Abstract 3543: Altering tumor immunophenotypes with PD-L1 engineered toxin bodies
Authors: Khanna Swati , Kapeel Elizabeth M. , Byrne Lauren R. , Saputra Elizabeth , Rivera Steven , Aschenbach Lindsey , Rabia Lilia A. , Cornelison Garrett L. , Orlandella Rachael M. , Brieschke Brigitte , Sousares Michaela , Zhao Jay , Robinson Garrett L. , Moore Chris , Dekker Joseph D. 
Published: June 2022

Targeting of PD-L1 checkpoint has shown clinical efficacy in multiple solid tumor indications. Currently approved PD-L1 targeted approaches rely on the blocking activity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which sterically inhibit PD-L1 thus preventing PD-1 mediated immune checkpoint activity. Although these mAbs have shown activity in the clinic, the need for pre-existing tumor specific immunity and tumor immune infiltration precludes responses in some patients and leads to resistance in others. Therefore, there remains a need for new modalities and treatment paradigms. Molecular Templates has developed MT-6402, an engineered toxin body (ETB) targeting PD-L1 designed to overcome the challenges of current PD-L1 targeting approaches by 1) directly depleting PD-L1 positive tumor or immunosuppressive immune cells displaying PD-L1 and 2) alteration of the tumor immunophenotype through the cytoplasmic delivery of an HLA:A*02 restricted cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen. Delivery of this antigen is meant to leverage recruitment of existing CMV-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) for cell-mediated cytotoxic depletion (antigen seeding technology, AST) of CMV antigen presenting tumor cells. MT-6402 is currently in a phase I open-label, dose escalation and expansion study in subjects with advanced solid cancers that express PD-L1 (NCT04795713). Initial assessment of pharmacodynamic markers for PD-L1 and CMV-mediated ETB activity in a subject with confirmed PD-L1+ tumor cells, CMV positivity, and HLA:A*02 restriction has shown serum phenotypes associated with robust checkpoint inhibitor activity and full extravasation of circulating CMV-specific T cells. In addition to assessing early clinical data from the HLA: A*02 restricted MT-6402 trials, expansion of ETB AST to a broader patient population requires testing of ETBs engineered with the ability to deliver CMV antigens across a broad range of HLA restriction, including HLA:A*01, HLA:A*03, and HLA:A*24. To this end, ETBs were benchmarked against MT-6402 to identify candidates that retain comparable specificity, selectivity, and activity. Substitution of peptide antigens did not alter specificity or selectivity of ETBs compared to MT-6402. Candidate ETB binding profiles and potency were comparable to MT-6402. ETBs delivered an antigen seeding response in a PD-L1 dependent and HLA specific manner. In vivo efficacy of candidate ETBs was comparable in a murine efficacy xenograft model with MT-6402. An ex vivo cytokine release assay in a co-culture setting using HLA matched CTLs and PD-L1+ target cells, treatment with AST capable ETBs resulted in secretion of antigen specific T cell mediated immune cytokines compared to AST null controls. These cytokines overlap with cytokine signatures observed after dosing MT-6402 in HLA:A*02 patients. Preclinical assessment of the safety profile of candidates is ongoing and further development is slated for 2021.

Citation Format: Swati Khanna, Elizabeth M. Kapeel, Lauren R. Byrne, Elizabeth Saputra, Steven Rivera, Lindsey Aschenbach, Lilia A. Rabia, Garrett L. Cornelison, Rachael M. Orlandella, Brigitte Brieschke, Michaela Sousares, Jay Zhao, Garrett L. Robinson, Chris Moore, Joseph D. Dekker. Altering tumor immunophenotypes with PD-L1 engineered toxin bodies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 3543.