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Scholler, Nathalie

0000-0003-3743-7102

Mayo Clinic

Gilead Sciences (United States)

Citations 9

Abstract 37: IL-4 drives CART cell exhaustion in a CD4 independent manner
Stewart, Carli M. , Huynh, Truc , Mai, Long, Yun, Kun , Girsch, James H. , Feigin, Jennifer M. , Ruiz, Omar Gutierrez, Rodriguez, Makena, Ogbodo, Ekene J. , Sirpilla, Olivia , Xia, Hong , Kim, Jenny , Budka, Justin A. , Mattie, Mike , Filosto, Simone, Gutierrez-Ruiz, Omar L. , Stewart, Carli , Siegler, Elizabeth L. , Sakemura, Reona , Kimball, Brooke , Can, İsmail , Roman, Claudia Manriquez , Xia, Hong, Scholler, Nathalie , Kenderian, Saad S.

Cancer Research | March 22, 2024 | Volume: 84 | Issue: 6_Supplement | Pages: 37-37

10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-37 Get It

Abstract While chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell therapy has shown remarkable success, the development of exhaustion limits durable response. We identified a role for interleukin (IL)-4 in the development of CART cell exhaustion through three independent approaches including: 1) a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen using healthy donor CART cells in an in vitro model for exhaustion, 2) RNA and ATAC sequencing on freshly produced and chronically stimulated healthy donor CART cells, and 3) RNA and ATAC sequencing on pre-infusion CART cell products from responders and non-responders in the Zuma-1 clinical trial that led to the FDA approval of axi-cel. Further, in vitro validation studies revealed that CD19 directed CART (CART19) cells chronically stimulated in the presence of human recombinant IL-4 (hrIL-4) displayed signs of exhaustion such as 1) decreased proliferation (p = 0.01), 2) increased coexpression of inhibitory receptors (p = 0.01), and 3) decreased production of IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-γ (p= 0.02, p = 0.002). Encouragingly, CART19 cells combined with an IL-4 monoclonal antibody improved antitumor activity (p = 0.045) and expansion (p = 0.01) while also decreasing the co-expression of inhibitory receptors (p = 0.02) in a mantle cell lymphoma xenograft mouse model. Building on these results, we asked if IL-4 driven exhaustion results from a direct impact of IL-4 on CART cells. To test this, we used a tumor-free assay where CART19 cells were chronically stimulated with CD19 beads in the presence of hrIL-4 or diluent. CART cells treated with hrIL-4 displayed an exhausted phenotype characterized by increased co-expression of inhibitory receptors (p = 0.04) and decreased production of IL-2 (p = 0.01). Next, we asked if IL-4 driven CART cell exhaustion is dependent on the costimulatory domain. We tested the impact of IL-4 on both CD28ζ and 41BBζ costimulated CART19 cells. Similar to our previous studies with CART19-28ζ cells, chronic stimulation of CART19-BBζ cells in the presence of hrIL-4 enhanced the exhausted phenotype as seen by increased co-expression of inhibitory receptors (p = 0.04) and decreased production of IL-2 and IFN-γ (p = 0.08 and p = 0.007). Finally, we asked if IL-4 induces exhaustion independently of its classic role in Th2 polarization of CD4 CART cells. Following CART production, we isolated CD8 cells and chronically stimulated them in the presence of hrIL-4 or diluent. CD8 CART cells treated with hrIL-4 displayed an enhanced exhausted profile as seen by 1) decreased proliferative ability (p < 0.0001), 2) increased co-expression of inhibitory receptors (p = 0.01), and 3) decreased production of IL-2 and IFN-γ (p < 0.0001, p = 0.004). Together, our data indicates a novel role for IL-4 in the development of CART cell exhaustion that is independent of tumor cells, costimulatory domain, and CD4 cells. As such, we believe IL-4 neutralization may be a widely applicable and actionable approach to improve the durable response to CART cell therapy. Citation Format: Carli M. Stewart, Elizabeth L. Siegler, Truc N. Huynh, R. Leo Sakemura, Brooke Kimball, Long Mai, Kun Yun, James H. Girsch, Jennifer Feigin, Omar Gutierrez Ruiz, Makena Rodriguez, Ekene Ogbodo, Ismail Can, Claudia Manriquez Roman, Olivia Sirpilla, Hong Xia, Jenny Kim, Justin Budka, Mike Mattie, Nathalie Scholler, Simone Filosto, Saad S. Kenderian. IL-4 drives CART cell exhaustion in a CD4 independent manner [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 37.
Abstract 1153: IL-4 depletion leads to the improvement of CART cell therapy
Stewart, Carli M. , Ogbodo, Ekene J. , Yun, Kun , Sirpilla, Olivia , Girsch, James H. , Huynh, Truc , Mattie, Mike , Filosto, Simone, Stewart, Carli , Cox, Michelle J. , Sakemura, Reona , Can, İsmail , Roman, Claudia Manriquez , Siegler, Elizabeth L. , Kim, Jaeyeon , Scholler, Nathalie , Kenderian, Saad S.

