Effect of extended treatment with IAP inhibitor xevinapant post radiotherapy (RT) on efficacy and the tumor microenvironment (TME) in preclinical models.
Authors: Yeung Tsz Lun , Jiang Feng , Qi Jin , Yu Huakui , Chiu Li-Ya , Marelli Bo , Wang Hong , Bonnemaison Mathilde , Jenkins Molly , Ferretti Roberta , Lindemann Ralph , Esdar Christina , Lan Yan 
Published: June 2023

6027

Background: Xevinapant is a first-in-class, oral IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein) inhibitor designed to restore cancer cell sensitivity to apoptosis, induced by RT and chemotherapy, and enhance antitumor immunity. In a randomized phase 2 study of patients with unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, xevinapant + chemoradiotherapy (CRT) significantly improved 18-month locoregional control and improved 3-year progression-free survival and 5-year overall survival vs placebo + CRT. A phase 3 confirmatory study (TrilynX NCT04459715) and a phase 3 study to evaluate xevinapant + RT in post-operative, high-risk, cisplatin-ineligible patients (XRay Vision NCT05386550) are ongoing. In these studies, we investigate 3 additional cycles of xevinapant or placebo monotherapy after completing combination treatment. Based on the role of IAPs in apoptosis, immunity, and stromal activation, continual dosing of xevinapant post RT may have additional therapeutic benefits. Methods: MC38 syngeneic tumor-bearing mice were treated with vehicle control, RT alone (3.6Gy once daily [QD], 5 days), or RT + xevinapant (100 mg/kg QD, 1, 2, or 4 weeks). To assess treatment-mediated TME modulation, immune cells in tumors were evaluated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)based immunophenotyping, and tumor-specific T cell responses were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assays. To understand the effect of xevinapant on RT-induced cancer associated fibroblast (CAF) activation, CAF gene expression was profiled on cell lines and patient-derived primary cultures. Results: Xevinapant + RT increased antitumor efficacy compared with vehicle control or RT alone. Moreover, RT in combination with extended dosing of xevinapant for 4 weeks significantly improved therapeutic efficacy and prolonged survival compared with RT + shorter xevinapant dosing durations. FACS analysis demonstrated trends of increased numbers of CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells and decreased numbers of regulatory T cells in mice treated with xevinapant + RT. FACS and ELISpot further suggested an increase in antigen-specific T cell counts from baseline with combination therapy arm vs vehicle control or RT alone. Xevinapant may also suppress RT-mediated CAF activation, as indicated by downregulation of activation markers and CAF-derived secretory proteins. Conclusions: In preclinical models, extended dosing of xevinapant for 4 weeks post RT improved antitumor efficacy. Our data suggest that the effect may be, in part, modulated by TME responses, including enhanced antitumor immunity and suppressed pro-tumorigenic phenotype of CAFs. Based on these results, further evaluation is warranted to determine the mechanisms that underscore the therapeutic benefit offered by extended dosing of xevinapant.