC. Prior investigations have used bulk profiling of tumor tissue to identify molecular subtypes, classifying the majority of UTUC as luminal and T-cell depleted. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) allows examination of intra-tumoral heterogeneity and the immune tumor microenvironment (TME). We applied scRNA-seq to better characterize UTUC. METHODS: scRNA-seq was performed on 16 UTUC tissue specimens using an established institutional process and the 10X Genomics platform. Sequencing reads were aligned/captured by 10X Cellranger, R/Seurat package. We assessed the composition of each specimen with known marker genes for molecular subtypes. We then assessed the composition of immune cells in each specimen using known marker genes. We compared high- (HG) and low-grade (LG) specimens by subtype composition and immune cell infiltrates. RESULTS: Table 1 describes cohort characteristics and sequencing metrics. Lineage density analyses demonstrate intra-tumoral heterogeneity with luminal subtype predominance across all samples. CD45+ cell analysis revealed significant heterogeneity of immune cell infiltrates (Figure 1). There were no significant differences in immune cell populations in HG vs. LG. Increased interferon gamma (IFNg) expression in tumor cells is associated with significantly increased immune cell infiltration (Spearman’s rank correlation r = 0.71, p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our scRNA-seq data confirmed luminal subtype predominance and described the heterogeneous TME in UTUC. The statistically significant relationship of tumor cell IFNg with increased overall immune cell infiltration is notable and may have implications for systemic therapy response. Further high-resolution studies are needed to expand our knowledge of the molecular biology and TME of UTUC with implications for treatment selection and disease surveillance. Source of Funding: Thompson Family Foundation © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e863-e863 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Peter Reisz More articles by this author Andrew Tracey More articles by this author Fengshen Kuo More articles by this author Jasmine Thomas More articles by this author Quinlan Demac More articles by this author Tim Clinton More articles by this author Hong Truong More articles by this author Andrew Lenis More articles by this author Lucas Nogueira More articles by this author Karan Nagar More articles by this author Taha Merghoub More articles by this author Bernard Bochner More articles by this author Eugene Pietzak More articles by this author David Solit More articles by this author Kwanghee Kim More articles by this author Jonathan Coleman More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...

Evaluating the impact of age on immune checkpoint therapy biomarkers.

SUMMARYBoth tumors and aging alter the immune landscape of tissues. These interactions may play an important role in tumor progression among elderly patients and may suggest considerations for patient care. We leverage large-scale genomic and clinical databases to perform comprehensive comparative analysis of molecular and cellular markers of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response with patient age. These analyses demonstrate that aging is associated with increased tumor mutational burden, increased expression and decreased promoter methylation of immune checkpoint genes, and increased interferon gamma signaling in older patients in many cancer types studied, all of which are expected to promote ICB efficacy. Concurrently, we observe age-related alterations that might be expected to reduce ICB efficacy, such as decreases in T cell receptor diversity. Altogether, these changes suggest the capacity for robust ICB response in many older patients, which may warrant large-scale prospective study on ICB therapies among patients of advanced age.

Abstract 1651: Contextual immune sensitisation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to anti GITR agonist