Cancer Research | April 4, 2023 | Volume: 83 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 1153-1153

10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-1153 Get It

Abstract While chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy targeting CD19 (CART19) has shown remarkable success in the treatment of hematological malignancies, the durable response rates remain approximately 40% and there are limited solutions for CART cell therapy in the treatment of solid tumors. To further understand mechanisms of resistance, including CART cell exhaustion, we employed three independent approaches: 1) RNA and ATAC sequencing on unstimulated vs. exhausted healthy donor CART19 cells by utilizing an in vitro model for exhaustion, 2) RNA and ATAC sequencing on pre-infusion CART19 cell products from responders and non-responders in the Zuma-1 clinical trial that led to the FDA approval of axi-cel CART19 therapy, and 3) a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in healthy donor CART19 cells using our in vitro model for exhaustion. In each of these approaches, IL-4 was identified as a regulator of CART cell dysfunction. In approach 1, ingenuity pathway analysis of genes that were both differentially accessible and expressed in exhausted compared with unstimulated CART19 cells revealed IL-4 as a top upstream regulator (p = 5E-6). In approach 2, IL-4 was one of two genes that were both upregulated and more accessible in CART19 cell products from non-responders (p < 5E-2). Finally, in approach 3, gene ontology enrichment analysis of genes that were positively selected during the genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen, revealed regulation of the IL-4 pathway as one of the top affected pathways (p = 1E-4). Together, our data indicates a role for IL-4 in CART cell dysfunction caused by exhaustion. Investigating this mechanism further, we saw an increase in the production of IL-4 as CART cells became exhausted (p = 4E-3). Treatment of CART19 cells with human recombinant IL-4 (hrIL-4) resulted in dysfunction as evident by a decrease in antigen specific cytotoxicity (p = 4E-3) and proliferative ability (p= 6.5E-2), as well as exhaustion-specific signs of dysfunction such as an increase in the expression of the inhibitory receptor, TIM-3 (p = 3E-3) and an increase in the transcription of the exhaustion-related transcription factor EOMES (p = 1E-2). Finally, we tested whether IL-4 neutralization enhances CART19 cell functions. Using a CD19+ JeKo-1 xenograft mouse model, we compared the combination treatment of CART19 cells and an IL-4 neutralizing monoclonal antibody (10 mg/Kg, clone # MP4-25D2) to CART19 cells and an IgG control. IL-4 neutralization in combination with CART19 cells resulted in reduced tumor burden (p = 4.6E-2), increased CART cell proliferation (p = 8E-3), and prolonged overall survival (p= 5E-2). In summary, our data indicates that 1) IL-4 induces CART cell dysfunction through a state of exhaustion and 2) IL-4 neutralization with a monoclonal antibody enhances CART cell therapy. As such, this novel combination therapy holds the potential to be translated to the clinic to improve durable responses from CART cell therapy. Citation Format: Carli Stewart, Michelle J. Cox, Reona Sakemura, Ekene J. Ogbodo, Ismail Can, Claudia Manriquez Roman, Kun Yun, Olivia Sirpilla, James H. Girsch, Truc Huynh, Elizabeth L. Siegler, Jenny J. Kim, Mike Mattie, Nathalie Scholler, Simone Filosto, Saad S. Kenderian. IL-4 depletion leads to the improvement of CART cell therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1153.
Abstract 5879: Defining the cancer Immunogram using multimodal analysis to guide immunotherapy in diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Mattie, Michael, Perbost, Régis, Turcan, Sarah, Danan, Corinne , Neelapu, Sattva S. , Jacobson, Caron A. , Lekakis, Lazaros J. , Xue, Allen , Danan, Corinne, Locke, Frederick L. , Miklos, David B. , Lin, Yi , Ghobadi, Armin , Kim, Jaeyeon , Wang, Zixing , Xue, Allen, Filosto, Simone , Scholler, Nathalie , Galon, Jérôme

Cancer Research | April 4, 2023 | Volume: 83 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 5879-5879

10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-5879 Get It

Abstract (a) Expansion of therapeutic strategies against diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) offers new opportunities to fight aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Therapy approaches, such as R-CHOP and stem cell transplant, and CAR-T cell therapies are now available for the treatment of DLBCL. While the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) during the therapeutic response is now recognized, the spatial organization and the communication between the diverse factors that compose the TME remains to be fully understood. In this study, we describe a new immunogram tool to help clinical researchers measure the tumor microenvironment contribution to drug efficacy or toxicity in DLBCL context. (b) In a previous work, using a high-quality testing and innovative multimodal and integrative approach, we constructed the first Veracyte Biopharma Atlas for DLBCL lesions. Based on this knowledge and the understanding of the immune contexture of tumors, we constructed an immunogram using the scoring of clinically relevant biomarkers. Our immunogram scoring approach is composed of key features driving computational derivation of DLBCL Atlas clusters, which include immune gene signatures, immune cell phenotyping combined with spatial information, and genomic and clinical parameters. (c) Patterns that strongly associated with CAR-T treatment response were determined. In addition, promising results have been obtained in the prediction to CAR-T toxicity related to T-regulatory cells or R-CHOP response with transcriptomic signature. (d) Retrospective analysis of CAR-T clinical trial data and tumor biopsies highlighted the Veracyte Immunogram as a powerful tool to score the patient probability of response to CAR-T. This work provides the framework for identification of predictors of response to therapy, potential targets of interest or biomarkers that could be applied in future clinical trials. Citation Format: Michael D. Mattie, Regis Perbost, Sarah Turcan, Corinne Danan, Frederick L. Locke, Sattva S. Neelapu, David B. Miklos, Caron A. Jacobson, Lazaros J. Lekakis, Yi Lin, Armin Ghobadi, Jenny J. Kim, Zixing Wang, Allen Xue, Simone Filosto, Nathalie Scholler, Jerome Galon. Defining the cancer Immunogram using multimodal analysis to guide immunotherapy in diffuse large B cell lymphoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5879.
Identification of IL-4 As a Key Regulator of CAR T-Cell Exhaustion Using Functional Genomics and Correlates of the Zuma-1 Clinical Trial
Stewart, Carli M. , Ogbodo, Ekene J. , Manriquez-Roman, Claudia, Yun, Kun , Sirpilla, Olivia , Girsch, James H. , Huynh, Truc, Mattie, Mike , Filosto, Simone, Stewart, Carli , Cox, Michelle J. , Sakemura, Reona , Can, İsmail , Huynh, Truc , Siegler, Elizabeth L. , Kim, Jaeyeon , Scholler, Nathalie , Kenderian, Saad S.

Blood | November 29, 2022 | Volume: 140 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 4536-4537

10.1182/blood-2022-160219 Get It

1454 Multiomics and multimodal analysis approach to construct a diffuse large B cell lymphoma atlas of tumor microenvironment for predictive modeling
Mattie, Mike , Perbost, Régis, Turcan, Sarah, Danan, Corinne , Neelapu, Sattva S. , Miklos, David B. , Jacobson, Caron A. , Lekakis, Lazaros J. , Kim, Jenny , Xue, Allen , Miklos, David B , Danan, Corinne, Locke, Frederick L. , Lin, Yi , Ghobadi, Armin , Wang, Zixing , Xue, Allen, Filosto, Simone , Scholler, Nathalie , Galon, Jérôme

Regular and Young Investigator Award Abstracts | November 7, 2022 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: A1513-A1513

10.1136/jitc-2022-sitc2022.1454 Get It

TNFR2 As a Target to Improve CD19-Directed CART Cell Fitness and Antitumor Activity in Large B Cell Lymphoma
Yun, Kun , Sirpilla, Olivia , Tapper, Erin E. , Stewart, Carli M. , Ogbodo, Ekene J. , Schick, Kendall J. , Fonkoua, Lionel Aurelien Kankeu , Ruff, Michael W. , Olivier, Gloria , Bot, Adrian , Mattie, Mike , Roman, Claudia Manriquez , Cox, Michelle J. , Sakemura, Reona , Adada, Mohamad M , Siegler, Elizabeth L. , Stewart, Carli , Can, İsmail , Bezerra, Evandro D. , Hefazi, Mehrdad , Ding, Wei , Parikh, Sameer A. , Slager, Susan L. , Kay, Neil E. , Scholler, Nathalie , Kim, Jaeyeon , Filosto, Simone , Kenderian, Saad S.

Blood | November 23, 2021 | Volume: 138 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 901-901

10.1182/blood-2021-148591 Get It

Abstract Introduction: It has become increasingly apparent that chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell activation and differentiation level is an important determinant of CART cell fate and response to therapy. In this study, we aimed to 1) measure levels of activation-induced surface death receptors and ligands on CART cells; 2) investigate how CART cell activation could impact their fitness and clinical responses, and 3) identify cell-based targets to modulate CART cell activation, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity to improve anti-tumor activity. Methods: We performed flow cytometric studies on ex-vivo stimulated, clinically annotated CART products of patients with large B cell lymphoma from the pivotal ZUMA-1 clinical trial that led to FDA-approved Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Axi-Cel). We investigated possible correlations of a number of surface death receptors and ligands with T cell differentiation status and post-infusion CART cell expansion, utilizing samples from ZUMA-1 patients who achieved a complete response as a best outcome ('responders') vs patients who achieved stable or progressive disease('non-responders'). CART cell effector functions in vitro were measured, and CART apoptosis was assessed using Annexin V. For in vitro and in vivo functional studies, we used CART19 generated from healthy donors (HD CART19) as indicated in the specific experiment. CRISPR/Cas9 was employed during CART cell production to disrupt specific genes. A xenograft model of lymphoma was used to investigate the in vivo antitumor activity of CART19. Results: Following an ex vivo stimulation of Axi-Cel products with CD19 + target cells, we observed upregulation of death receptors and ligands in CART19 from non-responders, compared to responders. We also observed a possible association between such upregulated surface markers with CART cell differentiation as measured by CCR7 expression. In an extended in vitro co-culture assay, where HD CART19 cells were repeatedly stimulated through the CAR, we found that tumor necrosis factor α receptor 2 (TNFR2), unlike other death receptors and ligands, was persistently elevated, suggesting a possible role for TNFR2 in long-term antigen-dependent CART19 dysfunction (Figure 1A). We further found that HD CART19 upregulate TNFR2, but not TNFR1, upon CAR stimulation (Figure 1B). While non-specific TCR activation (CD3 stimulation) of HD CART19 cells protected them from activation-induced apoptosis, antigen-specific activation through the CAR resulted in significant initiation of apoptosis within 2 hours of stimulation (Figure 1C). Having identified a possible association between TNFR2 and CART19 dysfunction, we aimed to study the impact of TNFR2 knockout on HD CART19 functions. Using CRISPR/Cas9 during CART cell manufacturing, we generated TNFR2 k/o HD CART19 cells with a knockout efficiency of around 50%, where the expression levels of TNFR2 in activated CART19 cells were reduced, compared to control CART19 cells (with non-targeting gRNA CRISPR/Cas9, Figure 1D). TNFR2 k/o CART19 cells demonstrated reduced early activation surface markers compared to control CART19, as measured by CD25 and CD69 surface expression (Figure 1E), reduced apoptosis initiation as measured by the Annexin V assay (Figure 1F), and enhanced antigen-specific proliferation and cytotoxicity (Figure 1G). Finally, in an in vivo xenograft model of CD19 + lymphoma, TNFR2 k/o CART19 resulted in enhanced CART cell expansion and anti-tumor activity (Figure 1H). Conclusions: Our results indicate that TNFR2 plays a role in early activation and apoptosis initiation of CART19 following CAR stimulation with CD19 + target cells and present TNFR2 knockout as a strategy to enhance CART19 anti-tumor activity. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Cox: Humanigen: Patents & Royalties. Sakemura: Humanigen: Patents & Royalties. Ding: Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; DTRM: Research Funding; Octapharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Parikh: Pharmacyclics, MorphoSys, Janssen, AstraZeneca, TG Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, AbbVie, and Ascentage Pharma: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics, AstraZeneca, Genentech, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Verastem Oncology, and AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kay: Juno Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MEI Pharma: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Dava Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios Pharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Targeted Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Behring: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CytomX Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sunesis: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bristol Meyer Squib: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Morpho-sys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncotracker: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Rigel: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Scholler: Kite: Current Employment. Bot: Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: Travel support. Mattie: Kite: Current Employment. Kim: Gilead Sciences: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment. Filosto: Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; Tusk Therapeutics: Patents & Royalties: or other intellecular property; Gilead Sciences: Other: stock or other ownership . Kenderian: Humanigen, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.
Abstract CT166: Pretreatment (PreTx) immune cell phenotypes in peripheral blood associated with the tumor immune contexture, product attributes, and durable clinical efficacy in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with axicabtagene ciloleuce
Budka, Justin A. , Chou, Justin , Plaks, Vicki , Milletti, Francesca, Neelapu, Sattva S. , Jacobson, Caron A. , Lekakis, Lazaros J. , Rossi, John M. , Bot, Adrian , Wang, Zixing , Locke, Frederick L. , Miklos, David B. , Lin, Yi , Ghobadi, Armin , Bashir, Zahid , Scholler, Nathalie , Galon, Jérôme

