Abstract 3192: Activation of p53 in the tumor microenvironment by MDM2 inhibitor APG-115 synergizes with PD-1 blockade independently of p53 status of tumor cells
Authors: Fang Douglas D. , Tang Qiuqiong , Kong Yanhui , Wang Qixin , Gu Jiaxing , Fang Xu , Zou Peng , Rong Tao , Wang Jingwen , Yang Dajun , Zhai Yifan 
Published: August 2019

Blockade of the checkpoint inhibitor programmed death 1 (PD-1) has gained big success in cancer therapy. However, the response rate of anti-PD1 agents remains low. Molecularly targeted agents offer selectivity and high tumor response rates, but patients develop resistance to these drugs inevitably. Combinations of targeted agents and immunotherapy provide new opportunities to improve cancer treatments. Recent studies found that p53 activation in the myeloid linage suppressed alternative (M2) macrophage polarization and attenuates tumor development and invasion, leading to the hypothesis that p53 activation may further augment antitumor immunity elicited by anti-PD-1 therapy. APG-115 is an orally active, selective, small molecule inhibitor of the MDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction. APG-115 acts as an antitumor agent by activating the p53 tumor suppressor in p53 wild-type tumors. However, its role in regulating immune responses remained unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of APG-115 in immune modulation both in vitro and in vivo. Enhanced antitumor activity was first demonstrated in p53 wild-type MH-22A, p53 mutant MC38, and p53 knockout (p53-/-) MH-22A syngeneic tumor models after the combination treatment of APG-115 and anti-PD-1 antibody. Despite differential changes in tumor-infiltrating leukocytes, including an increase in cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in the p53 wild-type tumors and an increase in proinflammatory M1 macrophages in the p53 mutant tumors, the combination treatment consistently reduced immunosuppressive M2 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment regardless of p53 status of tumor cells. In addition, in vitro, the treatment of bone marrow-derived macrophages with APG-115 resulted in activation of p53 and p21 gene expression, as well as a decrease in M2 macrophages population and reduction of c-MYC and M2-related gene expression. Moreover, enhanced M1 macrophage polarization in the spleen was also observed in naïve mice treated with APG-115. Furthermore, APG-115 increased production of multiple proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-6, in stimulated T cells. Collectively, for the first time, our findings suggest that p53 activation by a pharmacological MDM2 inhibitor enables reversal of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and enhance antitumor immunity independently of p53 status of tumors. Specifically, in complementary to PD-1 blockade that predominantly activates cytotoxic CD8+ T cell populations, APG-115 primarily targets tumor-associated macrophages. Collectively, our data provide a rationale for applying the combination of APG-115 plus PD-1 blockade to a broader patient population with p53 mutant tumors. Accordingly, a clinical trial of APG-115 in combination with pembrolizumab in metastatic melanoma patients regardless of p53 status has been initiated in the USA.

Citation Format: Douglas D. Fang, Qiuqiong Tang, Yanhui Kong, Qixin Wang, Jiaxing Gu, Xu Fang, Peng Zou, Tao Rong, Jingwen Wang, Dajun Yang, Yifan Zhai. Activation of p53 in the tumor microenvironment by MDM2 inhibitor APG-115 synergizes with PD-1 blockade independently of p53 status of tumor cells [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 3192.