Abstract 3733
Background
Immune check point inhibitor therapy has shown efficacy in Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), highlighting the immune-responsive microenvironment of TNBC. Recently, anti-cancer therapeutics have been shown to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD). MEK/ERK cascade mediates T cell receptor signaling and involves in immune response. MEK inhibitor cobimetinib is approved for advanced melanoma and is studied in several clinical trials including breast cancer. Here, we aimed to explore the anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects of cobimetinib in TNBC.
Methods
Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), cell-surface translocation of calreticulin (CRT), extracellular release of ATP, and increase in high-mobility group box protein B1 (HMGB1) release from dying tumor cells, were examined by immunoblotting and flow cytometric analysis. The pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-FMK was used to validate cobimetinib-induced signaling. The immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice were conducted to investigate the efficacy of cobimetinib.
Results
Cobimetinib significantly induced cell apoptosis and DAMPs in TNBC cells (human MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and murine 4T1 cells). Cobimetinib downregulated p-ERK and activated caspase-8, in association with increased DAMPs such as HMGB1 and CRT. Cobimetinib-induced CRT was attenuated by ectopic ERK expression. Moreover, cobimetinib-induced cell apoptosis and increased CRT expressions were restored by the pan-caspase inhibitor. The anti-tumor activity of cobimetinib was superior in immunocompetent than in immunodeficient mice. DAMPs and caspase-8 cascade were upregulated in cobimetinib-treated 4T1 xenografts. Interestingly, the immunomodulation of cobimetinib in 4T1-bearing mice were different from that in non-tumor bearing immunocompetent mice. Importantly, cobimetinib-treated 4T1-bearing immunocompetent mice exhibited increased total number of CD8+ T cells, effector CD4+ T cells, regulatory T cells and reduced the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, compared to vehicle-treated mice.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib acts as an ICD-inducer and exerts immunomodulatory effects in TNBC.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Chun-Yu Liu.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
2664 - Phase (Ph) II study of MBG453 + spartalizumab in patients (pts) with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma pretreated with anti–PD-1/L1 therapy
Presenter: Nicholas Mach
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1285 - Preliminary results of STELLAR-001, a dose escalation phase I study of the anti-C5aR, IPH5401, in combination with durvalumab in advanced solid tumors.
Presenter: Christophe Massard
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3808 - GOLFIG chemo-immunotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients: A fifteen year retrospective analysis
Presenter: Pierpaolo Correale
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5677 - Immune correlates in peripheral blood samples in a preoperative window of opportunity randomized trial of nivolumab with or without tadalafil in resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN)
Presenter: Larry Harshyne
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4854 - Phase 1 evaluation of AB928, a novel dual adenosine receptor antagonist, combined with chemotherapy or AB122 (anti-PD-1) in patients (pts) with advanced malignancies
Presenter: John Powderly
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4344 - Phase 1 Trial of CV301 in Combination with Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Non-squamous NSCLC
Presenter: Arun Rajan
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4555 - Safety and efficacy results of the combination of DPX-Survivac, pembrolizumab and intermittent low dose cyclophosphamide (CPA) in subjects with advanced and metastatic solid tumors: preliminary results from the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), NSCLC, bladder cancer, & MSI-H cohorts
Presenter: Henry Conter
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3012 - Excellent CBR and Prolonged PFS in Non-Squamous NSCLC with Oral CA-170, an Inhibitor of VISTA and PD-L1
Presenter: Vivek Radhakrishnan
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2536 - Phase Ib/II trial of TG4001 (Tipapkinogene sovacivec), a therapeutic HPV-vaccine, and Avelumab in patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HPV-16+ cancers
Presenter: Christophe Le Tourneau
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1845 - Induction of tumor-infiltrating functional CD8 positive cells and PD-L1 expression in esophageal cancer by S-588410
Presenter: Takashi Kojima
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract