Abstract 2964: Targeting tumor-associated macrophages to enhance anti-tumor immunity with the Dectin-2 agonistic antibody BDC-3042
Authors: Kenkel Justin A. , Xiao Fang , Ho Po Y. , Nolin Jess L. , Gadkari Rishali K. , Torrez Laughing Bear , Omstead David T. , McEachin Katelynn A. , Ptacek Jason , Grgich Rachel , Pearson Cecelia I. , Chun Stefan , Kreder Cindy L. , Henning Karla A. , Kim Han K. , Xu Lu , Chapin Steven J. , Alonso Michael N. , Ackerman Shelley E. 
Published: April 2023

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the largest immune cell population in many cancers and play a key role in establishing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that enables tumor progression. However, TAMs are phenotypically plastic and have the potential to be reprogrammed into immunostimulatory cells that enhance innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity. To this end, we developed BDC-3042, an agonistic antibody targeting an immune-activating receptor expressed on TAMs known as Dectin-2 (CLEC6A). Dectin-2 is a C-type lectin receptor (CLR) known best for its role in pathogen recognition and induction of protective immune responses against fungi and other microbes. We previously demonstrated that Dectin-2 agonism with natural ligands stimulates pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and antigen presentation by TAMs, resulting in robust CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity in syngeneic mouse models. Here we present our preclinical studies demonstrating the therapeutic potential of the Dectin-2 agonistic antibody, BDC-3042, as a novel TAM-directed immunotherapy for diverse human cancers.

BDC-3042 exhibits strong binding to Dectin-2-expressing macrophages generated in vitro and to primary human TAMs from a range of solid tumor types. In contrast, BDC-3042 binds weakly to peripheral monocytes and minimally to other immune cells in blood and tumor tissues. Macrophages exposed to cytokines and growth factors commonly found in the TME exhibit increased Dectin-2 expression and BDC-3042 binding. Treatment with BDC-3042 activates in vitro-generated macrophages and primary TAMs to produce an array of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines associated with anti-tumor immunity. Consistent with low target expression, BDC-3042 elicits little to no activation of peripheral monocytes or cells in whole blood. BDC-3042 activity is dependent on both Dectin-2 and FcγRs, as indicated through studies utilizing Fc variants with enhanced or attenuated effector function. In mice with humanized immune systems, BDC-3042 elicits activation of TAMs, as evidenced by modulation of key activation markers. Systemically administered BDC-3042 mediates anti-tumor efficacy as a monotherapy, and combination with checkpoint blockade therapy enhances anti-tumor efficacy. The data presented demonstrate the therapeutic potential of targeting Dectin-2 expressed by TAMs with the agonistic antibody BDC-3042 as a novel pan-cancer approach for myeloid cell-directed tumor immunotherapy.

Citation Format: Justin A. Kenkel, Fang Xiao, Po Y. Ho, Jess L. Nolin, Rishali K. Gadkari, Laughing Bear Torrez, David T. Omstead, Katelynn A. McEachin, Jason Ptacek, Rachel Grgich, Cecelia I. Pearson, Stefan Chun, Cindy L. Kreder, Karla A. Henning, Han K. Kim, Lu Xu, Steven J. Chapin, Michael N. Alonso, Shelley E. Ackerman. Targeting tumor-associated macrophages to enhance anti-tumor immunity with the Dectin-2 agonistic antibody BDC-3042 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2964.