Cancer Research | July 1, 2021 | Volume: 81 | Issue: 13_Supplement | Pages: CT166-CT166

10.1158/1538-7445.am2021-ct166 Get It

Abstract Background: Conventional prognostic factors for LBCL were not associated with outcomes in the pivotal ZUMA-1 study of axi-cel in relapsed LBCL (Neelapu et al. NEJM. 2017); however, other attributes like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell fitness and composition (CCR7+CD45RA+ T cells), reduced preTx tumor burden, and immune tumor microenvironment (TME) with presence of activated CD8+PD-1+LAG-3+/-TIM-3- T cells were associated with efficacy (Locke et al. Blood Adv. 2020; Galon et al. ASCO 2020. #3022). Here, we evaluated preTx immune cell phenotypes in premanufacturing apheresis (premfg aph) material, comprising peripheral blood mononuclear cells, to determine associations with product attributes, immune TME features, and clinical efficacy in ZUMA-1. Methods: Evaluable samples from patients (pts) in Phase (Ph) 1 and Ph2 Cohorts (C) 1-3 were analyzed (NCT02348216; Ph1 and Ph2 C1+2, ≥2-y follow-up; C3, ≥6-mo follow-up). Memory T, myeloid, NK, NKT, and B cells in premfg aph material (n=101, excluding C3) were characterized by flow cytometry (FC). PreTx immune TME was analyzed by multiplex IHC (n=18) and gene expression analysis (n=30) as previously described (Rossi et al. AACR 2018. #LB-016; Galon et al. ASCO 2020. #3022). CAR T-cell fitness was analyzed by doubling time, viability during manufacturing, and product T-cell phenotypes by FC (n=145). Associations between these covariates, and with routine hematology tests, were performed by Spearman rank correlation or Wilcoxon tests. Effects on survival were assessed by Kaplan-Meier with optimized cutpoint selection. Results: The percentage (%) of naive (CCR7+CD45RA+) T helper (Th; CD4+CD127+CD25low) cells coexpressing CD27 and CD28 (median, 1%; range, 0.01%-15.8%; IQR, 0.3%-3.8%) in aph associated positively with axi-cel efficacy. The % of intermediate monocytes (IMs; CD14+CD16+; median, 1.8%; range, 0.003%-16.7%; IQR, 1%-3%) in aph associated negatively with efficacy. The % of circulating CD27+CD28+ naive Th cells associated positively with an enriched preTx immune TME T-cell signature, % CCR7+CD45RA+ product T cells, objective response rate, PFS, and OS. An increased % of IMs associated directly with negative predictive markers (preTx serum levels of LDH, IL-6, and CRP) and inversely with TME T-cell signature, PFS, and OS. The premfg ratio of CD27+CD28+ naive Th cells/IMs associated directly with CAR T-cell expansion and efficacy. Conclusions: This work points to a link between the pre-existing state of the immune system, reflected in premfg aph, and immune TME, as well as product attributes influencing axi-cel efficacy in LBCL. These data bear practical implications towards the development of predictive biomarkers for axi-cel efficacy. [JB and JC contributed equally.] Citation Format: Justin Budka, Justin Chou, Vicki Plaks, Francesca Milletti, Zixing Wang, Frederick L. Locke, Sattva S. Neelapu, David B. Miklos, Caron A. Jacobson, Lazaros J. Lekakis, Yi Lin, Armin Ghobadi, Zahid Bashir, Nathalie Scholler, Jérôme Galon, John M. Rossi, Adrian Bot. Pretreatment (PreTx) immune cell phenotypes in peripheral blood associated with the tumor immune contexture, product attributes, and durable clinical efficacy in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) [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 CT166.
Tumor microenvironment associated with increased pretreatment density of activated PD-1+ LAG-3+/− TIM-3− CD8+ T cells facilitates clinical response to axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) in patients (pts) with large B-cell lymphoma.
Perbost, Régis, Turcan, Sarah, Danan, Corinne , Neelapu, Sattva S. , Jacobson, Caron A. , Lekakis, Lazaros J. , Chou, Justin , Xue, Allen , Rossi, John M. , Bot, Adrian , Galon, Jérôme , Scholler, Nathalie , Danan, Corinne, Locke, Frederick L. , Miklos, David B. , Lin, Yi , Ghobadi, Armin , Wang, Zixing

