Checkpoint inhibitors target the inhibitory receptors expressed by tumor-infiltrating T cells in order to reinvigorate an anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, understanding T cell composition and ...phenotype in human tumors is crucial. We analyzed by flow cytometry tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from two independent cohorts of patients with different cancer types, including RCC, lung, and colon cancer. In healthy donors, peripheral T cells are usually either CD4+ or CD8+ with a small percentage of CD4+ CD8+ DP cells (<5%). Compared to several other cancer types, including lung, and colorectal cancers, TILs from about a third of RCC patients showed an increased proportion of DP CD4+CD8+ T cells (>5%, reaching 30-50% of T cells in some patients). These DP T cells have an effector memory phenotype and express CD38, 4-1BB, and HLA-DR, suggesting antigen-driven expansion. In fact, TCR sequencing analysis revealed a high degree of clonality in DP T cells. Additionally, there were high levels of PD-1 and TIM-3 expression on DP T cells, which correlated with higher expression of PD-1 and TIM-3 in conventional single positive CD8 T cells from the same patients. These results suggest that DP T cells could be dysfunctional tumor-specific T cells with the potential to be reactivated by checkpoint inhibitors.
In developing inhibitors of the LIM kinases, the initial lead molecules combined potent target inhibition with potent cytotoxic
activity. However, as subsequent compounds were evaluated, the ...cytotoxic activity separated from inhibition of LIM kinases.
A rapid determination of the cytotoxic mechanism and its molecular target was enabled by integrating data from two robust
core technologies. High-content assays and gene expression profiling both indicated an effect on microtubule stability. Although
the cytotoxic compounds are still kinase inhibitors, and their structures did not predict tubulin as an obvious target, these
results provided the impetus to test their effects on microtubule polymerization directly. Unexpectedly, we confirmed tubulin
itself as a molecular target of the cytotoxic kinase inhibitor compounds. This general approach to mechanism of action questions
could be extended to larger data sets of quantified phenotypic and gene expression data. Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(11):3490–8
Continuing structure−activity studies were performed on the 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-(imidazol-4-ylalkyl)-1,4-benzodiazepine farnesyltransferase (FT) inhibitors. These studies demonstrated that a ...3(R)-phenylmethyl group, a hydrophilic 7-cyano group, and a 4-sulfonyl group bearing a variety of substituents provide low-nanomolar FT inhibitors with cellular activity at concentrations below 100 nM. Maximal in vivo activity in the mutated K-Ras bearing HCT-116 human colon tumor model was achieved with analogues carrying hydrophobic side chains such as propyl, phenyl, or thienyl attached to the N-4 sulfonyl group. Several such compounds achieved curative efficacy when given orally in this model. On the basis of its excellent preclinical antitumor activity and promising pharmacokinetics, compound 20 (BMS-214662, (R)-7-cyano-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-3-(phenylmethyl)-4-(2-thienylsulfonyl)-1H-1,4-benzodiazepine) has been advanced into human clinical trials.
The dose response curve is the gold standard for measuring the effect of a drug treatment, but is rarely used in genomic scale transcriptional profiling due to perceived obstacles of cost and ...analysis. One barrier to examining transcriptional dose responses is that existing methods for microarray data analysis can identify patterns, but provide no quantitative pharmacological information. We developed analytical methods that identify transcripts responsive to dose, calculate classical pharmacological parameters such as the EC50, and enable an in-depth analysis of coordinated dose-dependent treatment effects. The approach was applied to a transcriptional profiling study that evaluated four kinase inhibitors (imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib and PD0325901) across a six-logarithm dose range, using 12 arrays per compound. The transcript responses proved a powerful means to characterize and compare the compounds: the distribution of EC50 values for the transcriptome was linked to specific targets, dose-dependent effects on cellular processes were identified using automated pathway analysis, and a connection was seen between EC50s in standard cellular assays and transcriptional EC50s. Our approach greatly enriches the information that can be obtained from standard transcriptional profiling technology. Moreover, these methods are automated, robust to non-optimized assays, and could be applied to other sources of quantitative data.
