Alphavirus Replicon Particles Expressing TRP-2 Provide Potent Therapeutic Effect on Melanoma through Activation of Humoral and Cellular Immunity

Malignant melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and is refractory to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore alternative approaches to treat this disease, such as immunotherapy, are needed. Melanoma vaccine design has mainly focused on targeting CD8+ T cells. Activation of effector CD8+ T cells has been achieved in patients, but provided limited clinical benefit, due to immune-escape mechanisms established by advanced tumors. We have previously shown that alphavirus-based virus-like replicon particles (VRP) simultaneously activate strong cellular and humoral immunity against the weakly immunogenic melanoma differentiation antigen (MDA) tyrosinase. Here we further investigate the antitumor effect and the immune mechanisms of VRP encoding different MDAs.VRP encoding different MDAs were screened for their ability to prevent the growth of the B16 mouse transplantable melanoma. The immunologic mechanisms of efficacy were investigated for the most effective vaccine identified, focusing on CD8+ T cells and humoral responses. To this end, ex vivo immune assays and transgenic mice lacking specific immune effector functions were used. The studies identified a potent therapeutic VRP vaccine, encoding tyrosinase related protein 2 (TRP-2), which provided a durable anti-tumor effect. The efficacy of VRP-TRP2 relies on a novel immune mechanism of action requiring the activation of both IgG and CD8+ T cell effector responses, and depends on signaling through activating Fcγ receptors.This study identifies a VRP-based vaccine able to elicit humoral immunity against TRP-2, which plays a role in melanoma immunotherapy and synergizes with tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses. These findings will aid in the rational design of future immunotherapy clinical trials

Self-antigen–specific CD8+ T cell precursor frequency determines the quality of the antitumor immune response

A primary goal of cancer immunotherapy is to improve the naturally occurring, but weak, immune response to tumors. Ineffective responses to cancer vaccines may be caused, in part, by low numbers of self-reactive lymphocytes surviving negative selection. Here, we estimated the frequency of CD8+ T cells recognizing a self-antigen to be <0.0001% (∼1 in 1 million CD8+ T cells), which is so low as to preclude a strong immune response in some mice. Supplementing this repertoire with naive antigen-specific cells increased vaccine-elicited tumor immunity and autoimmunity, but a threshold was reached whereby the transfer of increased numbers of antigen-specific cells impaired functional benefit, most likely because of intraclonal competition in the irradiated host. We show that cells primed at precursor frequencies below this competitive threshold proliferate more, acquire polyfunctionality, and eradicate tumors more effectively. This work demonstrates the functional relevance of CD8+ T cell precursor frequency to tumor immunity and autoimmunity. Transferring optimized numbers of naive tumor-specific T cells, followed by in vivo activation, is a new approach that can be applied to human cancer immunotherapy. Further, precursor frequency as an isolated variable can be exploited to augment efficacy of clinical vaccine strategies designed to activate any antigen-specific CD8+ T cells

Phosphatidylserine targeting antibody enhances anti-tumor activity of adoptive cell therapies in a mouse melanoma model

Abstract Adoptive cell therapy has emerged as a viable strategy to treat cancer. T cells that recognize tumor antigens can be reinvigorated ex-vivo or autologous T cells can be genetically modified to express anti-tumor T cell receptors (TCRs) or chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). However, once re-infused into patients, these tumor specific T cells are subjected to immunosuppressive signals within the tumor. A critical immune checkpoint within tumors is phosphatidylserine (PS), a phospholipid that is exposed on apoptotic cells and tumor cells. Innate cells exposed to PS secrete suppressive cytokines that can significantly impair the function of tumor specific T cells. Antibodies that target PS can reactivate anti-tumor immunity by reducing the number of MDSCs in tumors and promoting the maturation of functional APCs. Our lab has shown that the mouse chimeric version of PS Targeting monoclonal antibody Bavituximab (1N11), in combination with transgenic CD4+ T cells that recognize melanoma antigen Trp1, can regress advanced melanoma tumors in mice. Here, we demonstrate a 2nd generation CAR T cell, that binds Trp1 on the surface of B16 melanoma, in combination with 1N11 can improve anti-tumor activity and survival in B16 tumor bearing mice. Flow cytometry analysis of immune responses in the tumor of mice treated with tumor specific T cells and 1N11 shows a decrease in M2 macrophages and FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. These findings highlight that diminishing suppressive mechanisms locally with PS targeting can enhance the efficacy of transgenic TCR and CAR T cells to improve the outcome in patients with advanced-stage melanoma. Our studies may inform the design of clinical trials combining PS Targeting antibodies with CAR T cell therapy in solid tumors.</jats:p

