Hirdler, Jacob B.

Abstract Description The efficacy of ICI and T cell-based therapies is dependent on sufficient killing of tumor cells by T cells. Thus, it’s critical for effector T cells to maintain their function and overcome metabolic stress within the tumor microenvironment. Our previous work in human resilient CD8+ T cells identified malic enzyme 1 (ME1) as a key enzyme that augments effector CD8+ T cells’ metabolic and functional fitness via increased ATP production and curbed ROS production. To further study ME1’s role in promoting CD8+ T cell resilience in vivo, we produced CD8-specific ME1 conditional knockout and transgenic (ME1 Tg) mouse models. In MC38, ME1 was upregulated in CD8+ T cells in TILs compared to those in spleen and ME1 loss in CD8+ T cells abrogated tumor responses to ICI. In ME1 Tg mice, MC38 had reduced tumor growth, while B16F10 tumors were sensitized to ICI. We observed lower ROS and increased lipid content in CD8+ T cells in the TILs of ME1 Tg mice, underscoring ME1’s role in activating alternative metabolic pathways to fuel mitochondrial respiration while keeping ROS in check. The association of ME1 with 6PGD, a key enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), implies its regulation of redox homeostasis in CD8+ T cells. Importantly, ME1 overexpression in TILs dramatically improved the efficacy of TIL therapy in treatment of established tumors. Overall, ME1 upholds T cell resilience in tumor tissues and provides a new therapeutic target to improve the efficacy of TIL therapy. Funding Sources This work was supported by the Mayo Clinic Center for Biomedical Discovery (to H.D.); the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center’s David F. and Margaret T. Grohne Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy program (to H.D.); R01 AI095239 (to H.D.), R01 CA200551 (to H.D. and S.S.P.), and R01 CA256927 (to H.D.). Topic Categories Tumor Immunology: Checkpoints, Prevention, and Treatment (TIPT)

Background Immune checkpoint therapies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) have been met with limited clinical responses in the treatment of patients of varying cancer types. Current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies function to prevent PD-1 binding to PD-L1, thereby preventing T-cell suppression. However, these therapies fail to prevent PD-L1 intrinsic signaling and recycling, which can render these treatments ineffective. Moreover, most research primarily focuses on how these antibodies affect tumor cells and their interactions with T cells. Myeloid cells, which also express PD-L1 and influence T-cell responses, are integral to the efficacy of these therapies. However, strategies that can target these cells to boost antitumor responses have not been effective. Methods Our group has developed a new anti-PD-L1 antibody (H1A), which disrupts PD-L1 recycling and redirects it towards degradation. Due to the loss of available PD-L1 protein, H1A effectively prevents PD-L1 intrinsic signaling. Using in vivo humanized PD-1/PD-L1 mouse tumor models, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of H1A against current FDA-approved PD-L1 blocking antibodies. Using human-derived immune cell in vitro assays, we pinpoint the biological consequences of H1A-induced PD-L1 degradation in myeloid cells. Results H1A demonstrated improved tumor control and established immunological memory responses in vivo in the treatment of tumors with moderate immunogenicity that are less responsive to current immunotherapies. This was supported by enhanced activation of myeloid cells (major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II and CD80) and frequencies of effector T-cell populations found intratumorally. Human myeloid cells treated with H1A were also observed to have increased activation (MHC-II and CD80) and cytokine secretion. Similar to our in vivo findings, human peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures demonstrated increased frequencies of effector T-cell populations and greater tumor cell killing. Conclusions This work highlights the importance of targeting PD-L1 recycling and intrinsic signaling, specifically in myeloid cells, to boost antitumor responses. Our studies suggest that H1A can provide a solution to the lack of responses seen with current therapeutics, while also revealing previously unknown intrinsic functions of PD-L1 in myeloid cells.

Abstract The effectiveness of T cell–based immunotherapy depends on durable T-cell responses that can efficiently eliminate tumor cells. NKG7 was discovered three decades ago as a protein associated with lytic granules. However, only studies published over the past 5 years have contributed substantially to our understanding of NKG7 in T-cell biology. NKG7 has been recognized as an important T-cell functional marker in responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and in the prognosis of certain cancers. Besides its role in the generation, trafficking, and release of lytic granules, which is critical for efficient T-cell cytotoxicity against tumor cells, NKG7 has been identified as a key negative regulator of mTORC1 activity. By restraining mTORC1 activity, NKG7 promotes T-cell longevity and memory generation after infection. Importantly, NKG7 upregulation has demonstrated therapeutic potential in preclinical T-cell therapy for cancer. Collectively, NKG7 is emerging as a promising biomarker and therapeutic addition to T cell–based immunotherapies.

