Despite the impressive impact of CTLA4 and PD-1/L1 cancer immunotherapy, a large proportion of patients with many tumor types fail to respond. Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) is the third ...checkpoint receptor that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cancer. We have previously described a novel methodology in the identification of therapeutic antibodies (US Patent #9810694). Here we report the discovery of first-in-class, naturally occurring LAG3 checkpoint inhibitor in cancer patients.
Anti-LAG3 antibody presence was evaluated in 35 individuals: 11 healthy donors (controls) and 24 cancer patients in 3 different laboratories blinded to clinical information. Surface plasmon resonance analysis was done using the optical biosensor Biacore T200 where LAG3 protein was covalently immobilized on the optical chip and biosensor signals from human serum samples were analyzed. Western Blotting used recombinant LAG3 loaded on a 10% SDS PAGE followed by blotting with plasma samples followed by biotinylated anti-human Ig and IrDye 800 streptavidin. Plasma anti-LAG3 IP utilized recombinant LAG3 crosslinked to MagResyn Carboxyl beads followed by incubation with plasma, followed by a biotinylated anti-human Ig and IrDye streptavidin. Affinity purification protocol with elution of antigen-specific antibody with pH gradient was developed. REmAb™ Protein Sequencing with WILD™ analysis (Rapid Novor) is performed.
No anti-LAG3 antibodies were detected in the control group. Among three assays there was a complete correlation for presence of anti-LAG3 antibody in 5 patients. Three of these patients had sufficient plasma quantity and anti-LAG3 concentration (21 – 33 µg/ml) to allow for the antibody purification. Immunoglobulin isotypes were IgG and IgM. The ELISA results of purified antibody samples showed a high quantity of LAG3-specific antibody (0.22mg, 0.52mg, 0.3mg in each sample, respectively). The results of the characterization of novel LAG3 checkpoint inhibitor will be presented at the congress.
To our knowledge, this is the first report of checkpoint antibody presence in humans. Further study with cloning and evaluation of therapeutic properties of novel anti-LAG3 antibody in xenograft models will be performed.
The authors.
ILGEN Inc.
I. Tsimafeyeu: Research grant / Funding (self), Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: ILGEN Inc. G. Bratslavsky: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Officer / Board of Directors: ILGEN Inc.
Background
Up to date, there are no data about FGFR2 expression and its predictive role in papillary RCC (pRCC) patients. The aim of the present study was to test FGFR2 expression and mutations for ...association with survival outcome in patients with pRCC.
Methods
Specimens of removed primary tumors from 214 untreated metastatic pRCC patients were evaluated by immunohistochemistry with FGFR2 antibody. FGFR2 mutations were assessed by PCR and direct sequencing, with DNA obtained from 62 paraffin-embedded pRCC samples. FGFR2 expression was tested for associations with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and best objective response.
Results
Expression of FGFR2 was observed in 23 % (49/214) of primary pRCC, mostly in cytoplasm of tumor cells. Expression of FGFR2 was significant lower in normal tissue of kidney (1 %,
P
= 0.001). FGFR2 S252W mutation was found in one patient (1.6 %), and no N549K mutation was detected. FGFR2 expression was strongly associated with a number of metastatic sites, type 2 of pRCC, lower nucleolar grade (
P
< 0.001). FGFR2-positive patients had significantly shorter OS and PFS (
P
< 0.05). On multivariate analysis, FGFR2 expression, MSKCC risk group and type of pRCC were found to be independent predictors of survival.
Conclusions
In this study, we described immunohistochemical expression of FGFR2 in a large series of pRCC specimens. FGFR2 expression was found to be prognostic factor for survival in patients with metastatic pRCC. FGFR2 mutations are rare across papillary types of RCC.
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