Abstract 2316
Background
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is the treatment option for locally advanced breast cancer (BC). However, more than half of the patients have no response. Thus, there is an urgent need to find biomarkers of NACT response and personalized therapies for non-responders. Recently, we described a biomarker of NACT response, assessed both in biopsy and blood - HLA-DR expressing cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) with a sensitivity and specificity of 94.12% and 100%, respectively. HLA-DR is associated with CTLs’ cytotoxicity, and it was only observed in NACT-responders, suggesting that functional CTLs are required in the tumor for NACT success. Now, we are validating these results in an independent cohort. Simultaneously, we are establishing 3D spheroid co-culture platforms to tackle new therapeutic options for NACT non-responders.
Methods
MCF7 BC cell line was used to spontaneously form a spheroid in agarose coated plates. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from NACT-responders or non-responders were added after spheroid formation and they were able to infiltrate the structure. Doxorubicin (doxo), anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 were added in different combinations.
Results
The validation of HLA-DR level in CTLs to predict NACT response has been in agreement with the first cohort. Regarding the BC spheroids, doxo alone or in combination with NACT non-responders PBMCs (low HLA-DR in CTLs) did not affect them. However, when PBMCs from NACT responders (high HLA-DR in CTLs) were added in combination with doxo, the viability and proliferation of MCF7 cells reduced significantly. Notably, when PBMCs from NACT non-responders were stimulated ex vivo, to increase CTLs’ HLA-DR level and IFN-γ production (p = 0.002), MCF7 cells viability decreased (p = 0.0007). Considering that in biopsies of non-responders, the low HLA-DR level in CTLs was negatively correlated with the expression of tumor PD-L1, we are also exploring this platform to inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in order to stimulate the PBMCs and decrease BC cells viability.
Conclusions
Besides determining if BC patients will respond to NACT, by analysing HLA-DR levels in CTLs, we will now be able to define the best therapy to NACT non-responders, hopefully improving the BC treatment.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) - PD/BD/114023/2015 and PTDC/BBB-BMD/4497/2014. Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro - LPCC-NRS/Terry Fox 2019/2020.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
5705 - External validation and longitudinal extension of the LIPI (Lung Immune Prognostic Index) for immunotherapy outcomes in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Presenter: Jakob Riedl
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5758 - Changes of TCR Repertoire in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma and Metastatic Melanoma Patients Treated with Nivolumab
Presenter: Martin Klabusay
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1743 - Expression of MHC class I, HLA-A and HLA-B identifies immune activated breast tumors with favorable outcome
Presenter: María Del Mar Noblejas López
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2219 - Prognostic Significance of Tumor Tissue NeuGcGM3 Ganglioside Expression and Predictive Value of Circulating Tumor Cell Count Monitoring in Patients Receiving Racotumomab Immunotherapy
Presenter: Necdet Üskent
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2996 - Evolution of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Objective Response Rate in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) patients after receiving immunotherapy
Presenter: Carlos Jiménez Cortegana
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2110 - A Phase Ia/Ib trial of the anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) human monoclonal antibody (mAb), CS1001, in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors or lymphomas
Presenter: Lin Shen
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3515 - Results from a randomised Phase 1/2 trial evaluating the safety and antitumour activity of anti-PD-1 (MEDI0680)/anti-PD-L1 (durvalumab) vs anti-PD-1 (nivolumab) alone in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)
Presenter: Martin Voss
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3566 - Pembrolizumab in Advanced Rare Cancers
Presenter: Aung Naing
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3567 - High clinical benefit rates of pembrolizumab in very rare sarcoma histotypes: first results of the AcSé Pembrolizumab study
Presenter: Jean-Yves Blay
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2421 - Lenvatinib plus PD-1 blockade in advanced bile tract carcinoma.
Presenter: Jianzhen Lin
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract