Abstract 3926: MSLN-TTC (BAY 2287411) induces immunogenic cell death and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and triggers an immune memory effect against a mouse tumor model
Authors: Hagemann Urs B. , LeJeune Pascale , Karlsson Jenny , Schatz Christoph A. , Cuthbertson Alan S. , Hennekes Hartwig , Ziegelbauer Karl , Mumberg Dominik 
Published: August 2019

Mesothelin (MSLN)-targeted thorium conjugate (MSLN-TTC; BAY 2287411) is the first targeted alpha therapy in clinical development for the treatment of patients suffering from MSLN-positive mesothelioma and ovarian cancer (NCT03507452). It consists of the MSLN-targeting antibody anetumab, covalently attached to a 3,2-HOPO chelator complexing the alpha-emitter thorium-227. The main mode of action of MSLN-TTC is the induction of clustered DNA double-strand breaks upon alpha decay of thorium-227, resulting in cell death. The preclinical efficacy of MSLN-TTC has been demonstrated previously. The tumor control achieved by external beam radiation is partly driven by immune-stimulatory effects (Vatner et al; Frontiers in Oncology 2014). The essential mechanisms can be attributed to different pathways, including (a) induction of immunogenic cell death and (b) activation of the STING-pathway resulting in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Vanpouille-Box C et al; NatComm 2017). We therefore investigated whether the targeted alpha therapy MSLN-TTC is also able to induce both of these pathways in vitro. The human ovarian cancer MSLN-expressing cell line OVCAR-3 was exposed to MSLN-TTC resulting in a dose dependent upregulation of markers of immunogenic cell death, e.g. calreticulin and HMGB-1. Further, exposure of OVCAR-3 cells to MSLN-TTC resulted in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-β, IL-6 and IP-10. The efficacy of MSLN-TTC was evaluated in a syngeneic subcutaneous tumor model. As MSLN-TTC is not cross-reactive to murine MSLN, an MC38 cell line stably transfected with human MSLN was established (MC38-hMSLN). In vitro, MSLN-TTC induced specific reduction of MC38-hMSLN cell viability. Following single dose administration to MC38-hMSLN tumor-bearing mice, MSLN-TTC induced dose dependent antitumor activity with complete tumor eradication in 10 out of 36 treated animals. Interestingly, when tumor-free animals were re-inoculated with MC38-hMSLN cells 121 days post treatment, no tumor growth was observed. In contrast, tumors grew in animals inoculated with B16F10 cells, suggesting the development of an immune memory response against MC38-hMSLN cells. In summary, the data presented demonstrate that MSLN-TTC is able to induce immunogenic cell death and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Further, MSLN-TTC monotherapy evokes an immune-stimulatory effect in vivo.

Citation Format: Urs B. Hagemann, Pascale LeJeune, Jenny Karlsson, Christoph A. Schatz, Alan S. Cuthbertson, Hartwig Hennekes, Karl Ziegelbauer, Dominik Mumberg. MSLN-TTC (BAY 2287411) induces immunogenic cell death and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and triggers an immune memory effect against a mouse tumor model [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 3926.