Abstract Durable T cell immunity against cancer depends on the continual replenishment of effector CD8+ T cells. Thymic output has been correlated with favorable prognosis in cancer patients across a range of ages, suggesting that the thymus is an important source for replenishing T cells capable of controlling cancer progression. However, the effector potential of thymic mature CD8+ T cells and their regulation have not been clearly defined. In this study, we identified the ability of thymic single positive CD8+ T cells to gain effector potential after thymic selection, but they are subject to the regulation of PD-1. We found a previously undisclosed role of PD-1 in limiting both the cytotoxic and exhaustion potential of thymic and peripheral CD8+ T cells. Our results show that although PD-1 inhibition facilitates the expansion of effector CD8+ T cells, effector CD8+ cells gradually lose their antitumor activity within tumor tissues due to advanced exhaustion in the absence of PD-1. Thus, although the preset effector potential in thymic mature CD8+ T cells allows them to rapidly respond to malignant cells in the periphery, PD-1, as a checkpoint, is embedded in the thymic mature CD8+ T cells after positive selection to balance their effector function from exaggeration and exhaustion. Therefore, we propose that a strategy capable of upholding the cytotoxic capacity and avoiding exhaustion of CD8+ T cells during the early stages of PD-1 inhibition therapy is needed to achieve durable antitumor immunity.

Abstract Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are an essential systemic therapy for advanced melanoma. However, most melanomas develop resistance to ICI. Tumor-derived soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1) and other soluble immunosuppressive factors drive checkpoint inhibitor resistance and correlate with inferior survival. We previously showed that therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) removes sPD-L1 from circulation. Thus, we hypothesized that TPE-mediated removal of sPD-L1 and other immunosuppressive factors could overcome immunotherapy resistance in refractory melanoma. Methods: In this clinical trial (NCT04581382), we prospectively enrolled eighteen (18) patients with widely metastatic melanoma with progression despite anti-PD-1 ICI and elevated sPD-L1 by ELISA (≥1.7ng/mL). Each patient received radiotherapy to between one and three metastatic lesions (at least two unirradiated lesions) followed by three TPE sessions on consecutive days and re-challenge with checkpoint inhibitor. The primary safety and efficacy endpoints of the study were adverse events (AEs) and sPD-L1 reduction by TPE, respectively. Secondary endpoints included RECIST-based response in unirradiated lesions and overall survival. Correlative studies included kinetics of sPD-L1 and soluble immonsuppressive factors and dynamics of peripheral immune cell phenotypes. Results: Mean age was 62 (SD 13) and seven of eighteen (39%) were female. Mean baseline sPD-L1 was 26.31 ng/mL (40.01). The treatment was well-tolerated with one (6%) patient with grade 3 and 4 adverse events from a central line infection after TPE. Levels of sPD-L1 were significantly reduced by TPE (mean 80.2% reduction, p<0.0001). Two patients (11.1%) experienced complete response (CR), one (5.6%) partial response, three (16.7%) stable disease, and 12 (66.7%) progressive disease. In one case, immunotherapy was discontinued after two years due to no detectable lesions. Changes in tumor-reactive (TTR) GZMB+/CX3CR1+/CD11ahigh and other peripheral immune cell populations predicted overall survival in this cohort. In addition to sPD-L1, other soluble mediators of ICI resistance were also reduced by TPE and predicted overall survival in this cohort. Summary/Conclusion: sPD-L1 and other soluble immunoregulatory signaling molecules are important mediators of ICI resistance. SBRT and TPE can resensitize ICI-refractory melanoma by removing these factors. Patients with persistently elevated or rapid rebound of sPD-L1 following TPE experienced poor response and overall survival. Serial monitoring of sPD-L1 may predict response to ICI and multiple courses of TPE may be necessary. Our findings may apply in other ICI-resistant cancers with elevated sPD-L1. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04581382, ReCIPE-M1 (Rescuing Cancer Immunotherapy with Plasma Exchange in Melanoma 1).

Abstract Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells play a key role in response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) therapy. However, the exact effector molecules that are regulated by PD-1 signals in cytotoxic CD8+ T cells have not been completely defined. Lack of this knowledge is a crucial problem in addressing how to overcome the low clinical response rate to ICI therapy. When exploring why certain patients not responding to ICI therapy, we found non-responders did not have an elevated NKG7 expression in CD8+ T cells as responders to ICI therapy. The difference in NKG7 expression in CD8+ T cells between non-responders and responders to anti-PD-1 therapy prompted us to investigate the potential role of PD-1 signaling in regulating NKG7 expression. To that end, we generated a CD8+ T cell-specific Pdcd1 conditional knockout mice (CD8 E8ICre-Pdcd1fl/fl, also known as CD8-PD-1 cKO) where Pdcd1 is deleted after thymic selection of single positive CD8+ T cells. We observed a delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival in CD8-PD-1 cKO mice compared to control mice after B16-OVA melanoma tumor challenge. On Day 12, when the CD8-PD-1 cKO mice demonstrated their ability to control tumor growth, we conducted single cell RNA sequencing on isolated tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells, revealing a significant increase of Nkg7 expression in effector CD8+ T cells in the Pdcd1 deficient CD8+ T cells compared to the control wild type T cells. Pdcd1-deficient effector CD8+ T cells also had increased expression of genes linked to NFAT/Calcineurin signaling pathway including Nfatc1, S100a4, Tbet and Tox, suggesting Nkg7 could be regulated by Pdcd1 via the NFAT pathway. To determine the impact of increased NKG7 expression in CD8+ T cells, we used OVA protein as a surrogate tumor antigen in vaccination. We found a complete B16-OVA tumor rejection in CD8-PD-1 cKO mice compared to control mice when tumor cells were injected on day 7 after vaccination with OVA protein and poly (I:C) (as an adjuvant), but only a partial rejection on day 21. The CD8-PD-1 cKO mice that were tumor-free for 30-40 days rejected 2nd tumor challenge with B16-OVA tumors. This long-term protection is tumor antigen (OVA) specific because these mice did not reject B16F10 tumor cells that do not express OVA antigen. We also found effector memory CD8+ T cells with high cytotoxicity increased in the spleen of CD8-PD-1 cKO mice after OVA antigen immunization compared to control. In conclusion, we found NKG7 is one of the effector molecules in cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, which can be regulated by PD-1 signals through NFAT signaling. Targeting the PD-1-NFAT pathway may be a new option to overcome low responses of T cells to ICI therapy in treatment of refractory cancer. Citation Format: Zhiming Mao, Joanina Gicobi, Jacob Hirdler, Xin Liu, Michelle Hsu, Emilia Dellacecca, Wenjing Zhang, Fabrice Lucien-Matteoni, Hai dong. PD-1 signals regulate NKG7 that is required for CD8+ T cells to sustain cytotoxicity and durable antitumor memory responses [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3979.

Abstract Background: Although targeting myeloid cells has become one of the next generation targets for cancer immunotherapy, there is a lack of therapeutic tools to specifically target these cells. Our group has developed a novel humanized PD-L1-targeting antibody, H1A, that induces PD-L1 degradation via blockade of PD-L1 and CMTM6, therefore limiting PD-L1 intrinsic signaling while also preventing interactions with PD-1. In the immune cell compartment, CMTM6 expression is restricted to myeloid cells, making these cells the primary target of H1A. Recently, we unexpectedly found that targeting intrinsic PD-L1 in myeloid cells via H1A resulted in increased release of CCL2 from myeloid cells. In this study, we examined the role of CCL2/CCR2 signaling in CD8 T cell function using human peripheral blood-derived immune cells and evaluated the therapeutic potential of H1A antibody using our humanized PD-L1/PD-1 mouse model. Methods: Human PBMCs derived from healthy donors were treated with H1A or Atezolizumab, a blocking PD-L1 antibody, followed by mass cytometry and flow cytometry to evaluate immune cell phenotype and functional states. PD-L1 expressing myeloid cells isolated from human PBMCs were treated with H1A or Atezolizumab and assessed for CCL2 secretion using multiplex immunoassays. CCL2 production and transcription were confirmed by flow cytometry and single-cell RNA-sequencing. CCR2 blockade was used on human PBMCs to evaluate the effects of CCL2/CCR2 signaling on T cell function alongside H1A treatment. Finally, in vivo antitumor activity of H1A and Atezolizumab were compared in two humanized PD-L1 tumor models. Results: H1A reduced the frequency of regulatory T cells and increased effector T cells, in whole PBMCs upon global T cell activation with anti-CD3/CD28. H1A enhanced the secretion and production of CCL2 from myeloid cells, which was confirmed at a transcript level. CCR2 blockade diminished CD8 T cells’ ability to differentiate into effector cells in H1A treated PBMCs. H1A demonstrated comparable therapeutic effects with Atezolizumab in treatment of immunogenic and ICI-responsive mouse tumor MC38, which is CD8 T cell-dependent, but showed superior therapeutic effects in treatment of ICI-insensitive mouse tumor E0771 compared to Atezolizumab. Both treatments elicited durable memory specific immune responses upon E0771 tumor rechallenge. Conclusion: H1A demonstrated a superior antitumor activity compared to Atezolizumab in our preclinical models via a new mechanism by which H1A caused degradation of intrinsic PD-L1 in myeloid cells. This causes more release of CCL2 to improve T cell function via CCR2 upon T cell activation. Thus, H1A is emerging as a new immunotherapy tool to target PD-L1/CMTM6 in myeloid cells for treatment of cancers that are refractory to current immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Citation Format: Michelle Alexandria Hsu, Xin Liu, Ying Li, Whitney Barham, Kevin Pavelko, Jake Hirdler, Fabrice Lucien, Haidong Dong. Targeting PD-L1/CMTM6 in myeloid cells results in elevated release of CCL2 to improve CD8 T cell-mediated antitumor response [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2664.

458 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) targeting PD-1/PD-L1 axis has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape of patients with advanced and locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, complete response rates remain low and there is a need for novel therapeutic options for ICI-resistant and refractory RCC. Our group has generated a novel humanized anti-PD-L1 antibody, called H1A, that induces PD-L1 degradation preventing not only its interaction with PD-1 but also inhibiting pro-tumorigenic intracellular signaling. In this study, we compared the antitumor activity of H1A with FDA-approved ICI using patient-derived immune cells and humanized mouse tumor models. Methods: In vivo antitumor activity of H1A and atezolizumab (ATZ) was compared in three humanized PD-1/PD-L1 mouse tumor models with different immunogenicity (E0771:high, MC38:moderate, B16-F10:poor). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from 14 RCC patients undergoing with nephrectomy. PBMC were treated with H1A, nivolumab (NIV), atezolizumab (ATZ) and pembrolizumab (PEM) to evaluate their efficacy in inducing tumor cell death in an ex-vivo cytotoxicity assay. Mass cytometry was employed to determine the impact of H1A and atezolizumab on the PBMC profile. Results: MC38 tumors showed moderate response to both H1A and ATZ which was abrogated by CD8 T cell depletion. In E0771 tumors, higher percentage of complete responders was observed with H1A compared to ATZ and E0771 rechallenge revealed memory antitumor immunity with complete rejection of tumors. Patient-derived PBMC treated with H1A showed superior tumor cell killing compared to NIV, PEM and ATZ (p<0.01). While H1A treatment of PBMC induced expansion of effector NK and CD8 T cells (GZMB+ T-bet+), ATZ treatment led to enrichment of Tregs (CD25+,Foxp3+) expressing inhibitory markers PD-1 and LAG-3. Conclusions: H1A demonstrated superior antitumor activity compared to FDA-approved ICI which lays the ground for clinical testing of H1A as a next-generation immune checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

Patients with advanced cancers who either do not experience initial response to or progress while on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) receive salvage radiotherapy to reduce tumor burden and tumor-related symptoms. Occasionally, some patients experience substantial global tumor regression with a rebound of cytotoxic CD8 + T cells. We have termed the rebound of cytotoxic CD8 + T cells in response to salvage therapy as T cell resilience and examined the underlying mechanisms of resilience. Resilient T cells are enriched for CX3CR1 + CD8 + T cells with low mitochondrial membrane potential, accumulate less reactive oxygen species (ROS), and express more malic enzyme 1 (ME1). ME1 overexpression enhanced the cytotoxicity and expansion of effector CD8 + T cells partially via the type I interferon pathway. ME1 also increased mitochondrial respiration while maintaining the redox state balance. ME1 increased the cytotoxicity of peripheral lymphocytes from patients with advanced cancers. Thus, preserved resilient T cells in patients rebound after salvage therapy and ME1 enhances their resiliency.