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Molina, Julian R.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9962-4635

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 152

585 DENALI-1: a seamless phase 1/2 study of A2B395, a logic-gated, allogeneic, Tmod CAR T therapy, in patients with EGFR-expressing solid tumors with human leukocyte antigen-A*02 loss of heterozygosity
Ulrickson, Matthew L. , Wong, Deborah Jean Lee, Hecht, J. Randolph, Grierson, Patrick , Molina, Julian R. , Maloney, David G. , Spencer, Kristen , Patel, Sandip Pravin , Niu, Jiaxin , Karam, Dhauna , Langeberg, Wendy J., Palluconi, Gabrielle, Welch, John S. , Go, William Y., Punekar, Salman R. , Specht, Jennifer M. , Maus, Marcela V , Sunwoo, John B. , Fuentes, Harry E , Davila, Marco L , Creelan, Ben , Zhen, David B. , Palluconi, Gabrielle, Ng, Eric W, Kirtane, Kedar , Shatsky, Rebecca

Regular and Young Investigator Award Abstracts | November 10, 2025 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: A665-A666

10.1136/jitc-2025-sitc2025.0585 Get It

535 EVEREST-2: a phase 1/2 study of A2B694, a logic-gated Tmod CAR T therapy to treat solid tumors expressing mesothelin (MSLN) with HLA-A*02 loss of heterozygosity: initial safety and efficacy results
Hecht, J. Randolph, Spencer, Kristen , Marar, Rosalyn, Avila, Monica , Patel, Sandip Pravin , Maloney, David G. , Ulrickson, Matthew L. , Neal, Joel M, He, Kai , Go, William Y., Mitchell, Jasmine , Lou, Yanyan, Kundranda, Madappa N. , Mardiros, Armen, Bretzlaff, William, Xuan, Jacqueline D, Welch, John S. , Molina, Julian R. , Ward, Jeffrey P. , Kirtane, Kedar , Garon, Edward B. , Creelan, Ben , Maus, Marcela V , Eng, Cathy , Hazim, Antonious , Warner, Allison Betof , Neal, Joel M, Dorigo, Oliver , Vu, Peter , Xuan, Jacqueline D, Wise, Andrea, Ng, Eric W, Punekar, Salman R.

Regular and Young Investigator Award Abstracts | November 10, 2025 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: A611-A612

10.1136/jitc-2025-sitc2025.0535 Get It

Oncologic and physiologic predictors of mortality after intensive care unit admission in patients with lung cancer
Koch, Regina M. , Ramzan, Adil , Gmehlin, Cameron G. , Parikh, Kaushal , Leventakos, Konstantinos , Molina, Julian R. , Yadav, Hemang , Ramzan, Abdullah , Hemang, Yadav, Ramzan, Abdullah, Mansfield, Aaron S.

Annals of the American Thoracic Society | October 15, 2025 | Volume: 23 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 409-418

