Abstract 1849: ICOS co-stimulation in combination immune checkpoint blockade and/or dose-optimized focal irradiation results in enhanced tumor control
Authors: Waight Jeremy D. , Bi Meixia , Hopson Chris , Yadavilli Sapna , Hance Kenneth W. , Ballas Marc , Hoos Axel 
Published: July 2021

In recent years, antibody-based immunotherapies targeting immune checkpoint proteins cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), have revolutionized the treatment of cancer. Despite durable clinical responses in many indications, a significant number of patients fail to yield meaningful benefit, emphasizing the need to identify novel and/or complementary therapeutic interventions (e.g., alternative immune checkpoints, cytotoxic agents, etc.). Inducible T cell Co-Stimulator (ICOS/CD278) is a receptor belonging to the CD28/CTLA-4 superfamily that is predominantly expressed on T cells shortly after T cell receptor (TCR) activation. A growing body of non-clinical and clinical evidence supports the concept of antibody-mediated induction of ICOS signaling as a means to promote durable antitumor responses, particularly in collaboration with other checkpoint immunotherapies. To support ongoing and future clinical studies for feladilimab (GSK3359609), a non-depleting IgG4 ICOS agonist antibody currently being evaluated in pivotal clinical trials, we conducted a series of in vivo studies using a rodent surrogate (7E.17G9 mouse [m]IgG1; analogous non-depleting Fc) in ICOS-sensitive (EMT6 breast carcinoma) and ICOS-insensitive (CT26 colon carcinoma) tumor models. Female BALB/c mice with pre-established EMT6 tumors, exhibited partial responses to GSK'609 surrogate/tool antibody (7E.17G9 mIgG1), with ~20% (range 0-40%) of mice demonstrating tumor clearance. Concurrent administration of anti-PD-1 (RMP1-14 rat [r]IgG2a) and CTLA-4 (9D9 mIgG2b) dramatically improved tumor growth inhibition and survival. Notably, a triplet of TIM-3 blockade (RMT3-23 rIgG2a) in concert with ICOS and PD-1 mAbs further enhanced the survival of EMT6 tumor-bearing mice, suggesting complementary therapeutic mechanisms. In addition to combination with immune checkpoint blockade, we also explored the potential of ICOS co-stimulation with different focal irradiation (FRT) doses and frequencies in both EMT6 and CT26 tumor models. Intriguingly, we observed dramatic differences in response to concurrent FRT and ICOS mAb depending on the tumor model and associated FRT dose and frequency. Further, we identified a FRT dose threshold required for ICOS agonist appreciable combination responses, enabling exploration of additional immunotherapeutic combinations on top of ICOS/FRT. Collectively, these data support the combination of ICOS co-stimulation with different checkpoint immunotherapies (doublets and triplets), several of which are currently being evaluated in clinical studies. Moreover, these data demonstrate potential of ICOS co-stimulation with cytotoxic strategies, such as FRT - providing various dosing considerations and a framework future therapeutic intervention strategies.

Citation Format: Jeremy D. Waight, Meixia Bi, Chris Hopson, Sapna Yadavilli, Kenneth W. Hance, Marc Ballas, Axel Hoos. ICOS co-stimulation in combination immune checkpoint blockade and/or dose-optimized focal irradiation results in enhanced tumor control [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1849.