Abstract 2902: CA-4948 (emavusertib) improves treatment response of preclinical metastatic brain melanoma to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade
Authors: von Roemeling Christina A. , Doonan Bently P. , Acevedo Amanda M. , Patel Jeet A. , Carpenter Savannah L. , Bhatia Alisha , von Roemeling Reinhard W. , Hoffman Jamison , Lane Maureen , Mitchell Duane A. 
Published: March 2024

Background: Although recent advances in immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma have transformed the treatment paradigm for a disease that once carried a grim prognosis, nearly 50% of patients fail to reach a complete response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) due to multiple mechanisms of tumor-induced immune resistance. These challenges are amplified in the CNS tumor microenvironment (TME) where metastatic brain melanoma (MBM) demonstrates diminished clinical benefit to ICB treatment. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms are required to improve therapeutic response to ICB for these patients. Our group has previously identified that aberrant activation of the myddosomal cascade through downstream interleukin (IL)-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK-4) signaling results in chronic stimulation of MAPK and NF-κB in MBM. Further investigation reveals myddosome signaling emanates in large part from the TME, resulting in reflexive immune suppression. CA-4948 (emavusertib), a small molecule inhibitor of IRAK-4, is capable of reaching therapeutic dose levels in the brain where it demonstrates on-target inhibition of this pathway. These data highlight a unique therapeutic opportunity where selective inhibition of immune-suppressive signaling via targeted IRAK-4 blockade may sensitize MBM to anti-PD-1 ICB.

Methods Multispectral imaging of patient MBM samples were analyzed for myddosome expression in the TME. Melanoma preclinical models, including both primary site (cutaneous) and metastatic brain disease, were evaluated for tumor burden and survival in response to CA-4948 treatment alone and in combination with anti-PD-1 ICB. Immunological responses of tumor to treatment were evaluated in two transgenic reporter models, CCR2RFPCX3CR1GFP and IFNγIRES-EYFP, to determine both the distribution and activation of infiltrating immune cells. Tumor-associated myeloid cells were assessed for phenotypic markers by multiparameter flow cytometry.

Results Myddosome signaling was found to be elevated in tumor-associated immune cells in patient MBM specimens. Treatment of preclinical melanoma with CA-4948 combined with anti-PD-1 ICB resulted in significantly reduced tumor growth and improved survival in three independent models. CA-4948 treatment was associated with reduced tumor recruitment of peripherally derived tumor-associated macrophages, as well as increased lymphocyte infiltration and improved pro-inflammatory signaling measured by increased IFNγ expression in the combinatorial setting.

Conclusion Targeted inhibition of IRAK-4 with CA-4948 improves immune surveillance and activation in preclinical models when combined with anti-PD-1 ICB, resulting in reduced tumor growth and increased survival. Thus, CA-4948 may be an effective adjuvant treatment strategy alongside anti-PD-1 ICB for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Citation Format: Christina A. von Roemeling, Bently P. Doonan, Amanda M. Acevedo, Jeet A. Patel, Savannah L. Carpenter, Alisha Bhatia, Reinhard W. von Roemeling, Jamison Hoffman, Maureen Lane, Duane A. Mitchell. CA-4948 (emavusertib) improves treatment response of preclinical metastatic brain melanoma to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade [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 2902.