Abstract 2882
Background
Tilsotolimod, a synthetic toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist, modulates the tumor immune microenvironment and has antitumor activity as monotherapy in preclinical models. In the ILLUMINATE-204 phase I/II study of tilsotolimod in combination with ipilimumab in patients with refractory melanoma, increased antitumor immune activity was observed in injected and uninjected tumors at 24 hours following tilsotolimod treatment. The ILLUMINATE-101 phase Ib study explored the safety, efficacy, and immune effects of tilsotolimod monotherapy in multiple solid tumors.
Methods
Adults with histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of cancer not amenable to curative therapies received intratumoral tilsotolimod in doses escalating from 8 mg to 32 mg into a single lesion at weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 11. Additional patients with advanced melanoma were enrolled into an expansion cohort at the 8-mg dose, the recommended phase II dose established for melanoma. Objectives included characterizing safety and efficacy, and immunological assessment. Blood samples and tumor biopsies of injected and distal lesions were obtained at baseline and 24 hours post treatment for immune analyses.
Results
As of May 6 2019, 54 patients have been enrolled, including 38 patients into the dose evaluation portion and 16 patients into the melanoma expansion cohort. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. The most common treatment-related adverse events were fever, fatigue, and chills. Within 24 hours, fresh tumor biopsies showed increased gene expression for multiple immune checkpoint pathways, increased IFN gamma levels, activation of the type 1 IFN pathway, and upregulation of MHC class I and II, compared to pretreatment biopsies. Of 43 evaluable patients, 15 (35%) had a RECIST v1.1 disease assessment of stable disease (duration 1.2 to 11.1 months, 1 patient ongoing).
Conclusions
Tilsotolimod was well tolerated and induced robust alterations in the tumor microenvironment, including immune checkpoint upregulation, activation of dendritic cells, and induction of Type 1 IFN signaling. A phase II study of tilsotolimod in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab has been initiated for the treatment of multiple solid tumors (ILLUMINATE-206; NCT03865082).
Clinical trial identification
NCT03052205.
Editorial acknowledgement
Ted Everson, Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Legal entity responsible for the study
Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Funding
Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Disclosure
H. Babiker: Advisory / Consultancy: Endocyte; Advisory / Consultancy: Celgene. V. Subbiah: Advisory / Consultancy: Idera Pharmaceuticals; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Bayer; Advisory / Consultancy: Blueprint Medicines; Advisory / Consultancy: Loxo Oncology. S. Rahimian: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Idera Pharmaceuticals. C. Haymaker: Research grant / Funding (institution): Idera Pharmaceuticals. C. Bernatchez: Research grant / Funding (institution): Idera Pharmaceuticals. G. Bindra: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Idera Pharmaceuticals. I. Iverson: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Idera Pharmaceuticals. S. Chunduru: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, Full / Part-time employment: Idera Pharmaceuticals. A. Diab: Advisory / Consultancy: Array Biopharma; Advisory / Consultancy: Nektar Therapeutics; Honoraria (self): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Advisory / Consultancy: Jounce Therapeutics; Honoraria (self): Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Idera. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
3252 - Genes involved in DNA replication, chromatin remodeling and cell cycle as potential biomarkers for therapy outcome to immune therapy in patients with metastatic cutaneous malignant melanoma
Presenter: Fernanda Costa Svedman
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5545 - Phase Ib/II Study (SENSITIZE) assessing safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and clinical outcome of domatinostat in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced melanoma refractory/non-responding to prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy
Presenter: Jessica Hassel
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5213 - Genomic landscape of primary malignant melanoma of esophagus
Presenter: Jie Dai
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2716 - A phase III, randomised, double-blind study of adjuvant cemiplimab versus placebo post-surgery and radiation in patients with high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC)
Presenter: Danny Rischin
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3550 - ILLUMINATE 301: A randomized phase 3 study of tilsotolimod in combination with ipilimumab compared with ipilimumab alone in patients with advanced melanoma following progression on or after anti-PD-1 therapy
Presenter: Marcus Butler
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1645 - PRIME002 - Early phase II study of Azacitidine and Carboplatin priming for Avelumab in patients with advanced melanoma who are resistant to immunotherapy
Presenter: Andre Van Der Westhuizen
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4440 - Pembrolizumab (pembro) Plus Lenvatinib (len) for First-Line Treatment of patients (pts) With Advanced Melanoma: Phase 3 LEAP-003 Study
Presenter: Alexander Eggermont
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3454 - Proof of concept study with the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat in patients with resistant BRAFV600 mutated advanced melanoma
Presenter: Sanne Huijberts
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1832 - A phase Ia/Ib clinical study to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and preliminary anti-tumor activity of FCN-159 in patients with advanced melanoma harboring NRAS-aberrant (Ia) and NRAS-mutation (Ib).
Presenter: Lu Si
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3996 - A Phase I Clinical Trial Investigating the Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine UV1 in Combination with Pembrolizumab as First-Line Treatment of Patients with Malignant Melanoma
Presenter: Sanjiv Agarwala
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract