Abstract 2006: AMX-513 polyamine depletion therapy inhibits tumor growth and reverses immunosuppression in cancers including MYC-driven neuroblastoma and pancreatic cancer
Authors: Burns Mark R. , Fosnaugh Kathy , Palfreyman Michael G. , Gamble Laura , Murray Jayne , Allan Sophie , Eden Georgina , Sarraf Sara , Norris Murray , Ziegler David , Haber Michelle 
Published: July 2017

Tumorigenesis is associated with increased polyamine levels and involves the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the initial rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, and increased uptake of polyamines from the blood and diet. As well as contributing to proliferation, polyamines are reported to exert an immunosuppressive effect. Amplification of the MYC/MYCN oncogenes has been shown to directly induce ODC activity and inhibition of this enzyme by α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) markedly delays tumor development. Aminex Therapeutics is developing a polyamine depletion approach targeting both biosynthesis and transport of polyamines with AMX-513, a combination of the approved ODC inhibitor, DFMO, together with AMXT 1501, an alkylated polyamine mimetic which blocks polyamine uptake.

In the syngeneic CT26.CL25 mouse model of colorectal cancer, AMX-513, dosed daily for four weeks, reduced tumor growth &gt; 75% compared to vehicle-treated control in immunocompetent Balb/C mice. There was no effect in athymic nude mice indicating that tumor growth inhibition by AMX-513 is T-cell-dependent. In the induced transgenic K6/ODC squamous tumor mouse model, stable regression was sustained 10 weeks after treatment ended and was accompanied by tumor infiltrate increases in IFNγ and in CD3+ and CD8+ T-cells. Tumor infiltrates from AMX-513-treated KPC pancreatic cancer transgenic mice with tumor regressions showed &gt;90% reductions in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs; CD11b+ Gr-1+) but no changes in mature myeloid cells (CD11+Gr-1neg) by FACS analysis. AMX-513 treatment did not impact the percentage or number of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Tregs, but did significantly increase the percentage of activated CD8+ T cells in tumors.

Neuroblastoma is an aggressive childhood cancer frequently associated with MYCN and ODC deregulation. In neuroblastoma cell lines, the AMX-513 combination was highly synergistic (CI&lt;0.5). Prophylactic treatment of neuroblastoma-prone TH-MYCN transgenic mice with AMX-513 significantly extended survival compared to either agent alone (median survival time = 81.0±11.8 days versus DFMO alone = 57.1±7.1 days; P&lt;0.0001). Treatment of mice with small palpable tumors with AMX-513 in combination with cyclophosphamide/topotecan significantly improved survival compared with either AMX-513 or cyclo/topo alone (5/9 long term survivors compared to 0/10 and 0/9 for cyclo/topo and AMT-513, respectively; P&lt;0.001 in each case). Polyamine levels were significantly decreased in mice undergoing AMX-513 treatment compared to DFMO or AMXT 1501 alone.

In conclusion, AMX-513 treatment alone or in combination with other cancer therapies results in significant tumor growth reduction in multiple cancer models and demonstrates novel immunotherapeutic potential. Clinical evaluation of AMX-513 is planned in 2017.

Citation Format: Mark R. Burns, Kathy Fosnaugh, Michael G. Palfreyman, Laura Gamble, Jayne Murray, Sophie Allan, Georgina Eden, Sara Sarraf, Murray Norris, David Ziegler, Michelle Haber. AMX-513 polyamine depletion therapy inhibits tumor growth and reverses immunosuppression in cancers including MYC-driven neuroblastoma and pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2006. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2006