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Abstract
Checkpoint inhibitors target the inhibitory receptors expressed by tumor infiltrating T cells in order to reinvigorate an anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, understanding T cell ...composition and phenotype in human tumors is crucial. We analyzed by flow cytometry tumor infiltrating lymphocytes from two independent cohorts of patients with different cancer types, including RCC, lung and colon cancer. T cells are usually either CD4+ or CD8+ with a small percentage of CD4+ CD8+ DP cells (<5%). Compared to several other cancer types, including lung and colorectal cancers, about a third of RCC patients showed an increased proportion of DP CD4+CD8+ T cells (>5%, reaching 30-50% of T cells in some patients). These DP T cells express high level of PD1 and TIM-3 that tend to correlate with higher expression of PD1 and TIM-3 in conventional CD8 T cells. DP T cells also express markers of antigen-experienced T cells such as CD38 and HLA-DR. These results suggest that double positive T cells might be exhausted tumor specific T cells with the potential to be reactivated by checkpoint inhibitors.
Citation Format: Laurence Menard, Paul Fischer, Bijal Kakrecha, Deborah Lee, Becky Penhallow, Nataly Manjarrez Orduno, Steven Nadler. Double positive (DP) CD4+CD8+ T cells with an exhausted phenotype in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4687.
2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-1-(imidazol-4-ylalkyl)-1,4-benzodiazepines were found to be potent inhibitors of farnesyltransferase (FT). A hydrophobic substituent at the 4-position of the benzodiazepine, linked ...via a hydrogen bond acceptor, was important to enzyme inhibitory activity. An aryl ring at position 7 or a hydrophobic group linked to the 8-position through an amide, carbamate, or urea linkage was also important for potent inhibition. 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-1-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-7-(4-pyridinyl)-4-2-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoyl-1H-1,4-benzodiazepine (36), with an FT IC50 value of 24 nM, produced 85% phenotypic reversion of Ras transformed NIH 3T3 cells at 1.25 μM and had an EC50 of 160 nM for inhibition of anchorage-independent growth in soft agar of H-Ras transformed Rat-1 cells. Selected analogues demonstrated ip antitumor activity against an ip Rat-1 tumor in mice.
Abstract
Introduction: Nivolumab (BMS-936558; MDX-1106; ONO-4538) is a fully human IgG4 programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor antibody that selectively prevents interaction with PD-1 ...ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2), inhibiting the downregulation of antitumor T-cell functions. Nivolumab has shown activity in advanced solid tumors, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), melanoma, and non-small cell lung cancer (Topalian SL, et al. NEJM 2012;366:2443-54). Sunitinib and sorafenib are anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) used for the treatment of RCC. We investigated the activity of nivolumab in combination with TKIs in a preclinical RCC murine model. Methods: The murine RCC (Renca) tumor cell line was maintained in vitro and implanted subcutaneously into 8-12 week old female Balb/c mice. When mean tumor volume reached approximately 90-100 mm3, mice were randomized into groups of eight. Vehicle control, sunitinib 120 mg/kg, or sorafenib 200 mg/kg were administered orally once daily for 14 days. The nivolumab surrogate antibody, an IgG1 anti-mouse PD-1 monoclonal antibody (clone 4H2), was administered at 10 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection every four days for four cycles. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry analyses were used to assess immune cell infiltration of tumors. Results: Sunitinib monotherapy showed activity in the Renca murine RCC model producing tumor growth inhibition of 84% by the end of treatment; however, tumors grew progressively after cessation of therapy. Conversely, while the anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody was inactive in this model, addition of anti-PD-1 to sunitinib produced significant antitumor activity, resulting in complete tumor regressions or marked delay in tumor growth. Combination anti-PD-1 plus sunitinib therapy also had no effect on the body weight of the mice. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that sunitinib monotherapy led to an influx of immune cells predominantly into the tumor periphery, whereas greater infiltration of immune cells throughout the tumor was observed with combination anti-PD-1 and sunitinib therapy. In contrast, combination treatment with anti-PD-1 antibody and sorafenib did not enhance antitumor activity in this murine RCC model. Further exploration of the mechanisms contributing to this synergy will be presented. Conclusions: Combination therapy with sunitinib and anti-PD-1 antibody demonstrated an enhanced effect against murine RCC. Safety and response to nivolumab plus sunitinib, pazopanib, or ipilimumab in patients with metastatic RCC are being assessed in an ongoing phase 1 study (NCT01472081).
