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L. Cherkassky



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    MO19 - Lung Cancer Immunobiology (ID 91)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Mini Oral Abstract Session
    • Track: Biology
    • Presentations: 1
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      MO19.12 - Prognostic Impact of Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ID 2896)

      11:35 - 11:55  |  Author(s): L. Cherkassky

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background
      The prognostic significance of the tumor immune microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma has been established by us (CCR 2011, JCO 2013, Oncoimmunology 2013) and others. Here, we investigate whether tumor-infiltrating immune cells correlate with prognosis, independent from TNM staging, in lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

      Methods
      All available tumor slides from therapy-naive, surgically resected solitary lung SCCs (n=485; 1999-2009) were reviewed. Tissue microarrays were constructed using 451 cases (stage I, 255; II, 131; III, 65) from 3 representative tumor areas. Immunostaining for CD3 (pan T cell marker), CD45RO (memory T cell), CD8 (cytotoxic T cell), CD4 (helper T cell), FoxP3 (regulatory T cell), CD20 (B cell), CD68 (macrophage), and CD10 (neutrophil) was performed. For each case, the average number of cells positive for T cell markers was recorded as the ratio to CD3+ lymphocytes, and classified as low or high by use of the median. CD20, CD68, and CD10 were classified as low or high by the number of positive cells (≥20, ≥50, and ≥10, respectively) as our recent publication (JCO 2013). Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method; multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model.

      Results
      Five-year OS was 59% for the entire cohort and 68% for stage I patients. Analysis of single immune cell infiltration revealed that high CD10+ neutrophil count was correlated with lower OS (5-year OS, 53%; n=160) than low CD10+ count (5-year OS, 61%; n=286; p=0.006). Analysis of biologically relevant immune cell combinations identified 2 significant factors of prognosis: (1) patients with high CD4+ and high FoxP3+ T cell ratios had worse prognosis (5-year OS, 52%; n=140) than the other groups (5-year OS, 62%; n=304; p=0.008), and (2) patients with high CD10+ neutrophil and low CD20+ B lymphocyte counts had worse prognosis (5-year OS, 43%; n=102) than the other groups (5-year OS, 63%; n=340; p<0.001). These results were confirmed in a subgroup analysis limited to stage I patients (p=0.020 for high CD4/high FoxP3+ ratios; p=0.007 for high CD10+/low CD20+ counts). In multivariate analysis, high CD4+/high FoxP3+ ratios (HR=1.58; p=0.001) and high CD10+/low CD20+ counts (HR=1.71; p<0.001) remained significantly associated with poorer survival (Table).

      Table. Multivariate analysis for overall survival
      Variable HR 95% CI p
      High CD4+/high FoxP3+ ratios 1.58 1.21–2.06 0.001
      High CD10+/low CD20+ counts 1.71 1.28–2.27 <0.001
      Age (>65 years old) 1.51 1.09–2.09 0.014
      Sex (male vs. female) 1.31 1.01–1.69 0.043
      Smoking pack years (>90) 1.01 1.00–1.01 0.003
      Stage (II and III vs. I) 1.53 1.16–2.02 0.002
      Lymphovascular invasion 1.38 1.02–1.88 0.040

      Conclusion
      High CD4+/high FoxP3+ ratios and high CD10+/low CD20+ counts are significant factors of prognosis for lung SCC, independent of TNM staging. Targeting regulatory T cells or enhancing tumor-specific B-cell responses may thus have applicability for the treatment of lung SCC.

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    O08 - Preclinical Therapeutic Models I (ID 92)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Oral Abstract Session
    • Track: Biology
    • Presentations: 2
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      O08.02 - Critical Role of CD28 Costimulation in Tumor-Targeted T-cell Therapy Clinical Trial for Pleural Malignancies (ID 2995)

      16:25 - 16:35  |  Author(s): L. Cherkassky

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background
      Successful translation of adoptive T-cell therapy for solid cancers is predicated on the ability to generate a potent antitumor immune response and establish T-cell persistence. Thoracic malignancies typically lack expression of costimulatory ligands but do express negative regulators of T- cell function—factors that may impede T-cell therapy. We hypothesized that cancer antigen–targeted T cells engineered with activating CD28 costimulatory signaling would eradicate tumor and establish long-term functional persistence.