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 25, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 3022-3022

10.1200/jco.2020.38.15_suppl.3022 Get It

3022 Background: Axi-cel is a US and EU-approved autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for pts with relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma after ≥ 2 prior therapies. In ZUMA-1 (NCT02348216), the objective response rate was 83% (58% complete response rate; Locke et al. Lancet Oncol. 2019). T cell-related biology (Immunosign 21; Immunoscore) measured pretreatment in the tumor microenvironment (TME) was associated with response to axi-cel (Rossi et al. AACR 2018. #LB-016; Rossi et al. AACR 2019. #CT153). This expanded analysis characterized the pretreatment TME immune contexture and examined associations between immune cell subsets and response. Methods: In ZUMA-1, pts received axi-cel at a target dose of 2.0 × 106 CAR T cells/kg. Archival pretreatment tumor biopsy samples were analyzed by multiplex immunohistochemistry (Brightplex). Two panels were developed and applied to assess T cell (CD3, CD8, FoxP3, PD-1, LAG-3, TIM-3) and myeloid cell (CD11b, CD14, CD15, LOX1, S100A9, CD68) subsets (n = 14 total). The association between T cell and myeloid cell subset density, prespecified immune scores (Immunosign 21; Immunoscore), and objective response was evaluated. T test values were based on Brightplex analysis. Results: Pretreatment tumor biopsy samples from 18 pts were analyzed (14 objective responders and 4 nonresponders). The pretreatment TME comprised all major myeloid and T cell subsets, with diverse distribution across samples analyzed. The median TME density of monocytes (CD11b+ CD15− CD14+; 1215 cells/mm2) and macrophages (CD68+; 530 cells/mm2) was greater than that of the total CD8+ T cell subset (312 cells/mm2). The pretreatment Immunosign 21 and Immunoscore scores associated positively with the density of all major T cell subsets and some myeloid subsets. The density of activated CD8+ T cells (PD-1+ LAG-3+/− TIM-3−) was most significantly associated with clinical response versus other T cell subsets. The density of nonactivated CD8+ T cells (PD-1− LAG-3− TIM-3−) and exhausted CD8+ T cells (PD-1+ LAG-3+ TIM-3+) were not significantly associated with response. Additional characterization of the immune contexture and correlative analysis of cell subsets will be presented. Conclusions: These results suggest that a TME associated with increased density of activated PD-1+ LAG-3+/− TIM-3− CD8+ T cells, measurable pretreatment, facilitates clinical response in pts post–axi-cel.
Abstract CT153: Pretreatment immunoscore and an inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) are associated with efficacy in patients (Pts) with refractory large B cell lymphoma treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (Axi-Cel) in ZUMA-1
Rossi, John M. , Chang, Edmund, Perbost, Régis, Turcan, Sarah, Danan, Corinne , Neelapu, Sattva S. , Jacobson, Caron A. , Lekakis, Lazaros J. , Milletti, Francesca, Go, William Y., Bot, Adrian , Galon, Jérôme , Scholler, Nathalie , Danan, Corinne, Locke, Frederick L. , Miklos, David B. , Lin, Yi , Ghobadi, Armin