10.1513/annalsats.202506-672oc Get It

Abstract Rationale Critically ill lung cancer patients are a growing, high-risk population. However, prognostic tools to guide intensive care unit (ICU) decision-making are limited. Objectives To identify oncologic and critical illness factors associated with 90-day mortality following ICU admission in patients with lung cancer. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of lung cancer patients admitted to the ICU across Mayo Clinic Health System between 2018 and 2024. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality. Two complementary Cox proportional hazards models were developed: a focused model including cancer-specific variables (stage, time since diagnosis, time since last systemic therapy, prior thoracotomy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] performance status prior to admission, body mass index, cause of critical illness, code status at admission) and a full model that added broader clinical factors (age and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment [SOFA] score). We also evaluated discharge disposition and transitions in code status. Results Among 528 patients, 90-day mortality was 58.7%. In the focused model (C-index 0.67), independent predictors of mortality included late-stage disease, cancer-specific reason for ICU admission, limitations in resuscitation orders, and ECOG >1. In the full model (C-index 0.95), only age and SOFA score remained significant. Among early-stage patients, recent targeted or combination therapy was associated with higher mortality, though this association may reflect underlying disease characteristics or treatment selection rather than direct treatment effects. Patients who changed code status during admission had high mortality (83%) and a low rate of discharge home (11%). Conclusion Lung cancer patients admitted to ICU experience high short-term mortality, with outcomes shaped by both oncologic status and the severity of acute illness. A dual-model approach suggests a risk hierarchy: Cancer-specific factors inform baseline mortality risk with an ICU admission, but age and physiologic derangement are the dominant drivers of survival once critical illness develops. These findings support dynamic, multidisciplinary prognostication and underscore the need to integrate oncology and critical care expertise in ICU decision-making.
BASECAMP-1: An approach to improve patient screening efficiency and to provide large datasets for precision medicine clinical trials.
Spencer, Kristen , Ulrickson, Matthew L. , Grierson, Patrick , Patel, Sandip Pravin , Specht, Jennifer M. , Morelli, Maria Pia , Maloney, David G. , Weng, Wen-Kai, Waschke, Brittany, Ng, Eric Wai-Choi , Tebbets, Jessica , Hecht, J. Randolph, Molina, Julian R. , Specht, Jennifer , Park, Jong Chul , Murthy, Hemant S. , Simeone, Diane M. , Maus, Marcela V , Weng, Wen‐Kai , Eng, Cathy , He, Kai , Kirtane, Kedar

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: No page available

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.e23020 Get It

e23020 Background: Precision medicine studies must overcome the challenges of identifying patients with uncommon molecular targets and small cohort sizes for correlative studies. BASECAMP-1 (NCT04981119) is a prescreening study that uses a single assay to address both problems by: 1) efficiently screening potentially eligible patients for subsequent clinical trials of Tmod logic-gated chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapies; and 2) providing a large dataset available for translational studies. Methods: Initially, patients were identified for BASECAMP-1 by consenting and genotyping all potentially eligible patients for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02 heterozygosity. To improve screening efficiency, we co-developed a patient-matching program with Tempus AI, Inc (Tempus), in which Tempus informs the principal investigators of next-generation sequenced (NGS) patients with HLA-A*02 heterozygosity within their health system who may be eligible for BASECAMP-1. Patients are screened using the Tempus xT platform, which uses genomic and RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analyses to determine gene mutations and expression. Enrolled patients with colorectal (CRC), non-small cell lung, ovarian (OVCA), and pancreatic cancers (PANC) were analyzed for tumor purity, mutation distribution, HLA-A*02 loss of heterozygosity (LOH) status, and RNAseq to validate the data available for future clinical analyses. Results: As of January 3, 2025, 80 participants have been enrolled in BASECAMP-1. Through individual screening methods, 1684 patients were screened at 13 study sites, of which 30 patients had tumor-specific HLA-A*02 LOH and were enrolled (~1 eligible patient identified per 56 screened). The patient-matching program identified 282 patients with HLA-A*02 LOH at 12 sites; of these, 50 consented to the BASECAMP-1 study (~1 patient enrolled per 6 identified), demonstrating higher efficiency than the individual patient screening method. Correlative data from xT were available for 360 patients with germline HLA-A*02 and provided insights into mutational distribution and target expression. LOH status was not associated with tumor-specific differences in missense mutational distribution. RNAseq data demonstrated higher CEACAM5 expression in CRC and higher MSLN in PANC and OVCA vs other tumor types, while EGFR was consistently expressed with reduced variance across tumor types, confirming these as potential target antigens for Tmod CAR T interventional trials EVEREST-1, EVEREST-2, and DENALI-1. Conclusions: Identification and enrollment of HLA-A*02 LOH patients into BASECAMP-1 for logic-gated CAR T therapeutic studies were accelerated by the patient matching program. Concurrent xT analysis provides opportunities to augment analyses from robust propensity-matched comparisons, response correlation studies, and other translational discovery. Clinical trial information: NCT04981119 .
Administration of tarlatamab in an outpatient setting utilizing remote patient monitoring: Mayo Clinic experience.
Potter, Ashley , Mina, Syeda A. , Al‐Ajmi, Abdullah, Karam, Dhauna , Sandahl, Tyler B. , Nedved, Adrienne, Holmes, Lucy , Molina, Julian R. , Parikh, Kaushal , Luce, A., Schwecke, Anna J., Leventakos, Konstantinos , Lin, Yi , Paludo, Jonas , Holmes, Lucy M., Hazim, Antonious , Mansfield, Aaron S. , Dimou, Anastasios , Smith, Katherine E. , Schwecke, Anna

