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Chang KY, Chiang NJ, Wu SY, Yen CJ, Chen SH, Yeh YM, Li CF, Feng X, Wu K, Johnston A, Bomalaski JS, Wu BW, Gao J, Subudhi SK, Kaseb AO, Blando JM, Yadav SS, Szlosarek PW, Chen LT. Phase 1b study of pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) plus Pembrolizumab in advanced solid cancers. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1943253. [PMID: 34290906 PMCID: PMC8276661 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1943253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) is a metabolism-based strategy that depletes arginine, resulting in tumoral stress and cytotoxicity. Preclinically, ADI-PEG 20 modulates T-cell activity and enhances the therapeutic efficacy of programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibition. Methods A phase 1b study, including a dose-escalation cohort and an expansion cohort, was undertaken to explore the effects of ADI-PEG 20 in combination with pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, for safety, pharmacodynamics, and response. CD3 levels and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression were assessed in paired biopsies collected prior to and after ADI-PEG 20 treatment but before pembrolizumab. Results Twenty-five patients, nine in the dose-escalation cohort and sixteen in the expansion cohort, were recruited. Treatment was feasible with adverse events consistent with those known for each agent, except for Grade 3/4 neutropenia which was higher than expected, occurring in 10/25 (40%) patients. Mean arginine levels were suppressed for 1-3 weeks, but increased gradually. CD3+ T cells increased in 10/12 (83.3%) subjects following ADI-PEG 20 treatment, including in three partial responders (p = .02). PD-L1 expression was low and increased in 3/10 (30%) of subjects. Partial responses occurred in 6/25 (24%) heavily pretreated patients, in both argininosuccinate synthetase 1 proficient and deficient subjects. Conclusions The immunometabolic combination was safe with the caveat that the incidence of neutropenia might be increased compared with either agent alone. ADI-PEG 20 treatment increased T cell infiltration in the low PD-L1 tumor microenvironment. The recommended phase 2 doses are 36 mg/m2 weekly for ADI-PEG 20 and 200 mg every 3 weeks for pembrolizumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang-Yu Chang
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Jung Chiang
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Yin Wu
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jui Yen
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Hung Chen
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Min Yeh
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Feng Li
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Xiaoxing Feng
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Katherine Wu
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | | | - Bor-Wen Wu
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jianjun Gao
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sumit K. Subudhi
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ahmed O. Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jorge M. Blando
- The Immunotherapy Platform, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TXUSA
| | - Shalini S. Yadav
- The Immunotherapy Platform, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TXUSA
| | - Peter W. Szlosarek
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - Li-Tzong Chen
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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