Cancer Research | August 7, 2019 | Volume: 79 | Issue: 13_Supplement | Pages: CT153-CT153

10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-ct153 Get It

Abstract Background: Axi-cel is an FDA-approved autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for pts with relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma after ≥ 2 prior therapies. In Phase 2 of ZUMA-1, the objective response rate was 83% (58% complete responses [CRs]) (Locke et al. Lancet Oncol. 2018). Previous work showed that pre-existing expression of immune-related genes (Immunosign® 21 with NanoString®) may be associated with response to axi-cel (Rossi et al. AACR 2018. #LB-016). This expanded post-hoc analysis includes novel analysis associating T cell density with efficacy. Methods: Pts received a target dose of 2.0 × 106 CAR T cells/kg in ZUMA-1 (NCT02348216). Pretreatment (before conditioning) tumor tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for density of T cell subsets (CD3+, CD8+). A prespecified bioinformatics algorithm was used to generate a numerical index (Immunoscore®; Galon et al. J Pathol. 2014) and analyses cutoffs. Higher Immunoscore® represents increased intra-tumor T cell infiltration. TME was evaluated for Immunosign® 21 and for additional myeloid- and dendritic cell-related genes. The association between Immunoscore®, CD3+, or CD8+ T cell density and CR was evaluated, as was the association of Immunoscore® with Immunosign® 21. Results: Pretreatment tumor biopsy samples from 25 pts were analyzed (data cutoff Aug 11, 2017). Of pts with high Immunoscore®, 77% (7/9) had CR and 11% (1/9) were nonresponders. Of those with low Immunoscore®, 38% (6/16) were nonresponders and 50% (8/16) had CR. The pts in this category who achieved CR had a lower median pretreatment tumor burden by sum of product diameters. Overall, higher pretreatment Immunoscore® was associated with achievement of CR (P = .048). Pretreatment intra-tumor densities of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells separately quantified, were also positively associated with achievement of CR (P = .02 and .036 by t test). In addition, higher pretreatment Immunosign® 21 was associated with clinical efficacy. Values for Immunosign® 21 and Immunoscore® demonstrated 82% concordance (95% CI, 65-93; r2 = 0.451). Finally, TME gene expression analysis indicated a pan-inflammatory profile, including myeloid- and dendritic cell-related gene expression, in pts who achieved CR with higher Immunosign® 21 and Immunoscore®. Conclusions: These results link pre-existing T cell involved lymphoma TME with clinical outcome in patients post axi-cel. They also suggest that factors intrinsic to tumor biology may influence CAR T cell efficacy through the immune microenvironment. In addition, this treatment modality may overcome an unfavorable TME in a subset of patients with low disease burden. Finally, these results support CAR T cell treatment optimizations designed to overcome an immune detrimental TME. John Rossi and Jérôme Galon contributed equally. Citation Format: John M. Rossi, Jérôme Galon, Edmund Chang, Regis Perbost, Nathalie Scholler, Sarah Turcan, Corinne Danan, Frederick L. Locke, Sattva S. Neelapu, David B. Miklos, Caron A. Jacobson, Lazaros J. Lekakis, Yi Lin, Armin Ghobadi, Francesca Milletti, William Y. Go, Adrian Bot. Pretreatment immunoscore and an inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) are associated with efficacy in patients (Pts) with refractory large B cell lymphoma treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (Axi-Cel) in ZUMA-1 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT153.