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Curti BD, Koguchi Y, Leidner RS, Rolig AS, Sturgill ER, Sun Z, Wu Y, Rajamanickam V, Bernard B, Hilgart-Martiszus I, Fountain CB, Morris G, Iwamoto N, Shimada T, Chang S, Traber PG, Zomer E, Horton JR, Shlevin H, Redmond WL. Enhancing clinical and immunological effects of anti-PD-1 with belapectin, a galectin-3 inhibitor. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002371. [PMID: 33837055 PMCID: PMC8043038 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND PD-1/PD-L1 engagement and overexpression of galectin-3 (Gal-3) are critical mechanisms of tumor-induced immune suppression that contribute to immunotherapy resistance. We hypothesized that Gal-3 blockade with belapectin (GR-MD-02) plus anti-PD-1 (pembrolizumab) would enhance tumor response in patients with metastatic melanoma (MM) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS We performed a phase I dose escalation study of belapectin+pembrolizumab in patients with advanced MM or HNSCC (NCT02575404). Belapectin was administered at 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg IV 60 min before pembrolizumab (200 mg IV every 3 weeks for five cycles). Responding patients continued pembrolizumab monotherapy for up to 17 cycles. Main eligibility requirements were a functional Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status of 0-2, measurable or assessable disease, and no active autoimmune disease. Prior T-cell checkpoint antibody therapy was permitted. RESULTS Objective response was observed in 50% of MM (7/14) and and 33% of HNSCC (2/6) patients. Belapectin+pembrolizumab was associated with fewer immune-mediated adverse events than anticipated with pembrolizumab monotherapy. There were no dose-limiting toxicities for belapectin within the dose range investigated. Significantly increased effector memory T-cell activation and reduced monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) were observed in responders compared with non-responders. Increased baseline expression of Gal-3+ tumor cells and PD-1+CD8+ T cells in the periphery correlated with response as did higher serum trough levels of pembrolizumab. CONCLUSIONS Belapectin+pembrolizumab therapy has activity in MM and HNSCC. Increased Gal-3 expression, expansion of effector memory T cells, and decreased M-MDSCs correlated with clinical response. Further investigation is planned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan D Curti
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Yoshinobu Koguchi
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Rom S Leidner
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Annah S Rolig
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Sturgill
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Zhaoyu Sun
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Yaping Wu
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Brady Bernard
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Ian Hilgart-Martiszus
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | - George Morris
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Noriko Iwamoto
- Shimadzu Bioscience Research Partnership, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Bothell, Washington, USA
| | - Takashi Shimada
- Shimadzu Bioscience Research Partnership, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Bothell, Washington, USA
| | - ShuChing Chang
- Medical Data Research Center, Providence St Joseph Health, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Peter G Traber
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | | | - William L Redmond
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
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