Monocytic CCR2+ Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells Promote Immune Escape by Limiting Activated CD8 T Cell Infiltration Into the Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract Abstract 2171 Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous population of cells that accumulate during tumor progression in a process driven by soluble factors such as granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). These cells contribute to the suppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment and interfere with the functions of cytotoxic anti-tumor T effector cells. To date, MDSC heterogeneity has presented a barrier to studying the properties of individual MDSC constituents in vivo. Herein, we find that GM-CSF, a cytokine that promotes the numeric and functional development of monocytes, granulocytes and dendritic cells, and is frequently used as a vaccine adjuvant, is also critical for the expansion of a monocyte-derived MDSC population characterized by the expression of CD11b and the chemokine receptor CCR2. We demonstrate that these cells mediate T cell suppression in a contact dependent fashion and via the function of Arginase and inducible nitric oxide synthase, consistent with known MDSC functions. CD11b+CCR2 negative cells do not have suppressive capability despite also being expanded numerically by the actions of GM-CSF. Utilizing a toxin-mediated ablation strategy that targets CCR2-expressing cells, we demonstrate that monocytic MDSCs regulate activated CD8 T cell entry into the tumor site in vivo, thereby limiting the efficacy of immunotherapy. Our results extend observations on the dual role of GM-CSF in both stimulation and suppression of tumor immunity and suggest therapeutic targeting of monocytic MDSC could enhance the outcomes of immunotherapy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. </jats:sec

Abstract 1651: Targeting phosphatidylserine in combination with adoptive T cell transfer eliminates advanced tumors without off-target toxicities in a melanoma preclinical model

Abstract A viable strategy to treat advanced cancers includes transferring of tumor-specific T cells. T cells that recognize tumor antigens can be expanded and reinvigorated ex-vivo. Furthermore, autologous T cells can be genetically modified to express anti-tumor T cell receptors or chimeric antigen receptors. Although the potency and specificity of tumor-specific T cells can be manipulated ex-vivo, once re-infused into patients, the T cells are subjected to immunosuppressive mechanisms established by the tumor. An important immune checkpoint regulator within tumors is phosphatidylserine (PS). Innate immune cells exposed to PS secrete suppressive cytokines and chemokines that can significantly impair the function and activation of anti-tumor T cells. Therefore, monoclonal antibodies that block PS activity can increase the anti-tumor potency of transferred T cells to treat aggressive cancers. Here we show that a PS targeting monoclonal antibody in combination with CD4+ T cells that recognize the melanoma antigen Trp1 can regress very advanced melanomas in all treated mice. Combination of anti-Trp1 CD4+ T cells with other immunomodulatory modalities such as anti-OX40 antibodies, can achieve equivalent treatment rates but these are typically accompanied by severe immune related adverse events. In contrast, in this setting, PS blockade did not show any off-target toxicities. Flow cytometry analysis revealed lower levels of CD206 expression concomitant with higher activation markers in macrophages and neutrophils in tumors from anti-PS treated mice. These results suggest that diminishing suppressive mechanisms locally in adoptive transfer protocols is a highly desirable strategy that can eliminate tumors while minimizing related adverse events. Citation Format: Daniel Hirschhorn-Cymerman, Sara Sara Schad, Sadna Budhu, Zhong Hong, Xia Yang, Hutchins T. Jeff, Bruce D. Freimark, Michael J. Gray, Jedd Wolchok, Taha Merghoub. Targeting phosphatidylserine in combination with adoptive T cell transfer eliminates advanced tumors without off-target toxicities in a melanoma preclinical model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1651. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1651</jats:p