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 1652-1652

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.1652 Get It

1652 Background: Tarlatamab is a bispecific T-cell engager targeting DLL3 that has shown promise as a therapy in small cell lung cancer. Administering tarlatamab requires careful consideration of immune-related adverse events (AE), including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Prescribing information recommends patients to be monitored for 22-24 hours in an appropriate healthcare setting for cycle 1 (C1), days 1 and 8. At Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN (MCR), tarlatamab is initially administered in a hospital-based outpatient (HBO) setting utilizing an innovative remote patient monitoring system (RPM). In this study, we describe our RPM process and patient outcomes thus far. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of patients treated with tarlatamab from August through December 2024. All patients received tarlatamab in the HBO setting and were enrolled into RPM for C1, days 1–10. Patients attended daily HBO visits on days 1–3 and 8–10 of C1 and were required to stay within 30 minutes of the hospital with a 24-hour caregiver for 48 hours following infusion days in C1-2. Data on patient characteristics, frequency of RPM alerts, escalations, rate of CRS & ICANS, and need for hospitalizations were reported using descriptive metrics. Results: As part of RPM, patients are provided with a kit containing preconnected Bluetooth-enabled devices to measure vital signs (VS), including blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), temperature (T), and pulse oximetry (SpO2). The kit also includes a cellular-enabled tablet for electronic ICANS questionnaires, which upload directly into our electronic medical record system. Patients are required to log VS four times daily, monitored in real-time by a centralized virtual RPM nursing (RN) team. Embedded decision trees trigger alerts, prompting the RN team to contact patients and follow care pathways for escalations as needed. Among the 16 patients treated, the median age was 68 years, and the median ECOG PS was 1. During the 10-day RPM period, a total of 2,233 VS entries were recorded. Of these, 88% (14/16) of patients had alerts triggered, with a median of 2 alerts per patient. Alerts were mostly for out-of-range systolic BP (56%), HR (56%), and T (25%), with none for SpO2. The RN team escalated alerts in 50% (8/16) of the patients. Overall, 38% (6/16) of patients were managed entirely in the HBO setting. Among the 63% hospitalized, 56% had CRS limited to grade (G) 2, and 31% had ICANS limited to G3. Two patients were hospitalized for other indications. The mean length of stay was 2.6 days, with no ICU admissions. Conclusions: Our experience shows that frequent monitoring required with tarlatamab can be safely and effectively executed in an outpatient setting with the utilization of an RPM system. It can potentially minimize the burden of hospitalizations for patients and the healthcare system.
EVEREST-2: Initial data of the logic-gated Tmod chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy A2B694 for patients with solid tumors associated with mesothelin (MSLN) expression and with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loss of heterozygosity (LOH).
Ward, Jeffrey D. , Patel, Sandip Pravin , Maloney, David G. , Dorigo, Oliver , Morelli, Maria Pia , Lou, Yanyan, Block, Matthew S. , Avila, Monica , Eskander, Ramez N. , Mardiros, Armen, Welch, John S. , Xuan, Jacqueline D., Molina, Julian R. , Hecht, J. Randolph, Punekar, Salman R. , Ward, Jeffrey, Park, Jong Chul , Kirtane, Kedar , Maus, Marcela V , Boyd, Leslie R. , Wise, Andrea, Xuan, Jacqueline D.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 3040-3040

