Abstract 3725
Background
Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a platform technology that utilizes a photoactivatable dye conjugated to a cancer-targeting antibody. RM-1929 is composed of anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab and IRDye® 700DX. Binding of RM-1929 to EGFR followed by tumor illumination with non-thermal red light elicits rapid necrosis of EGFR-expressing cancer cells. RM-1929 PIT treatment was evaluated in a Phase 1/2a trial in patients with rHNSCC who failed multiple standard of care therapies, and demonstrated a favorable safety profile and resulted in positive response rates (Cognetti et al. ASCO 2019). Here we report preliminary data from exploratory biomarker studies from this study.
Methods
Phase 1 included 9 patients and Phase 2a cohort 30 patients. Pre-treatment biopsies and blood were collected within 12 months and 2 weeks prior to treatment, respectively. Post-treatment biopsies and blood samples were collected after cycle 1 and multiple time points during treatment cycles, respectively. EGFR and PD-L1 IHC expression and plasma cytokines levels were measured. PBMCs were phenotyped using innate and adaptive immune-marker panels.
Results
In 25 patients with pre-treatment biopsies, no trend was observed between EGFR expression and best target tumour response. In 12 patients for which pre- and post-treatment biopsies were available, EGFR expression was maintained in residual tumour after RM-1929 PIT treatment. Additionally, treatment was associated with induction of PD-L1 expression in tumour and immune cells in 10 out of 12 cases. In 13 samples tested, elevated baseline plasma cytokine levels were observed in 4 of 7 responders (3 of 4 CR and 1 of 3 PR) and 1 of 6 non-responders (1 of 5 SD and 0 of 1 PD). Immunophenotyping of whole blood showed systemic induction of innate and adaptive immunity (e.g. NK cells, cytokines, lymphocytes, monocytes, CD4 and CD8 T-cells) after treatment in 15 of 18 patients.
Conclusions
Biomarker analysis in this limited data set provided evidence of potential activation of innate and adaptive immunity following RM-1929 PIT treatment. Further evaluation of these biomarkers will be conducted in a Phase 3 trial (NCT03769506).
Clinical trial identification
NCT02422979.
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Rakuten Medical, Inc.
Funding
Rakuten Medical, Inc.
Disclosure
J.D. Bui: Advisory / Consultancy: Rakuten Medical, Inc.; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): Ignyta, Inc.; Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Paramita Therapeutics. N. Suslov: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Rakuten Medical, Inc. D. Yadav: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Rakuten Medical, Inc. J. Fong: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Rakuten Medical, Inc. E. Sun: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Rakuten Medical, Inc. M. Haedo: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Rakuten Medical, Inc. M. Garcia-Guzman: Leadership role, Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Rakuten Medical, Inc.
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