1
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Quixabeira DCA, Pakola S, Jirovec E, Havunen R, Basnet S, Santos JM, Kudling TV, Clubb JHA, Haybout L, Arias V, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela S, Cervera-Carrascon V, Kerkelä E, Pasanen A, Anttila M, Tapper J, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Boosting cytotoxicity of adoptive allogeneic NK cell therapy with an oncolytic adenovirus encoding a human vIL-2 cytokine for the treatment of human ovarian cancer. Cancer Gene Ther 2023; 30:1679-1690. [PMID: 37949944 PMCID: PMC10721546 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00674-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite good results in the treatment of hematological malignancies, Natural killer (NK) cells have shown limited effectiveness in solid tumors, such as ovarian cancer (OvCa). Here, we assessed the potential of an oncolytic adenovirus expressing a variant interleukin-2 (vIL-2) cytokine, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 (vIL-2 virus), also known as TILT-452, to enhance NK cell therapy efficacy in human OvCa ex vivo. Human OvCa surgical specimens were processed into single-cell suspensions and NK cells were expanded from healthy blood donors. OvCa sample digests were co-cultured ex vivo with NK cells and vIL-2 virus and cancer cell killing potential assessed in real time through cell impedance measurement. Proposed therapeutic combination was evaluated in vivo with an OvCa patient-derived xenograft (PDX) in mice. Addition of vIL-2 virus significantly enhanced NK cell therapy killing potential in treated OvCa co-cultures. Similarly, vIL-2 virus in combination with NK cell therapy promoted the best in vivo OvCa tumor control. Mechanistically, vIL-2 virus induced higher percentages of granzyme B in NK cells, and CD8+ T cells, while T regulatory cell proportions remained comparable to NK cell monotherapy in vivo. Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 virus treatment represents a promising strategy to boost adoptive NK cell therapeutic effect in human OvCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - S Pakola
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - E Jirovec
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - R Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - S Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J M Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - T V Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J H A Clubb
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - L Haybout
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - V Arias
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - S Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - V Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - E Kerkelä
- Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Pasanen
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M Anttila
- Pathology, Finnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Tapper
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Kanerva
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland.
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2
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Quixabeira DCA, Jirovec E, Pakola S, Havunen R, Basnet S, Santos JM, Kudling TV, Clubb JHA, Haybout L, Arias V, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela S, Cervera-Carrascon V, Pasanen A, Anttila M, Tapper J, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Improving the cytotoxic response of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes towards advanced stage ovarian cancer with an oncolytic adenovirus expressing a human vIL-2 cytokine. Cancer Gene Ther 2023; 30:1543-1553. [PMID: 37666898 PMCID: PMC10645590 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00658-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
While the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) associates with improved survival prognosis in ovarian cancer (OvCa) patients, TIL therapy benefit is limited. Here, we evaluated an oncolytic adenovirus coding for a human variant IL-2 (vIL-2) cytokine, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 (vIL-2 virus), also known as TILT-452, as an immunotherapeutic strategy to enhance TIL responsiveness towards advanced stage OvCa tumors. Fragments of resected human OvCa tumors were processed into single-cell suspensions, and autologous TILs were expanded from said samples. OvCa tumor specimens were co-cultured with TILs plus vIL-2 virus, and cell killing was assessed in real time through cell impedance measurement. Combination therapy was further evaluated in vivo through a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) ovarian cancer murine model. The combination of vIL-2 virus plus TILs had best cancer cell killing ex vivo compared to TILs monotherapy. These results were supported by an in vivo experiment, where the best OvCa tumor control was obtained when vIL-2 virus was added to TIL therapy. Furthermore, the proposed therapy induced a highly cytotoxic phenotype demonstrated by increased granzyme B intensity in NK cells, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells in treated tumors. Our results demonstrate that Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 therapy consistently improved TILs therapy cytotoxicity in treated human OvCa tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - E Jirovec
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - S Pakola
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - R Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - S Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J M Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - T V Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J H A Clubb
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - L Haybout
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - V Arias
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - S Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - V Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Pasanen
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M Anttila
- Pathology, Finnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Tapper
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Kanerva
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland.
