Abstract 6578: N17465, a systemically deliverable elastase, attenuates tumorigenesis and stimulates anti-tumor immunity
Authors: Gujar Ravindra , Cui Chang , Lee Christine , Fumagalli Maria , Martinez Nicole , Liu Hannah , Grigaitis Nicole , Feau Sonia , Becker Lev 
Published: March 2024

Background.  Neutrophil elastase (ELANE) - a neutrophil-derived serine protease - kills a wide range of cancer cells without harming non-cancer cells through a unique killing program involving histone H1 and the death domain of CD95. Although ELANE attenuates tumor growth and induces anti-tumor immunity following intratumoral delivery (Cui et al., Cell, 2021), systemic delivery is stymied by the presence of serine protease inhibitors in blood (eg. alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) which rapidly inhibit its enzymatic activity essential for its anti-cancer function. To overcome this challenge, we developed N17465, an enzyme that resists serine protease inhibitors in blood, and tested its effects on tumor growth, both as a monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. 

Methods.  Enzymatic properties: N17465 enzymatic activity was quantified in the +/- of A1AT or plasma in vitro, and in blood following intravenous (I.V) injection into tumor-bearing mice. Enzyme activity assays included a fluorogenic substrate AAPV-AMC and the C-terminal domain of CD95 (amino acids212-335).  Anti-cancer properties: For in vitro studies, cells were treated with N17465 and viability was quantified by calcein-AM and immunogenic cell death (ICD) markers. Cancer/non-cancer cells included human/murine cell lines and primary cells from ovarian cancer (OvCa) patients. For in vivo studies, N17465 was injected I.V and effects on tumor growth, immunology and survival were assessed as monotherapy or in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor (anti-CTLA4) in pre-clinical models. 

Results.  N17465 maintained enzymatic activity following incubation with A1AT or mouse/human plasma in vitro, and following I.V injection into CT26 tumor-bearing mice in vivo. Importantly, protecting N17465 from serine protease inhibitors did not interfere with its ability to cleave CD95 (therapeutic target) or selectively kill cancer cells in vitro. Indeed, N17465 induced ICD markers, killed a wide range of murine/human cancer cells and also well tolerated by non-cancer cells. Systemically delivered N17465 produced durable tumor regression in a murine CT26 colon cancer model resulting in ~50% tumor-free mice, induced a favorable immune profile, and synergized with anti-CTLA4. N17465 also exhibited efficacy across a range of xenograft models spanning human colon, prostate, and lung cancer, as well as OvCa patient-derived CDX models. 

Conclusions.  Altogether, our data demonstrate that N17465 selectively kills cancer cells, produces durable responses in mice, induces favorable immunology and synergies with checkpoint inhibitors in pre-clinical models. Its ability to maintain enzymatic activity in blood following systemic delivery, selectively kill a wide range of cancer cells, and stimulate anti-tumor immunity warrants further investigation of this unique therapeutic modality across a wide range of solid tumors.

Citation Format: Ravindra Gujar, Chang Cui, Christine Lee, Maria Fumagalli, Nicole Martinez, Hannah Liu, Nicole Grigaitis, Sonia Feau, Lev Becker. N17465, a systemically deliverable elastase, attenuates tumorigenesis and stimulates anti-tumor immunity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6578.