Citation Format: Gregg Masters, Gennaro Dito, Becky Penhallow, Anne Lewin, Henry Kao, Maria N. Jure-Kunkel. Antitumor activity of anti-PD-1 in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in a preclinical renal cell carcinoma model. abstract. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5016. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5016
Abstract
Background: Activation of OX40, a costimulatory protein in the tumor necrosis factor receptor super family, enhances T effector cell activation and inhibits T regulatory (Treg) cell-mediated ...suppression. Preclinical data showed that combination of an OX40 agonist with checkpoint blockade (anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4) enhanced antitumor activity vs checkpoint blockade alone. BMS-986178 is a fully human IgG1 agonist monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to OX40 and was well tolerated ± NIVO (anti-PD-1; Olszanski AJ, et al. J Immunother Cancer 2017;5(suppl2) abstract O17). The relationship between receptor modulation and the activity of agonist OX40 agents in the clinic is not clear. Here we present findings on the regulation of OX40 receptor expression and T-cell activation by BMS-986178 ± NIVO or IPI (anti–CTLA-4) from the phase 1/2a study in patients with advanced solid tumors (NCT02737475).
Methods: Patients with ≥ 1 prior therapy were treated in this open-label, dose-escalation and -expansion study. During escalation, patients received BMS-986178 monotherapy 20-320 mg IV Q2W, BMS-986178 20-320 mg + NIVO 240 mg IV Q2W, or BMS-986178 20-320 mg + IPI 1 mg/kg IV Q3W. Pharmacokinetics (PK) and systemic pharmacodynamics (PD) were evaluated, including analysis of OX40 receptor occupancy (RO), CD4+ T cell- and Treg-cell surface OX40 expression, soluble OX40 (sOX40) levels, cytokines, and proliferation of effector memory T cells in circulation.
Results: BMS-986178 PK was linear from 20 to 320 mg when administered as monotherapy (n = 20), + NIVO (n = 38), or + IPI (n = 32). Moreover, BMS-986178 ± NIVO or IPI stimulated the production of IFN-γ and increased proliferating (Ki-67+) effector memory T cells. Concomitant downregulation of OX40 expression on the cell surface of CD4+ T cells and Tregs was observed as OX40 RO approached saturation at BMS-986178 doses of ≥ 40 mg. Furthermore, BMS-986178 doses of 20-160 mg ± NIVO or IPI increased sOX40 levels, while BMS-986178 doses of ≥ 160 mg ± NIVO or IPI led to sOX40 plateau.
Conclusions: Clinical PK/PD findings showed efficient BMS-986178 target engagement and confirmed preclinical observations that BMS-986178 can modulate RO and OX40/sOX40 expression. Furthermore, peripheral T-cell activation was observed in patients treated with BMS-986178 ± NIVO or IPI. Coupled with our preclinical observations, these findings highlight a complex dose-response relationship between BMS-986178 receptor saturation, receptor modulation, and induction of soluble receptor. These data support further clinical investigation of a broader dose range and optimal schedules for BMS-986178 ± NIVO or IPI.
Citation Format: Rui Wang, Yan Feng, Ed Hilt, Xiling Yuan, Chan Gao, Xiao Shao, Yongliang Sun, Michael D'silva, Katherine Yang, Becky Penhallow, Goce Bogdanoski, Rajesh Anand, Irene Pak, Danielle Greenawalt, Anke Klippel, Nataly Manjarrez-Orduno, Robert Neely, Michael Quigley, Michael Hedrick, Praveen Aanur, Z Cao. From bench to bedside: Exploring OX40 receptor modulation in a phase 1/2a study of the OX40 costimulatory agonist BMS-986178 ± nivolumab (NIVO) or ipilimumab (IPI) in patients with advanced solid tumors abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-127.
JAK2 kinase inhibitors are a promising new class of agents for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms and have potential for the treatment of other diseases possessing a deregulated JAK2-STAT ...pathway. X-ray structure and ADME guided refinement of C-4 heterocycles to address metabolic liability present in dialkylthiazole 1 led to the discovery of a clinical candidate, BMS-911543 (11), with excellent kinome selectivity, in vivo PD activity, and safety profile.
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5-Butyl-1,4-diphenyl pyrazole and 2-amino-5-chloro pyrimidine acylsulfonamides were developed as potent dual antagonists of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Compounds were optimized for binding to the I88, L92, ...I95, and F99 pockets normally occupied by pro-apoptotic protein Bim. An X-ray crystal structure confirmed the proposed binding mode. Observation of cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria in MV-411 cells provides further evidence of target inhibition. Compounds demonstrated submicromolar antiproliferative activity in Bcl-2/Bcl-xL dependent cell lines.
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