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.3040 Get It

3040 Background: EVEREST-2 is a first-in-human, phase 1/2 trial to assess the safety and efficacy of A2B694, an autologous, logic-gated Tmod CAR T therapy targeted to MSLN, which is normally expressed in the mesothelium and can be upregulated in many solid tumors. A2B694 is designed to overcome challenges of on-target, off-tumor toxicity that have limited other MSLN-targeted approaches by combining a CAR-activating receptor targeting MSLN with a blocker CAR that recognizes HLA-A*02, to distinguish between normal and tumor cells (Tokatlian, et al. J Immunother Cancer. 2022). Methods: Adults with recurrent unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic cancers with MSLN expression who have progressed after standard-of-care therapy are eligible for EVEREST-2. Enrollment to EVEREST-2 and collection of T-cells occurs through the ongoing prescreening study BASECAMP-1 (NCT04981119). When clinically appropriate, A2B694 is manufactured from cryopreserved T cells, and patients undergo lymphodepletion before A2B694 infusion. The dose-escalation phase is evaluating the safety and tolerability of A2B694 to identify the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Dose escalation was started at 1x10 8 Tmod positive cells (dose level [DL] 1) and will increase up to 14x10 8 in combination with low-dose IL-2 (DL 5). The dose-expansion phase will confirm RP2D and collect biomarker data to further characterize A2B694. Results: As of January 15, 2025, 5 participants (median age: 60 years; range, 50-84) have enrolled on EVEREST-2 and received A2B694 at DLs 1-2; participants had ovarian cancer (n = 3), pancreatic cancer (n = 1), and non-small cell lung cancer (n = 1) and had received a median of 4 prior lines of therapy (range, 1-7). Lymphodepleting chemotherapy was well tolerated with no significant cytopenias observed. The most common adverse events were lymphopenia (7 [14.6%]) and decreased appetite (6 [12.5%]). There were no dose-limiting toxicities, cytokine release syndrome, nor related neurotoxicity. One participant was admitted to the hospital for decreased appetite. No long-term toxicities have been noted up to 7.5 months post-infusion. Of the participants who have received A2B694, 5 were efficacy evaluable at DLs 1-2. A2B694 was detected post-infusion in the peripheral blood in all patients. Additionally, A2B694 was detected in an abdominal tumor biopsy from a patient with pancreatic cancer 42 days post-infusion. Conclusions: The logic-gated approach was successful at reducing toxicity seen with prior MSLN-targeted CAR T therapies, and A2B694 showed successful CAR T expansion and tumor infiltration. The maximum tolerated dose has not been reached, and results from the dose-escalation phase continue to determine the RP2D. Clinical trial information: NCT06051695 .
EVEREST-1: Safety and efficacy data of A2B530, a logic-gated Tmod chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy, in patients with solid tumors associated with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression and with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loss of heter
Molina, Julian R. , Grierson, Patrick , Hecht, J. Randolph, Patel, Sandip Pravin , Welling, Theodore H., Morelli, Maria Pia , Kundranda, Madappa N. , Maloney, David G. , Go, William Y., Liechty, Kirstin B., Bretzlaff, William, Mardiros, Armen, Ulrickson, Matthew L. , Simeone, Diane M. , Kirtane, Kedar , Locke, Frederick L. , Maus, Marcela V , Davila, Marco L , Hazim, Antonious , Punekar, Salman R.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: No page available