Abstract Introduction: Harnessing the potential of immune-activating agents like glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor (GITR) agonists, especially in highly aggressive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents an attractive opportunity. The success of immune targeting has, however, been met with limited clinical success. This warrants careful selection of pre-clinical models that efficiently recapitulate the immune heterogeneity within human PDAC for testing and developing immunotherapeutic strategies. Experimental Procedures: Syngeneic mouse models established using cell lines derived from genetically engineered mouse models were characterized into T cell high (TCH) and T cell low (TCL) groups using putative T cell genes. Subcutaneous tumors from one TCH and another TCL syngeneic model were treated with mouse anti-GITR agonist (DTA-1; n=10) or isotype control (IgG; n=10). Tumors were profiled using a multi-parametric approach utilizing custom-designed NanoString panel, 12-colour flow cytometry (FACS), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Luminex to assess immune-associated changes. Results: Clustering analysis categorized syngeneic models into TCH and TCL, which was similar to patient PDAC. A significant survival benefit (p<0.05) along with reduced tumor burden was observed in DTA-1 treated TCH model compared to IgG control. This was supported by significant (p<0.05) enrichment of GranzymeB+ CD8+ T cells by co-immunostaining and increased interferon (IFN) gamma expression by Luminex (p<0.05). PDL1 expression, by mRNA and FACS, was also significantly upregulated in DTA-1 treated TCH tumors. On the other hand, treatment with DTA-1 led to poorer survival (p<0.05) and significantly higher tumor burden than IgG in the TCL model. Apart from the downregulation of T cell genes, DTA-1 led to increased Ly6C expression (monocyte/macrophage marker) and stark enrichment of IFN gamma expression. More importantly, treatment with DTA-1 in the TCH model resulted in a switch to the classical PDAC subtype genes in contrast to quasi-mesenchymal gene upregulation in DTA-1 treated TCL model. Conclusions: Our results indicate differential anti-tumor immune response mediated by DTA-1 in models with distinct immune composition. The study highlights the importance of patient selection for maximal treatment benefit and reducing the risk of unnecessary cytotoxicity. Finally, our models prove useful for personalized testing and validation of existing and novel immunotherapeutic modalities. Citation Format: Krisha Desai, Chanthirika Ragulan, Patrick Varun Lawrence, Gary Box, Elisa Fontana, Kate Young, James Larkin, David Cunningham, Naureen Starling, Anguraj Sadanandam. Contextual immune sensitisation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to anti GITR agonist [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1651.

Phenotypic and Functional Characteristics of a Novel Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin-Specific Memory NK Cell.

Immune memory represents the most efficient defense against invasion and transmission of infectious pathogens. In contrast to memory T and B cells, the roles of innate immunity in recall responses remain inconclusive. In this study, we identified a novel mouse spleen NK cell subset expressing NKp46 and NKG2A induced by intranasal influenza virus infection. These memory NK cells specifically recognize N-linked glycosylation sites on influenza hemagglutinin (HA) protein. Different from memory-like NK cells reported previously, these NKp46+ NKG2A+ memory NK cells exhibited HA-specific silence of cytotoxicity but increase of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) response against influenza virus-infected cells, which could be reversed by pifithrin-μ, a p53-heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) signaling inhibitor. During recall responses, splenic NKp46+ NKG2A+ NK cells were recruited to infected lung and modulated viral clearance of virus and CD8+ T cell distribution, resulting in improved clinical outcomes. This long-lived NK memory bridges innate and adaptive immune memory response and promotes the homeostasis of local environment during recall response.IMPORTANCE In this study, we demonstrate a novel hemagglutinin (HA)-specific NKp46+ NKG2A+ NK cell subset induced by influenza A virus infection. These memory NK cells show virus-specific decreased cytotoxicity and increased gamma interferon (IFN-γ) on reencountering the same influenza virus antigen. In addition, they modulate host recall responses and CD8 T cell distribution, thus bridging the innate immune and adaptive immune responses during influenza virus infection.

LINGO2 expression on T cells promotes anti-helminth immunity

Abstract T helper type 2 (TH2) cells are critical for clearance of parasitic helminth infections. Their coordinated efforts harness cellular and molecular pathways to expel worms, resolve intestinal inflammation and drive tissue repair. Yet the mechanisms that control TH2 cell activation, maintenance, and downregulation remain unknown. We recently demonstrated that Leucine rich repeat and Ig domain containing 2 (LINGO2) can function as a receptor for the mucosal reparative cytokine, Trefoil factor 3, to limit epithelial damage, colitic disease and immunopathology. Because LINGO2 is broadly expressed in both hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cell lineages, this study specifically addressed whether LINGO2 expression in the T cell compartment served a biologically important function in host protection against the parasitic helminth Trichuris muris. Data show that mice selectively deficient for LINGO2 in T lymphocytes (CD4Cre+ LINGO2flox/flox) had significantly higher numbers of adult worms in the cecum, parasite eggs in the stool and colon immunopathology compared to CD4Cre+ or LINGO2flox/flox controls. Intriguingly, after Trichuris infection, CD4Cre+ LINGO2flox/flox mice had significantly fewer GATA3+ TH2 cells and expressed significantly increased interferon gamma levels in the mesenteric lymph node. Taken together, this work highlights a previously unrecognized cell-intrinsic role for LINGO2 in controlling T cell responses that critically shapes the outcome of helminth infection.