Abstract 4030
Background
In Germany, approximately 30-50% of Oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are related to human papillomaviruses (HPV), of which 90% are caused by HPV-16. The analysis of cancer-associated antigens is needed to develop antigen-specific immunotherapy and to determine the level of personalization required for therapeutic cancer vaccines.
Methods
Human leucocyte antigen (HLA) ligands from fresh frozen OPSCC biopsies were analyzed. HLA molecules were extracted from tumor tissue using immunoaffinity chromatography. HLA-bound peptides were subjected to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Tumor-exclusive antigens in OPSCC were identified by comparative profiling against an in-house benign and malignant database. Additionally, whole exome sequencing of RNA and DNA isolated from the respective cancer biopsies was performed to complement the database.
Results
To date, HLA ligandomes from 28 OPSCC (15 HPV+; 13 HPV-) patients were analyzed. Compared to the benign samples database, 148 source proteins were tumor-exclusive for HLA class I and 200 source proteins for HLA class II. The mean number of tumor-exclusive proteins per sample was 6.0 (0-14) for HLA class I and 7.7 for HLA class II (0-41) respectively. Among the tumor exclusive proteins for HLA class I, 23 had not been detected in other malignant tumor ligandomes (n = 703 samples) and 75 for HLA class II (n = 433 samples). A principal component analysis of the HLA-ligandomes from HPV+ and HPV- revealed significant differences between the two groups. For HLA-class I, 85 tumor-exclusive proteins were only found in HPV+ and 55 in HPV-, whereas 8 proteins were found in both groups. Among the 200 HLA class II tumor-exclusive proteins, 96 were only found in HPV+ and 95 in HPV- respectively, whereas 9 were shared by HPV+ and HPV-.
Conclusions
The analysis of HLA-ligandomes from OPSCC revealed tumor-exclusive and newly discovered antigens. We found clear differences between the HLA ligandomes of HPV+ and HPV- patients. These differences need to be taken into account for therapeutic vaccination strategies. The level of personalization needed for such vaccines remains to be determined.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
University of Ulm, Clinician Scientist Programme.
Disclosure
S. Laban: Honoraria (institution), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD); Honoraria (institution), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Bristol-Myers Squibb; Honoraria (institution), Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: AstraZeneca; Honoraria (institution): Merck Serono. P.J. Schuler: Advisory / Consultancy: Bristol-Myers Squibb. T.K. Hoffmann: Honoraria (institution), Advisory / Consultancy: Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD); Honoraria (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Honoraria (institution): Merck Serono. H. Rammensee: Advisory / Consultancy, Leadership role, Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Officer / Board of Directors: Immatics; Advisory / Consultancy, Leadership role, Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Officer / Board of Directors: CureVac; Advisory / Consultancy, Leadership role, Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Officer / Board of Directors: Synimmune. All other 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