Sharma, Padmanee

TPS5093 Background: Globally, docetaxel remains the standard of care for metastatic CRPC; however, its use may be delayed until pts develop symptoms. The presence of infiltrating leukocytes in CRPC tumors suggests a natural antitumor immune response is occurring. This is supported by an overall survival (OS) benefit reported in men with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic CRPC who received sipuleucel-T. Ipi, a monoclonal antibody that binds CTLA-4, augments antitumoral activity of cytotoxic immune cells. Ipi demonstrated OS benefit in two phase III trials for advanced melanoma, with side effects that were managed using product-specific treatment guidelines. In phase I/II trials in metastatic CRPC, Ipi has shown clinical activity (as measured by prostate-specific antigen [PSA] declines and RECIST response) with a similar toxicity profile to that observed in melanoma. This global (149 sites in 24 countries) phase III study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01057810) evaluates Ipi vs placebo in chemotherapy-naïve pts with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic CRPC without visceral metastases. Methods: The primary endpoint is OS; secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, time to pain progression, time to non-hormonal systemic therapy and safety characterization. The study is designed to detect a 9.3-month median difference (HR=0.7) in OS with 90% power and 0.05 two-sided significance. Pts are randomized at a 2:1 ratio to receive Ipi 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks for up to 4 doses or placebo as induction therapy. Eligible pts will receive maintenance therapy of blinded study drug every 12 weeks. The accrual goal is 600 pts randomized. Clinical trial information: NCT01057810. [Table: see text] [Table: see text]

Abstract Early-phase trials targeting the T-cell inhibitory molecule programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) have shown clinical efficacy in cancer. This study was undertaken to determine whether PD-L1 is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and to investigate the loss of PTEN as a mechanism of PD-L1 regulation. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA sequencing data showed significantly greater expression of the PD-L1 gene in TNBC (n = 120) compared with non-TNBC (n = 716; P < 0.001). Breast tumor tissue microarrays were evaluated for PD-L1 expression, which was present in 19% (20 of 105) of TNBC specimens. PD-L1+ tumors had greater CD8+ T-cell infiltrate than PD-L1− tumors (688 cells/mm vs. 263 cells/mm; P < 0.0001). To determine the effect of PTEN loss on PD-L1 expression, stable cell lines were generated using PTEN short hairpin RNA (shRNA). PTEN knockdown led to significantly higher cell-surface PD-L1 expression and PD-L1 transcripts, suggesting transcriptional regulation. Moreover, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway inhibition using the AKT inhibitor MK-2206 or rapamycin resulted in decreased PD-L1 expression, further linking PTEN and PI3K signaling to PD-L1 regulation. Coculture experiments were performed to determine the functional effect of altered PD-L1 expression. Increased PD-L1 cell surface expression by tumor cells induced by PTEN loss led to decreased T-cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. PD-L1 is expressed in 20% of TNBCs, suggesting PD-L1 as a therapeutic target in TNBCs. Because PTEN loss is one mechanism regulating PD-L1 expression, agents targeting the PI3K pathway may increase the antitumor adaptive immune responses. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(4); 361–70. ©2014 AACR.