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3
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Pakola S, Quixabeira DCA, Kudling TV, Clubb JHA, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela S, Basnet S, Jirovec E, Arias V, Haybout L, Heiniö C, Santos JM, Cervera-Carrascon V, Havunen R, Anttila M, Hemminki A. An oncolytic adenovirus coding for a variant interleukin 2 cytokine improves response to chemotherapy through enhancement of effector lymphocyte cytotoxicity, fibroblast compartment modulation and mitotic slippage. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1171083. [PMID: 37475863 PMCID: PMC10354511 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1171083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly treatment-resistant cancer. Currently, the only curative treatment for PDAC is surgery, but most patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease and thus outside the scope of surgery. The majority of metastatic patients receive chemotherapy, but responses are limited. New therapeutics are thus urgently needed for PDAC. One major limitation in treating PDAC has been the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) which inhibits anti-cancer immune responses. We have constructed an oncolytic adenovirus coding for a variant the interleukin 2 molecule, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 (also known as TILT-452, and "vIL-2 virus"), with preferential binding to IL-2 receptors on the surface of effector lymphocytes over T regulatory cells (T regs). In the present study this virus was evaluated in combination with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine chemotherapy in Panc02 mouse model. Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 showed marked PDAC cell killing in vitro, alongside induction of mitotic slippage and immunogenic cell death in PDAC cell lines, when combined with chemotherapy. Increased survival was seen in vivo with 80% of animals surviving long term, when compared to chemotherapy alone. Moreover, combination therapy mediated enhanced tumor growth control, without observable toxicities in internal organs or external features. Survival and tumor control benefits were associated with activation of tumor infiltrating immune cells, downregulation of inhibitory signals, change in fibroblast populations in the tumors and changes in intratumoral cytokines, with increased chemokine amounts (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4) and anti-tumor cytokines (IFN-γ and TNFα). Furthermore, vIL-2 virus in combination with chemotherapy efficiently induced tumor protection upon rechallenge, that was extended to a previously non-encountered cancer cell line. In conclusion, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 is a promising immunotherapy candidate when combined with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santeri Pakola
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C. A. Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatiana V. Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - James H. A. Clubb
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saru Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elise Jirovec
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Arias
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lyna Haybout
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao M. Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
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4
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Basnet S, Santos JM, Quixabeira DCA, Clubb JHA, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela SAM, Arias V, Pakola S, Kudling TV, Heiniö C, Havunen R, Cervera-Carrascon V, Sorsa S, Anttila M, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Oncolytic adenovirus coding for bispecific T cell engager against human MUC-1 potentiates T cell response against solid tumors. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 28:59-73. [PMID: 36699617 PMCID: PMC9842968 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy with bispecific T cell engagers has shown efficacy in patients with hematologic malignancies and uveal melanoma. Antitumor effects of bispecific T cell engagers in most solid tumors are limited due to their short serum half-life and insufficient tumor concentration. We designed a novel serotype 5/3 oncolytic adenovirus encoding a human mucin1 antibody and the human CD3 receptor, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-aMUC1aCD3 (TILT-321). TILT-321 is engineered to replicate only in cancer cells, leading to a high concentration of the aMUC1aCD3 molecule in the tumor microenvironment. Infection and cell viability assays were performed to determine the oncolytic potential of the novel construct. The functionality of the virus-derived aMUC1aCD3 was evaluated in vitro. When TILT-321 was combined with allogeneic T cells, rapid tumor cell lysis was observed. TILT-321-infected cells secreted functional aMUC1aCD3, as shown by increased T cell activity and its binding to MUC1 and CD3. In vivo, TILT-321 treatment led to effective antitumor efficacy mediated by increased intratumoral T cell activity in an A549 and patient-derived ovarian cancer xenograft mouse model humanized with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). This study provides a proof of concept for an effective strategy to overcome the key limitations of recombinant bispecific T cell engager delivery for solid tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saru Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao M Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - James H A Clubb
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susanna A M Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), 00029, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Arias
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Santeri Pakola
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), 00029, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatiana V Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Suvi Sorsa
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjukka Anttila
- Department of Pathology, Finnish Food Authority, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Helsinki University Hospital, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, 00290, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, and University of Helsinki, 00029, Helsinki, Finland
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5
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Clubb JHA, Kudling TV, Girych M, Haybout L, Pakola S, Hamdan F, Cervera-Carrascon V, Hemmes A, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela S, Santos JM, Quixabeira DCA, Basnet S, Heiniö C, Arias V, Jirovec E, Kaptan S, Havunen R, Sorsa S, Erikat A, Schwartz J, Anttila M, Aro K, Viitala T, Vattulainen I, Cerullo V, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Development of a Syrian hamster anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody enables oncolytic adenoviral immunotherapy modelling in an immunocompetent virus replication permissive setting. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1060540. [PMID: 36817448 PMCID: PMC9936529 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1060540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of cancer, but preclinical testing of hypotheses such as combination therapies has been complicated, in part due to species incompatibility issues. For example, one of few known permissive animal models for oncolytic adenoviruses is the Syrian hamster, for which an ICI, mainly an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was not previously available. In this study, we developed an anti-Syrian hamster PD-L1 mAb to enable the evaluation of safety and efficacy, when combining anti-PD-L1 with an oncolytic adenovirus encoding tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) (Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFα-IRES-hIL-2 or TILT-123). Methods Recombinant Syrian hamster PD-L1 was expressed and mice immunized for mAb formation using hybridoma technology. Clonal selection through binding and functional studies in vitro, in silico and in vivo identified anti-PD-L1 clone 11B12-1 as the primary mAb candidate for immunotherapy modelling. The oncolytic virus (OV) and ICI combination approach was then evaluated using 11B12-1 and TILT-123 in a Syrian hamster model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Results Supernatants from hybridoma parent subclone 11B12B4 provided the highest positive PD-L1 signal, on Syrian hamster PBMCs and three cancer cell lines (HT100, HapT1 and HCPC1). In vitro co-cultures revealed superior immune modulated profiles of cell line matched HT100 tumour infiltrating lymphocytes when using subclones of 7G2, 11B12 and 12F1. Epitope binning and epitope prediction using AlphaFold2 and ColabFold revealed two distinct functional epitopes for clone 11B12-1 and 12F1-1. Treatment of Syrian hamsters bearing HapT1 tumours, with 11B12-1 induced significantly better (p<0.05) tumour growth control than isotype control by day 12. 12F1-1 did not induce significant tumour growth control. The combination of 11B12-1 with oncolytic adenovirus TILT-123 improved tumour growth control further, when compared to monotherapy (p<0.05) by day 26. Conclusions Novel Syrian hamster anti-PD-L1 clone 11B12-1 induces tumour growth control in a hamster model of PDAC. Combining 11B12-1 with oncolytic adenovirus TILT-123 improves tumour growth control further and demonstrates good safety and toxicity profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H A Clubb
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,R&D Department, TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatiana V Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mykhailo Girych
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lyna Haybout
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Santeri Pakola
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Firas Hamdan
- Laboratory of ImmunoViroTherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Víctor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,R&D Department, TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annabrita Hemmes
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - João Manuel Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,R&D Department, TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,R&D Department, TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saru Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Arias
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elise Jirovec
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Shreyas Kaptan
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,R&D Department, TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Suvi Sorsa
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,R&D Department, TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Abdullah Erikat
