bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MDNA11 is a long-acting IL-2 superkine that potentiates durable immune response in mouse tumor models and non-human primates.
Authors: To Minh D. , Merchant Fahar , Merchant Nina 
Published: June 2021

e14546 Background: The efficacy and safety of recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2; Proleukin) to treat certain cancers is limited by a short half-life, marked toxicity and selective high affinity binding to IL2Ra over IL2Rb, resulting in preferential activation of suppressive Tregs. In contrast, MDNA11 has been engineered as a long-acting IL-2 superkine with high affinity IL2Rb receptor selectivity, resulting in preferential anti-cancer effector immune cell activation. Methods: MDNA11 was characterized in both in vitro and in vivo studies including assessment of receptor binding kinetics using BLI/Octet, receptor-mediated signaling in human PMBCs, efficacy in syngeneic mouse tumor models including memory response, as well as safety and PK/PD assessments in non-human primates (NHP). Results: Unlike rhIL-2, MDNA11 does not bind to human IL2Ra but demonstrates a 30-fold higher affinity binding to human IL2Rb. This selectivity resulted in enhanced in vitro STAT5 signaling in human NK and resting CD8 T cells with diminished signaling in Tregs; validation studies in humanized mice are ongoing. In CT26 and MC38 syngeneic tumor models, MDNA11 demonstrates potent and durable efficacy as monotherapy following a Q1W dose schedule for 2 weeks. Synergy with anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was observed and a robust immune memory response developed in all mice with complete tumor clearance. These mice were protected against relapse and tumor re-challenges for up to 8 months without any further treatment, and showed the presence of antigen-specific CD8 T cells. In binding studies with IL-2 receptors of different species, MDNA11 showed highly similar affinity towards human and cynomolgus IL2Rb, confirming the latter as a highly relevant model for toxicology study. MDNA11 was well tolerated in cynomolgus monkeys up to 0.6 mg/kg, while inducing durable (≥10 days) proliferation and expansion of NK and CD8 T cells. Effects on Tregs were minimal and there was no eosinophilia and hypotension (associated with vascular leak syndrome). At high doses of MDNA11, the most common clinical observations were transient loss of appetite and diarrhea. There was modest increase in levels of IFNg and TNFa, but no sign of cytokine release syndrome. Dosing did not trigger development of anti-drug antibodies or histopathologic evidence of pulmonary edema (a major IL-2 induced toxicity). Conclusions: MDNA11 is a long-acting IL-2 superkine that exhibits robust efficacy in mouse tumor models as a single agent and was synergistic in combination with ICIs (anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1). In NHP, MDNA11 demonstrates selective immune effector cell activation and a favorable safety profile. These data constitute a strong framework for the design of a pivotal GLP toxicology study to further support the planned clinical study of MDNA11 either as a single agent or in combination with ICIs.
Impact of cancer type on the incidence of cutaneous toxicities after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A population-level analysis.
Authors: Pahalyants Vartan , Raval Neel Sanjiv , Ugwu-Dike Pearl Ojiugo , Le Thomas K. , Reynolds Kerry Lynn , Kwatra Shawn G. , Semenov Yevgeniy R. 