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.e16408 Get It

e16408 Background: A2B530 is a logic-gated CEA-targeting Tmod CAR T therapy being evaluated in the EVEREST-1 (NCT05736731) phase 1/2 study. Tmod CAR T therapy addresses challenges of on-target, off-tumor toxicity that have limited application of CAR T therapy to solid tumors (Tabernero, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2017); through use of a CEA-targeted CAR-activating receptor combined with a blocking receptor recognizing HLA-A*02, A2B530 can distinguish between tumor and normal cells (Sandberg, et al. Sci Transl Med. 2022). Methods: Patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors expressing CEA and tumor-associated HLA-A*02 LOH are enrolled through the ongoing prescreening study BASECAMP-1 (NCT04981119). Eligible patients undergo leukapheresis and, when clinically appropriate, A2B530 is manufactured for the EVEREST-1 study. Patients undergo lymphodepletion before A2B530 infusion. The phase 1 dose escalation will evaluate safety, tolerability, manufacturing feasibility, and biomarkers starting at 1x10 8 Tmod positive cells (dose level [DL] 1) up to 6x10 8 cells and higher doses of lymphodepleting chemotherapy (LDC; DL 5). After the recommended phase 2 dose has been established, dose expansion will confirm safety and activity. Results: As of January 15, 2025, 14 total participants were enrolled on EVEREST-1 and had received A2B530 infusion at DLs 1-5, 4 (29%) with pancreatic (PANC) and 10 (71%) with colorectal cancer. Median age was 57 years (range, 34-76), with a median of 2 prior lines of therapy (range, 1-6). LDC was well tolerated: neutropenia nadired at days 7-10, with recovery in all patients, and no significant episodes of prolonged cytopenia. There were no dose-limiting toxicities, grade > 3 serious adverse events (AEs), or episodes of related neurotoxicity. Most gastrointestinal AEs occurred early and were grade 1 or 2. One patient in DL 2 (2x10 8 cells) experienced possible grade 2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which started on day 15 and resolved with supportive therapy within 2 days; later the CRS diagnosis was confounded by a positive blood culture from the participant’s central line. The low rate of CRS is consistent with the low levels of serum cytokines measured up to 28 days post-infusion. Central response assessment has been completed for the 6 participants in DLs 1-2, with a partial response observed in 1 of 3 (33%) of participants with PANC. Peak expansion shows a possible dose response. Conclusions: Treatment with A2B530 was well tolerated, showing potential clinical efficacy and a potential dose response, although these are initial results. Maximum tolerated dose has not been reached, and dose escalation continues to determine the optimal phase 2 dosing of this treatment regimen. Clinical trial information: NCT05736731 .
Real world outcomes of patients treated with tarlatamab in extensive stage small cell lung cancer.
Karam, Dhauna , Potter, Ashley , Al‐Ajmi, Abdullah, Mina, Syeda A. , Taylor, Skyler, Parikh, Kaushal , Shanshal, Mohamed , Molina, Julian R. , Luce, A., Schwecke, Anna J., Ernani, Vinicius , Lin, Yi , Leventakos, Konstantinos , Taylor, Skyler, Hazim, Antonious , Dimou, Anastasios , Mansfield, Aaron S. , Smith, Katherine E. , Schwecke, Anna, Manochakian, Rami

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: No page available

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.e20120 Get It

e20120 Background: In May 2024, the FDA approved tarlatamab, a Delta-like ligand (DLL3)/CD3-targeted bispecific T-cell engager, for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression following platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other prior line of therapy. We aim to evaluate the real-world outcomes of agent. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multi-site single center analysis of adult patients who received tarlatamab at Mayo clinic sites including Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Data analysis was performed with Blue Sky statistics version 10.4. Results: Twenty patients with a median age 67 years (range 43-76) were included. Patients were predominantly women (55%) and all had a history of tobacco use. Metastatic disease commonly involved liver (55%) and CNS (60%). Majority (90%) had received prior PDL-1 therapy. 25% (5/20) of patients received prior gamma knife and in addition 10% (2/20) received whole brain radiation treatment in our cohort. Median time from CNS radiation and tarlatamab initiation was 4 months (range 3-28). Other characteristics, outcomes, and toxicity are presented in Table 1. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) Grade (G) 1 was observed in 45% patients. G 2, 3 and 4 CRS were observed in 5% patients respectively. G 1 CRS was managed with acetaminophen initially followed dexamethasone 10mg or methylprednisone 1g if no improvement in 24 hours. Tocilizumab was used 20% patients for G 1,2,3 and 4 CRS depending on clinical course. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity (ICANS) G 1 occurred in 10% patients, followed by G 2 in 15% and G 3 in 5% patients. ICANS was managed in a multidisciplinary fashion. All patients had resolution of CRS and ICANS. Conclusions: In this study investigating the real-world outcomes and toxicity of tarlatamab, a higher incidence of ICANS was observed than that reported in the DeLLphi-301 trial. The association between presence of CNS metastatic disease, prior CNS radiation and incidence of ICANS needs to be explored further. Mayo Clinic report of tarlatamab real world outcomes and toxicity. Patient Characteristics, Tarlatamab Outcomes and Toxicity Mayo Clinic Report DeLLphi-301 trial- Part 1 & 2 DeLLphi-301 trial- Part 3 ECOG no. (%) 2-4 4 (20) 0 (0) 0 (0) Metastatic Disease no.(%) 19 (95) 98 (98) 32 (94) Median no. of previous lines of therapy (range) 3 (2-4) 2 (1-6) 2 (2-6) Objective Response (%) 30% 40% CRS no (%) 12 (60) 49 (49) 19 (56) ICANS no (%) 6 (30) 7 (7) 4 (12) Neutropenia Grade 3 no (%) 2 (10) 6 (6) 2 (6) Fatal CRS, ICANS or Neutropenia 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Logic-gated, allogeneic Tmod chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in advanced solid tumors with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loss of heterozygosity (LOH): DENALI-1 trial.
Ulrickson, Matthew L. , Wong, Deborah J. , Sunwoo, John B. , Molina, Julian R. , Maloney, David G. , Bayne, Harry E. Fuentes, Grierson, Patrick , Langeberg, Wendy J., Go, William Y., Ng, Eric Wai-Choi , Welch, John S. , Hecht, J. Randolph, Specht, Jennifer M. , Specht, Jennifer , Kirtane, Kedar , Park, Jong Chul , Maus, Marcela V , Punekar, Salman R. , Locke, Frederick L. , Davila, Marco L , Shatsky, Rebecca

