Abstract 1594: Enhancement of the anti-tumor activity of CEA TCB via combination with checkpoint blockade by PD-L1 and interleukin-2 variant immunocytokine
Authors: Bacac Marina , Colombetti Sara , Fahrni Linda , Fauti Tanja , Nicolini Valeria , Sam Johannes , Papastogiannidis Petros , Clech Marine Le , Miot Xavier , Waldhauer Inja , Rommel Karolin , Gerdes Christian , Klein Christian , Umaña Pablo 
Published: July 2017

Cancer immunotherapy represents a promising therapeutic approach to extend the overall survival of cancer patients. However, several mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment orchestrate the suppression of host immune response requiring combination strategies to prolong the durability of effect. Among suppressive pathways, up-regulation of PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) and its interaction with PD-1 receptor plays a key role in suppression of T-cell activity, a mechanism also called adaptive immune resistance. Therefore, approaches able to inhibit the tumor immune suppressive mechanisms along with those expanding the frequency of intra-tumor T-cells and enhancing/prolonging their functionality are required.

CEA TCB (RG7802, RO6958688) is a novel T cell bispecific antibody targeting carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) on tumor cells and CD3 on T cells, currently being investigated as single agent and in combination with atezolizumab in Phase 1/1b studies in patients with advanced and/or metastatic CEA-expressing tumors (NCT02324257; NCT02650713). CEA TCB treatment leads to increased intra-tumoral T cell infiltration and T-cell activation along with up-regulation of PD-1/PD-L1 suppressive pathway. Here we show that combination of CEA TCB with PD-L1 blocking antibody in vitro enhances T cell activation as detected by increased CD3 signaling and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Combination in vivo performed in both stem cell humanized NOG mice (HSC mice engrafted with MKN45) and fully immunocompetent human CEA transgenic C56BL/6 mice (hCEA Tg mice engrafted with MC38-hCEA) demonstrated significantly improved anti-tumor activity of combination as compared to activity of single agents, yielding to increased number of tumor-free animals. Randomization of animals that progressed to CEA TCB monotherapy revealed that combination of CEA TCB with PD-L1 blocking antibody is required to control tumor outgrowth, as tumors treated with corresponding monotherapy arms progressed to treatment. Efficacy of CEA TCB was also potentiated when administered in combination with a half-life-extended IL-2 variant (untargeted (IgG-IL2v) or fibroblast-activating protein-targeted IL-2 variant (FAP-IL2v)), resulting in stronger tumor growth inhibition in MKN45-bearing HSC mice or prolonged survival in PanCO2-hCEA-bearing hCEA Tg C56BL/6 mice. Synergy likely reflects ability of IL2v to enhance anti-tumor efficacy by increasing number of effector T cells in tumors.

In conclusion, CEA TCB treatment leads to intra-tumoral T cell infiltration and T-cell activation. This is accompanied by up-regulation of PD-1/PD-L1 suppressive pathway, which can be overcome by combination therapy with a PD-L1 inhibitor. In vivo efficacy of CEA TCB is further potentiated when administered in combination with immunotherapies that increase the pool of available tumor-infiltrating effector cells.

Citation Format: Marina Bacac, Sara Colombetti, Linda Fahrni, Tanja Fauti, Valeria Nicolini, Johannes Sam, Petros Papastogiannidis, Marine Le Clech, Xavier Miot, Inja Waldhauer, Karolin Rommel, Christian Gerdes, Christian Klein, Pablo Umaña. Enhancement of the anti-tumor activity of CEA TCB via combination with checkpoint blockade by PD-L1 and interleukin-2 variant immunocytokine [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 1594. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1594