Published: June 2021

e14553 Background: Cutaneous immune-related adverse events (cirAEs) from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy are increasing as these drugs are more widely used. Population-level studies are lacking. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the primary tumor’s effect on cirAE incidence and downstream utilization of systemic immunosuppression in a national healthcare database (TriNetX). Methods: Index event was defined as day of ICI initiation; outcomes were restricted to 2 years from index. cirAEs were defined as 42 dermatoses identified in a comprehensive review of the cirAE literature (Sibaud 2018) and expert opinion. Systemic immunosuppression was classified as steroidal or non-steroidal. Primary outcomes included aggregate and cancer-specific incidence of cirAEs across the four most common cancer indications for ICI therapy (melanoma, lung, urinary, and gastrointestinal). Secondary outcomes included utilization of new steroidal or non-steroidal systemic immunosuppression. For each analysis, we excluded patients with an outcome prior to the index event. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated after 1-to-1 propensity score matching, adjusting for age at index, sex, race, ethnicity, and ICI target, with the lung cancer group as reference. Results: We identified 27,481 eligible subjects. Aggregate incidence of cirAEs across all cancer types was 23.41%, with non-specific rashes, pruritus, and drug eruptions as the most common diagnoses. Among all patients, new steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression use following ICI initiation was 16.1% and 4.1%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, melanoma (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.43-1.79, p < 0.001) was associated with a higher risk of cirAE, while urinary and gastrointestinal tract cancers were not significantly different from the reference. Melanoma (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.55-0.74), urinary tract (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.62-0.81) and gastrointestinal tract (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.39-0.53) cancers were all less likely to require steroidal immunosuppression (all p < 0.001). However, patients with urinary tract cancer (RR 4.03, 95% CI 3.04-5.35) and melanoma (RR 2.44, 95% CI 1.75-3.40) were more likely to receive non-steroidal systemic immunosuppression (both p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results reinforce that ICI recipients commonly develop skin toxicities and provide robust evidence that melanoma is independently associated with their incidence. Furthermore, we found that patients with lung cancers received steroidal systemic immunosuppression most frequently, an intervention associated with poorer overall survival (Riudavets 2020). In contrast, patients with melanoma were more likely to receive non-steroidal immunosuppression. This study is the first population-based analysis of an irAE across tumor types and is proof-of-concept for future investigations into clinical risk factors in a large dataset.
Efficacy of KD033, an anti-human-PD-L1-IL-15 bispecific protein, in human-PD-L1 positive and negative murine tumor models.
Authors: Martomo Stella , Lu Dan , Polonskaya Zhanna , Luna Xenia , Zhang Zhikai , Regev Galit , Schueller Olivier , Patel Jeegar 
Published: June 2021

e14556 Background: KD033 is a clinical-stage bispecific fusion molecule consisting of a high-affinity anti-human-PD-L1 antibody and human IL-15. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that targeting IL-15 with anti-PD-L1 antibody resulted in increased efficacy, safety and maximal tolerated dose of the fusion protein compared to administration of free IL-15, as well as reduction of tumor growth in both PD-L1 positive and negative tumor models (1). The goal of the current study is to directly compare KD033 efficacy when PD-L1 is present or absent on the surface of the same tumor. Methods: KD033 was administered in the human-PD-L1/PD-1 transgenic C57/Bl6 mice subcutaneously transplanted with human-PD-L1 positive and negative MC38 colon carcinoma cells. This animal model allowed the evaluation of the impact of the presence or absence of human-PD-L1 expression on the tumor cell surface without altering human-PD-L1 expression on immune cells. Results: KD033 treatment resulted in significant tumor growth reduction in both human-PD-L1 positive and negative MC38 tumors. Analysis of peripheral immune cell populations showed similar increases of CD8 T and NK cells between human-PD-L1 positive and negative MC38- bearing mice after KD033 administration. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a significant increase in CD8 T-cell infiltration into the human-PD-L1 positive MC38 tumors, whereas NK cells infiltration was more pronounced in the human-PD-L1 negative MC38 tumors. Analysis of tumor gene transcription after KD033 treatment highlighted differences in gene signatures between human-PD-L1 positive and negative MC38 tumors following KD033 treatment. Conclusions: These results showed that the efficacy of anti-PD-L1-IL-15 fusion protein is not limited to PD-L1 tumor expression as KD033 was efficacious in both PD-L1 positive and negative tumors. Mol Cancer Ther February 1 2021 (20) (2) 347-356; DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-20-0457
HMBD-002 is a novel, neutralizing, anti-VISTA antibody exhibiting strong preclinical efficacy and safety, being developed as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab.
Authors: DiMascio Leah , Thakkar Dipti , Gandhi Namita , Guan Siyu , Rowinsky Eric Keith , Ingram Piers , Boyd-Kirkup Jerome Douglas 
Published: June 2021

e14569 Background: Inhibition of immune checkpoints has been an effective strategy against several cancers, but efficacy gaps remain. VISTA is an immunoregulatory protein expressed on both hematopoietic and tumor cells and has been shown to induce an immunosuppressive environment by repressing T-cell activation and cytokine production. VISTA expression has been shown to be upregulated following treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Hummingbird Bioscience is developing HMBD-002, an IgG4 antibody against VISTA with high binding specificity across species (human, cyno and rodent) and low pM affinity to the region of VISTA required for engagement with interaction partners, including VSIG3. As HMBD-002 is an IgG4 isotype, it uniquely blocks the inhibitory function of VISTA and releases immune suppression without depleting VISTA+ cells. Here we establish the preclinical efficacy and safety of HMBD-002 along with the rationale for development of HMBD-002 as a monotherapy and in combination with PD1 inhibitors in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: The effect of HMBD-002 in an in vitro model of human immune activation was evaluated using an allogenic Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR) assay. Tumor growth inhibition studies were conducted in syngeneic murine cell-derived xenograft (CDX) models. The PK and tolerability of HMBD-002 was evaluated in rats and cynomolgus monkeys with a 21 or 28-day observation period. The expression profile of VISTA was examined in different cancers by IHC staining of FFPE TMAs of various solid cancers. Results: HMBD-002 induced a significant dose dependent increase in the levels of inflammatory cytokines, IFN-γ and TNF- α and suppressed the expansion of CD14+ monocytes. Treatment with HMBD-002 significantly inhibited tumor growth and improved survival in CDX models. HMBD-002 is well tolerated in rats and cynomolgus monkeys with acceptable serum half-life, no HMBD-002 related morbidity/mortality or clinical signs, and no HMBD-002 related changes were observed in body weight, food consumption, clinical chemistry, or hematology parameters. HMBD-002 did not induce cytokine release in human PBMCs or whole blood. TNBC and NSCLC patients were found to harbor the highest VISTA expression across cancer types tested, providing a rationale for exploring these indications in upcoming clinical studies. Conclusions: These studies provide the rationale for development of HMBD-002 as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab to treat patients with solid tumors expressing VISTA in the tumor microenvironment. A Phase 1 study will be initiated in 2021.
Myocarditis in patients treated with anti–programmed death-1/programmed death ligand 1 therapy.
Authors: Wang Hanping , Guo Xiaoxiao , Tian Ran , Si Xiaoyan , Zhang Xiaotong , Wang Jiangshan , Zhao Haitao , Zhang Li 
Published: June 2021

e14579 Background: We retrospectively analysed the cases of immune checkpoint inhibitor(ICI) -associated myocarditis managed in PUMCH. We aim to investigate the clinical characteristics of myocarditis and the risk factors affecting the prognosis. Methods: Medical records of all checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis were reviewed retrospectively. Descriptive statistics were used for the report of clinical outcomes. Univariate and multivariate Logistic analyses were performed to establish a prognostic model. Results: The median age of 19 patients was 64 years old (range 39̃80 years). The median time of onset from the iniatial of ICIs was 21 days (ranging from 2 to 375 days). Seven cases were grade 4 (36.8%), 2 cases were grade 3 (10.5%), 8 cases were grade 2 (42.1%), and 2 cases were grade 1 (10.5%). Clinical symptoms included dyspnea (13/19, 68.4%), fatigue (11/19, 57.9%), myalgia/myasthenia (9/19, 47.4%), sweating (6/19, 31.6%) and palpitation (6/19, 31.6%) et al. 47.4% (9/19) of the patients showed cardiac insufficiency/hemodynamic instability at first, and 52.6% (10/19) of the patients showed symptoms related to myositis first. cTnI and CK increased in all patients. The level of cTnI was significantly higher in grade 3̃4 than that in grade 1-2. NTproBNP was elevated in all grade 4 cases and one grade 3 case. The LVEF decreased only in 4 patients with grade 4 myocarditis (4/19, 22.2%). The electrocardiogram showed ventricular arrhythmia in 4 cases and complete atrioventricular block (3°AVB) in 3 cases. All patients were treated with corticosteroids (GCS). Grade 4 (6 cases), grade 3 (1 case) and grade 2 (2 cases) were given GCS pulse dose. The median total duration of GCS treatment was 42 days (range: 14-60 days). Three patients were treated with tocilizumab and one patient with infliximab. All patients with grade 3-4 and 2 patients with grade 2 were also treated with IVIG. Pacemakers were implanted in 3 patients with 3°AVB. The mortality rate of 19 cases was 21.1% (4/19), and the mortality rate of grade 4 myocarditis was 42.9%(3/7). The longer course before GCS therapy (p = 0.023), the higher NTproBNP (p = 0.030) and the lower LVEF value (p = 0.014) were found in the death group compared to the survival group. Logistic regression analysis showed that LVEF is an independent risk factor. The myocarditis prognostic model was condstructed as follows: Y = 8.794-18.002*LVEF, the prognostic critical value of LVEF was 57.5%, the area under the ROC curve of the prognostic model was 0.894 (95%CI: 0.735̃1.000), the sensitivity was 0.769, and the specificity was 1.000. Conclusions: We describe the largest single-center immune myocarditis cohort to date. Paying attention to the symptoms related to myositis is helpful to find more grade 1-2 myocarditis. cTnI is sensitive to myocarditis, and NTproBNP is of great significance to grade 3 ̃ 4 cases. LVEF < 57% may be an independent risk factor for poor prognosis.