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 28, 2025 | Volume: 43 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: No page available

10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.tps2677 Get It

TPS2677 Background: Despite the success in hematologic malignancies, CAR T therapies face significant challenges in solid tumors due to the lack of tumor-specific targets that distinguish cancer from normal cells. EGFR plays a critical role in oncogenesis across several cancers and is often upregulated (TCGA 2022). While monoclonal antibodies targeting EGFR have demonstrated efficacy, these approaches are often limited by on-target, off-tumor toxicities, such as skin rash, which constrains dose escalation and efficacy (Macdonald, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol . 2015). A2B395 is an allogeneic, logic-gated, EGFR-targeted Tmod CAR T therapy designed to address these limitations and provide a convenient and consistent off-the-shelf option. This therapy incorporates 2 CARs: an activator targeting EGFR, and a blocker targeting HLA-A*02. The activator recognizes EGFR on both tumor and normal cells, while the blocker inhibits CAR T activity against normal cells with preserved HLA expression and decreases the risk for graft-versus-host disease (Hamburger, et al. Mol Immunol . 2020). To address potential host-vs-graft response, an shRNA expression module targeting B2M is included in the Tmod construct, which significantly reduces major histocompatibility complex class I levels and subsequent host immune response (DiAndreth, et al. Clin Immunol. 2022). Importantly, the Tmod system is modular and adaptable to multiple targets. Initial data on autologous Tmod CAR T therapy suggest reduced off-tumor toxicity and encouraging clinical efficacy (Grierson, et al. SITC 2024. Abstract 588). A2B395 represents a novel approach for EGFR-expressing solid tumors with HLA-A*02 LOH. Methods: DENALI-1 (NCT06682793) is a phase 1/2, open-label, nonrandomized study evaluating the safety and efficacy of A2B395 in adults. Patients are enrolled through BASECAMP-1 (NCT04981119), a master prescreening study that identifies patients with HLA LOH at any time in the course of their disease via next-generation sequencing (Tempus AI, Inc.). Key inclusion criteria include histologically confirmed recurrent unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic cancers associated with EGFR expression, including colorectal, non-small cell lung, squamous cell head and neck, triple negative breast, and renal cell cancers. Patients must have received ≥1 line of prior therapy, such as a checkpoint inhibitor, molecular targeted therapy, or chemotherapy. The primary objective of phase 1 is to evaluate safety, tolerability, and the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) using a Bayesian optimal interval design for dose escalation. The dose-expansion phase will confirm RP2D and collect biomarker data. Phase 2 will assess overall response rate per RECIST v1.1. Clinical trial information: NCT06682793 .
Abstract CT186: EVEREST-2: A seamless phase 1/2 study of A2B694, a logic-gated Tmod CAR T-cell therapy, in patients with mesothelin-expressing solid tumors with human leukocyte antigen-A*02 loss of heterozygosity
Molina, Julian R. , Dorigo, Oliver , Avila, Monica , Konecny, Gottfried E. , Ward, Jeffrey D. , Block, Matthew S. , Specht, Jennifer M. , Lou, Yanyan, Xuan, Jacqueline D., Eskander, Ramez N. , Ong, Gayanie, Langeberg, Wendy, Mardiros, Armen, Maloney, David G. , Welch, John S. , Hecht, J. Randolph, Specht, Jennifer , Hazim, Antonious , Punekar, Salman R. , Simeone, Diane M. , Kirtane, Kedar , Ward, Jeffrey, Boyd, Leslie R. , Park, Jong Chul , Xuan, Jacqueline D., Davila, Marco L , Maus, Marcela V , Locke, Frederick L. , Wise, Andrea

Cancer Research | April 25, 2025 | Volume: 85 | Issue: 8_Supplement_2 | Pages: CT186-CT186

10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-ct186 Get It

Abstract Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapies have demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in hematologic malignancies, but have proven challenging in solid tumors, in part owing to a lack of tumor-specific targets and unmanageable toxicity. Mesothelin (MSLN) expression normally is limited to the mesothelium of major body cavities but can be upregulated in diverse solid tumor types (cancer.gov/tcga), making it a potential target for cancer therapy. MSLN-targeted cell therapy approaches, including CAR T and T-cell receptor fusion therapies, have shown promising clinical activity; however, on-target, off-tumor toxicity including fatal events have occurred (Beatty, et al. Gastroenterology. 2018.; Haas, et al. Mol Ther. 2023.; Hong, et al. ESMO 2021. Abstract 9590.). A2B694 is an autologous logic-gated, MSLN-targeted Tmod CAR T therapy that addresses the challenges of on-target, off-tumor toxicity by combining 2 CARs: an activating and blocking receptor. The activator recognizes MSLN present on the surface of both tumor and normal cells; the blocker inhibits the CAR T activator when it binds human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02, which is present in normal cells and often lost in tumor cells. Thus, in patients with tumor-associated HLA-A*02 loss of heterozygosity (LOH), the blocker prevents on-target, off-tumor toxicity on normal cells owing to retained HLA-A*02 expression (Hamburger, et al. Mol Immunol. 2020). Through this unique selective mechanism, A2B694 may provide a therapeutic window to treat patients with MSLN-expressing solid tumors exhibiting HLA-A*02 LOH. Methods: EVEREST-2 (NCT06051695) is a first-in-human, phase 1/2, open-label, nonrandomized study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of A2B694 in adults with recurrent unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic cancers with MSLN expression, including non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, or other solid tumors with MSLN expression. Eligible patients must have progressed following standard of care therapy. Enrollment to EVEREST-2 occurs through the prescreening study BASECAMP-1 (NCT04981119), which identifies patients with tumor-associated HLA-A*02 LOH via next-generation sequencing (Tempus AI, Inc). Eligible patients enroll in the BASECAMP-1 study and undergo leukapheresis. A2B694 is manufactured from cryopreserved T cells when clinically appropriate for patients. The primary objective of phase 1 is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of A2B694 and identify the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). The dose-expansion phase will confirm RP2D and collect biomarker data to further characterize A2B694. Phase 2 will assess overall response rate per RECIST v1.1. The first patient was enrolled on EVEREST-2 in April 2024. Dose escalation is ongoing. Citation Format: Julian R. Molina, Antonious Hazim, Oliver Dorigo, Salman R. Punekar, Monica Avila, Diane M. Simeone, Kedar Kirtane, Gottfried E. Konecny, Jeffrey Ward, Matthew Block, Jennifer Specht, Leslie Boyd, Yanyan Lou, Jong Chul Park, Jacqueline D. Xuan, Ramez N. Eskander, Gayanie Ong, Marco Davila, Wendy Langeberg, Marcela Maus, Armen Mardiros, Frederick L. Locke, Andrea Wise, David G. Maloney, John Welch, J. Randolph Hecht. EVEREST-2: A seamless phase 1/2 study of A2B694, a logic-gated Tmod CAR T-cell therapy, in patients with mesothelin-expressing solid tumors with human leukocyte antigen-A*02 loss of heterozygosity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_2):Abstract nr CT186.