Abstract A191: FAK/PYK2 inhibitors defactinib and VS-4718 enhance immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy
Authors: Ring Jennifer E. , Li Yajuan , Shapiro Irina M. , Wang Yan , Weaver David T. , Pachter Jonathan A. 
Published: May 2016

Although durable responses to single agent immune checkpoint inhibitors have been reported, additional approaches are needed to extend this therapeutic benefit to a greater proportion of cancer patients. Accordingly, substantial efforts are ongoing to identify agents that can augment T cell-mediated killing of tumor cells and potentiate the effects of checkpoint inhibitors. Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) and the closely related family member PYK2 are potentially valuable targets due to the roles of these protein kinases in regulating key cellular populations in the tumor microenvironment. In addition to the potency of the small molecule FAK/PYK2 inhibitors defactinib (VS-6063) and VS-4718 to target cancer stem cells, we have also reported that these agents inhibited monocyte-derived macrophages, decreased IL-6 production from macrophages in vitro, and reduced tumor-associated macrophages in xenograft models.

We now report that defactinib and VS-4718 dose-dependently stimulate proliferation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells isolated from healthy donors. This is in distinct contrast to other protein kinase inhibitors, such as the SRC inhibitor dasatinib and the MEK inhibitor trametinib, which potently impair the proliferation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells.

Based on the observed enhancement of CD8+ T cells and previously noted inhibition of tumor-associated macrophages, we investigated whether FAK/PYK2 inhibitors would potentiate the anti-tumor efficacy of an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in syngeneic mouse tumor models. Mice bearing established MC38 colorectal tumors were treated with VS-4718 in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody. Combination of VS-4718 with anti-PD-1 extended the median overall survival (OS) to 42 days relative to 21, 25 and 28 day median OS with vehicle control, single agent anti-PD-1 and single agent VS-4718, respectively. Moreover, on day 56, 30% of mice treated with the VS-4718/anti-PD-1 combination were alive in contrast to the vehicle control, single agent VS-4718, and single agent anti-PD-1 groups in which no mice survived. Analysis of MC38 tumors at day 12 of treatment revealed a significant increase in CD8+ T cells and a decrease in Tregs in the VS-4718/anti-PD-1 combination group, relative to vehicle control, providing a mechanistic understanding for the enhanced efficacy of this combination. Assessment of immune biomarkers in tumors from patients treated with defactinib is in progress.

These data provide a rationale for clinical trials in cancer patients to test whether a FAK/PYK2 inhibitor in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor could increase the breadth of responsive tumor types, increase the number of responders, and confer a more durable anti-tumor response.

Citation Format: Jennifer E. Ring, Yajuan Li, Irina M. Shapiro, Yan Wang, David T. Weaver, Jonathan A. Pachter. FAK/PYK2 inhibitors defactinib and VS-4718 enhance immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr A191.