Genomic profiling by cell-free circulating tumor DNA in patients with recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and the potential activity of selective fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors.
Authors: Perez Cesar Augusto , Dutcher Giselle , Sargi Zoukaa , Guevara Nelson , Tse David , Benedetto Pasquale W. 
Published: June 2021

e15018 Background: Few effective systemic therapies are available for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Multitargeted Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as Lenvatinib and Rivoceranib can provide disease control and limited radiographic response in unselected ACC patients. Next-generation sequencing in tissue (tNGS) has identified MYB gene fusions in [patients with ACC but currently, only Notch1 mutations have an available targeted agent. The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) pathway is a downstream target of MYB. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed adult patients with a diagnosis of recurrent ACC seen at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center between January 1, 2019 and October 31, 2020. Commercially available cell free DNA panel of 73 genes was used for analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Patients included had radiographically measurable disease and both tNGS and ctDNA data available. Results: Twelve patients were included. Median age at diagnosis was 54 years (28 - 68), and 69% were males. 83% of the patients had genomic abnormalities reported by tNGS, with the same number by ctDNA sequencing. Seven patients (58%) had genomic abnormalities in ctDNA of potentially therapeutic significance which were not found on tNGS, including FGFR1 amplification as well as FGFR2, BRAF, KRAS and JAK2 mutations. Three patients with FGFR genomic abnormalities only seen by ctDNA had been previously treated with Lenvatinib. One patient with primary lacrimal gland ACC metastatic to the liver and tNGS positive for NOTCH 1 had disease progression despite treatment with Lenvatinib and a NOTCH γ-secretase inhibitor. The patient’s ctDNA reported a FGFR2 mutation. The patient was started on Erdafitinib, an oral selective FGFR inhibitor, achieving a partial response at the primary site and metastatic liver lesions and remained on therapy for 7 months. Follow-up ctDNA after 3 months of therapy noted resolution of both FGFR and NOTCH abnormalities. Conclusions: Patients treated with lenvantinib or other TKIs may develop acquired resistance mutations and other genomic abnormalities. ctDNA can reveal additional therapeutic targets not present on tNGS and can be repeated serially. FGFR genomic abnormalities can be a driver mutation in patients with refractory advanced ACC and the activity of Erdafinib should be evaluated in this subset of patients with few therapeutic options.
Correlation of SOX-2 and NOTCH1 copy numbers with vimentin expression in orthotopic patient-derived xenografts of cardioesophageal cancer in immunodeficient mice.
Authors: Goncharova Anna S. , Kolesnikov Evgeniy N. , Zaikina Ekaterina V. , Volkova A. V. , Mindar M. V. , Khodakova D. V. , Lukbanova Ekaterina A. , Kurbanova L. Z. , Kozhushko Mikhail A. , Anisimov Aleksandr E. , Myagkov Roman E. , Sanamyants Sergey V. , Katsieva Tanzila B. 