      Methods
      Mesothelin-specific chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) were engineered without (Mz) or with (M28z) a CD28 costimulatory domain. CAR-transduced human T cells were evaluated in vitro for cytotoxicity ([51]Cr-release assay), cytokine release (Luminex cytokine-release assay), and proliferation (cell-counting assay). In vivo assessment included monitoring of tumor progression by bioluminescence imaging (BLI), flow cytometric analysis of splenic/peripheral blood T-cell phenotypes, and Kaplan-Meier analysis of median survival, in NOD-scid IL-2Rγ-null mice bearing orthotopically implanted mesothelin-expressing mesothelioma cells (MSTO-211H: CD80/86-, TGF-β+, PD-L1+) and treated with human T cells transduced to express either Mz, M28z, or a control vector.

      Results
      In vitro, M28z CAR–transduced T cells exhibited equivalent cytotoxicity but enhanced Th1 cytokine secretion and antigen-specific proliferation, compared with Mz transduced T cells. In vivo, mice treated with a single low dose of M28z CAR–transduced T cells achieved tumor eradication and prolonged survival (median survival not reached; p=0.01), compared with mice treated with an equal dose of Mz-transduced (median survival, 63 days; tumor eradication in 20% of mice) or control CAR–transduced (median survival, 36 days) T cells (Figure 1A, 1B). Furthermore, CD28 costimulation enhanced CD62L[-]CD45RA[-] effector memory T-cell persistence (Figure 1C), leading to a robust T-cell proliferative response and superior control of tumor burden on tumor rechallenge 87 days after T-cell administration (Figure 1D, 1E). Figure 1

      Conclusion
      CD28 costimulation plays an important role in achieving long-term antitumor efficacy and functional persistence in mesothelin-targeted T-cell therapy. These data provide the scientific rationale for our upcoming clinical trial for pleural malignancies.

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      O08.03 - T-cell Imaging to Noninvasively Monitor Adoptive T-cell Therapy for Thoracic Malignancies (ID 2994)

      16:35 - 16:45  |  Author(s): L. Cherkassky

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background
      Noninvasive T-cell imaging technology allows monitoring of adoptive T-cell responses without the need for invasive biopsies. Herein, we report dynamic imaging of tumor-targeted T cells in preclinical models by use of luminescent-enhanced firefly luciferase vector, and we further demonstrate the successful use of a clinical-grade herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk)–incorporated vector for monitoring of T-cell trafficking, antigen-specific proliferation, and biodistribution.

      Methods
      T cells transduced with mesothelin-targeted chimeric antigen receptors (M28z) were either cotransduced with an enhanced firefly luciferase vector (effLuc-M28z) or singly transduced with HSV1-tk-M28z (TK-M28z). To simultaneously visualize tumor during T-cell PET imaging, cancer-cell imaging was performed using MSTO-GFP/ffLuc+ (MSTO-211H cells transduced to express mesothelin and the green fluorescent protein/firefly luciferase fusion protein). In vitro, uptake of [18]F-FEAU radiotracer by T cells was measured by [3]H channel counting. In vivo studies used either SCID-beige or NSG mice bearing pleural or flank tumors. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) quantification was determined by the mean number of photons per second in the region of interest. PET imaging with [18]F-FEAU was performed in a 3-dimensional microPET scanner. T-cell imaging results were validated by flow cytometric and immunohistochemical analysis of harvested tissue.

      Results
      Quantification studies showed a linear relationship between photon emission and T-cell number both in vitro and in vivo. In vivo, evaluation of T-cell biodistribution kinetics, by intravenous administration of effLuc-M28z T cells into mice bearing flank tumors, demonstrated initial accumulation of T cells in the lungs, liver, and spleen and progressive accumulation in the tumor (Figure 1A). Pleurally administered effLuc-M28z+ T cells displayed an increasing BLI signal (5-fold; p<0.01) in response to antigen 72 hours after administration, compared with pleurally administered effLuc+ T cells alone (control) (Figure 1B). T-cell accumulation in pleural tumor and extrathoracic sites (spleen) was confirmed by flow cytometric analysis of tissues harvested at serial time points (Figure 1C). These results were reproduced with clinical-grade vector TK-M28z+ T cells administered intrapleurally in mice bearing pleural tumor. Serial [18]F-FEAU PET imaging showed antigen-specific T-cell accumulation with decreasing tumor burden, as seen by corresponding tumor BLI (Figure 1D). Figure 1

      Conclusion
      We provide an optimized method for monitoring of T-cell trafficking, localization and proliferation in thoracic malignancies. Our findings—derived using a clinical-grade imaging construct and substrate—provide convincing evidence for the use of noninvasive T-cell monitoring in our upcoming adoptive T-cell therapy clinical trial.

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