Published: June 2021

e15034 Background: Cardioesophageal cancer is one of the most common tumors affecting the mucosa of the cardiac stomach and distal esophagus. Despite the variety of treatment strategies and chemotherapy agents, the prognosis for the patients remains poor. The purpose of the study was to analyze the relative copy numbers of SOX-2 and NOTCH1 and vimentin expression in orthotopic patient-derived xenografts of cardioesophageal cancer. Methods: The model of cardioesophageal cancer was created in Balb/c Nude mice with surgical bioptates of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma obtained from a donor with infiltrative ulcerative cancer of the lower third of the esophagus with a transition to the cardiac stomach into the distal esophagus of Balb/c Nude mice. The index of proliferative activity in the bioptates was assessed by IHC. The relative copy numbers of SOX-2 and NOTCH1 and vimentin expression were determined by Real-Time qPCR. Results: Expression of vimentin was absent in tissues of the donor tumor. The levels of vimentin expression statistically significantly increased in xenografts (1+ and 3+). The SOX-2 and NOTCH1 relative copy numbers were statistically significantly increased in tissues of the donor tumor (0.9 and 0.7), compared to xenografts (1.5±0.03 and 1.7±0.03). Molecular genetic analysis demonstrated an association between an increased vimentin expression and changes in the relative copy numbers of SOX-2 and NOTCH1 (p = 0.013 and p = 0.0001). Conclusions: The relative copy numbers of SOX-2 and NOTCH1 genetic loci was associated with increased expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker vimentin in tumor tissue samples and changed with each new generation of orthotopic xenografts.
Organotin compounds as effective antimetastatic substances in the treatment of epidermoid lung carcinoma Lewis (LLC) in an experiment.
Authors: Dodokhova Margarita Avdeevna , Kotieva Inga Movlievna , Safronenko Andrej Vladimirovich , Shpakovsky Dmitriy Borisovich , Milaeva Elena Rudolfovna , Shtil Alexander Albertovich , Komarova Ekaterina Fedorovna , Alkhuseyn-Kulyaginova Margarita Stefanovna 
Published: June 2021

e15054 Background: Lung cancer occupies one of the first places in the structure of oncological diseases in the world. Reducing the life expectancy of patients, as a rule, occurs as a result of metastatic complications, so the search for new antimetastatic agents is an urgent task for experimental pharmacology and oncology. The aim of our study is to assess the severity of metastatic lesion in the Lewis lung epidermoid carcinoma (LLC) model in the presence of an organotin compound. Methods: The study was conducted on experimental C57BL/6 mice (n = 24, each group contained 12 mice) with LLC (subcutaneous transplantation) in the presence of the cytotoxic organotin compound 2,6-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl) - 4 - [(triphenylstannyl)thio]phenol (Me5). All manipulations were carried out in accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrates Used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes (ETS 123). Female mice (8 weeks of age, weighing 21-22 g) were intraperitoneally injected with a 1% aqueous gelatin solution of organotin Me5 daily for 5 days. The most effective total dose of Me5 was 250 mg / kg. The animals of the control group received saline solution in similar modes and volumes. In the experimental and control groups, the degree of metastatic lesion was assessed on the 21-day post-grafting period according to the scale proposed by D. Tarin and J. E. Price, which allows us to differentiate the severity of the lesion depending on the number of metastases and their size. The experiment describes three degrees of lesion: LCP-1 (metastases less than 10 pcs. with a diameter not exceeding 1 mm); LCP-2 (metastases from 10 to 30 pieces, some of them larger than 1 mm) and HCP-3 (metastases larger than 30 pieces of different sizes, but no drain). The pathohistological structure was studied by the light-optical method with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: When administered intraperitoneal to mice, Me5 did not inhibit the growth of the primary tumor site in the experimental group, but significantly reduced the severity of metastatic lesions in the lungs. In the control group, 75 % of mice with LLC had LCP - 2 (low colonization potential) and in 25% of HCP-3 (high colonization potential) metastatic lesions, in the experimental group only mild lesions were noted in all animals: 58% of mice had LCP – 1, 42% - LCP-2. Conclusions: It is concluded that the overall result of this study clearly demonstrates that the organotin compound 2,6-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl) - 4 - [(triphenylstannyl)thio] phenol (Me5) is an effective antimetastatic agent in the Lewis lung epidermoid carcinoma (LLC) model at a total dose of 250 mg/kg.