- Department of Chemistry and the Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Chicago Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Science, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | - Katri Aro
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki Head and Neck Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tapani Viitala
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilpo Vattulainen
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vincenzo Cerullo
- Laboratory of ImmunoViroTherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,R&D Department, TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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6
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Clubb JHA, Kudling TV, Heiniö C, Basnet S, Pakola S, Cervera Carrascón V, Santos JM, Quixabeira DCA, Havunen R, Sorsa S, Zheng V, Salo T, Bäck L, Aro K, Tulokas S, Loimu V, Hemminki A. Adenovirus Encoding Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Interleukin 2 Induces a Tertiary Lymphoid Structure Signature in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Refractory Head and Neck Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:794251. [PMID: 35355980 PMCID: PMC8959099 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.794251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have provided significant improvement in clinical outcomes for some patients with solid tumors. However, for patients with head and neck cancer, the response rate to ICI monotherapy remains low, leading to the exploration of combinatorial treatment strategies. In this preclinical study, we use an oncolytic adenovirus (Ad5/3) encoding hTNFα and hIL-2 and non-replicate adenoviruses (Ad5) encoding mTNFα and mIL-2 with ICI to achieve superior tumor growth control and improved survival outcomes. The in vitro effect of Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL-2 was characterized through analyses of virus replication, transgene expression and lytic activity using head and neck cancer patient derived cell lines. Mouse models of ICI naïve and refractory oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma were established to evaluate the local and systemic anti-tumor immune response upon ICI treatment with or without the non-replicative adenovirus encoding mTNFα and mIL-2. We delineated the mechanism of action by measuring the metabolic activity and effector function of CD3+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and transcriptomic profile of the CD45+ tumor immune compartment. Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL-2 demonstrated robust replicative capability in vitro across all head and neck cell lines screened through potent lytic activity, E1a and transgene expression. In vivo, in both ICI naïve and refractory models, we observed improvement to tumor growth control and long-term survival when combining anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 with the non-replicative adenovirus encoding mTNFα and mIL-2 compared to monotherapies. This observation was verified by striking CD3+ TIL derived mGranzyme b and interferon gamma production complemented by increased T cell bioenergetics. Notably, interrogation of the tumor immune transcriptome revealed the upregulation of a gene signature distinctive of tertiary lymphoid structure formation upon treatment of murine anti-PD-L1 refractory tumors with non-replicative adenovirus encoding mTNFα and mIL-2. In addition, we detected an increase in anti-tumor antibody production and expansion of the memory T cell compartment in the secondary lymphoid organs. In summary, a non-replicative adenovirus encoding mTNFα and mIL-2 potentiates ICI therapy, demonstrated by improved tumor growth control and survival in head and neck tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, the data reveals a potential approach for inducing tertiary lymphoid structure formation. Altogether our results support the clinical potential of combining this adenovirotherapy with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H. A. Clubb
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatiana V. Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saru Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Santeri Pakola
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Víctor Cervera Carrascón
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - João Manuel Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C. A. Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Suvi Sorsa
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vincent Zheng
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuula Salo
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Oulu University Central Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leif Bäck
- Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki Head and Neck Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katri Aro
- Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki Head and Neck Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sanni Tulokas
- Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Venla Loimu
- Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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7
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Liikanen I, Basnet S, Quixabeira DCA, Taipale K, Hemminki O, Oksanen M, Kankainen M, Juhila J, Kanerva A, Joensuu T, Tähtinen S, Hemminki A. Oncolytic adenovirus decreases the proportion of TIM-3 + subset of tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells with correlation to improved survival in patients with cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e003490. [PMID: 35193929 PMCID: PMC8867324 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oncolytic viruses are a potent form of active immunotherapy, capable of invoking antitumor T-cell responses. Meanwhile, less is known about their effects on immune checkpoints, the main targets for passive immunotherapy of cancer. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 (TIM-3) is a coinhibitory checkpoint driving T-cell exhaustion in cancer. Here we investigated the effects of oncolytic adenovirus on the TIM-3 checkpoint on tumor-infiltrating immune cells and clinical impact in patients with cancer receiving oncolytic immunotherapy. METHODS Modulation of TIM-3 expression on tumor-infiltrating immune cells was studied preclinically in B16 melanoma following intratumoral treatment with Ad5/3∆24-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor oncolytic adenovirus. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal analysis of 15 patients with advanced-stage cancer with tumor-site biopsies before and after oncolytic immunotherapy, treated in the Advanced Therapy Access Program (ISRCTN10141600, April 5, 2011). Following patient stratification with regard to TIM-3 (increase vs decrease in tumors), overall survival and imaging/marker responses were evaluated by log-rank and Fisher's test, while coinhibitory receptors/ligands, transcriptomic changes and tumor-reactive and tumor-infltrating immune cells in biopsies and blood samples were studied by microarray rank-based statistics and immunoassays. RESULTS Preclinically, TIM-3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in B16 melanoma showed an exhausted phenotype, whereas oncolytic adenovirus treatment significantly reduced the proportion of TIM-3+ TIL subset through recruitment of less-exhausted CD8+ TIL. Decrease of TIM-3 was observed in 60% of patients, which was associated with improved overall survival over TIM-3 increase patients (p=0.004), together with evidence of clinical benefit by imaging and blood analyses. Coinhibitory T-cell receptors and ligands were consistently associated with TIM-3 changes in gene expression data, while core transcriptional exhaustion programs and T-cell dysfunction were enriched in patients with TIM-3 increase, thus identifying patients potentially benefiting from checkpoint blockade. In striking contrast, patients with TIM-3 decrease displayed an acute inflammatory signature, redistribution of tumor-reactive CD8+ lymphocytes and higher influx of CD8+ TIL into tumors, which were associated with the longest overall survival, suggesting benefit from active immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate a key role for the TIM-3 immune checkpoint in oncolytic adenoviral immunotherapy. Moreover, our results identify TIM-3 as a potential biomarker for oncolytic adenoviruses and create rationale for combination with passive immunotherapy for a subset of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilkka Liikanen
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saru Basnet
- Translational Immunology Research Program, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Translational Immunology Research Program, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kristian Taipale
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otto Hemminki
- Division of Urologic Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Minna Oksanen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matti Kankainen
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juuso Juhila
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Siri Tähtinen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
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8
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Quixabeira DCA, Cervera-Carrascon V, Santos JM, Clubb JH, Kudling TV, Basnet S, Heiniö C, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela S, Anttila M, Havunen R, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Local therapy with an engineered oncolytic adenovirus enables antitumor response in non-injected melanoma tumors in mice treated with aPD-1. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2028960. [PMID: 35083096 PMCID: PMC8786329 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2028960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Intratumoral immunotherapies are entering clinical use but concerns remain regarding their effects on non-injected tumors. Here, we studied the impact of local treatment with an adenovirus coding for TNFa and IL-2 on systemic antitumor response in animals receiving aPD-1 (anti-programmed cell death protein 1) therapy. Using bilateral murine melanoma models, we tested systemic tumor response to combined therapy with anti-PD-1 and an adenovirus coding for TNFa and IL-2 ("virus"). Virus was given intratumorally (to one of the two tumors only) and aPD-1 monoclonal antibody systemically. We evaluated both tumors' response to treatment, overall survival, metastasis development, and immunological mechanisms involved with response. Consistent tumor control was observed in both injected and non-injected tumors, including complete response in all treated animals receiving aPD-1+ virus therapy. Mechanistically, virus injections enabled potent effector lymphocyte response locally, with systemic effects in non-injected tumors facilitated by aPD-1 treatment. Moreover, adenovirus therapy demonstrated immunological memory formation. Virus therapy was effective in preventing metastasis development. Local treatment with TNFa and IL-2 coding adenovirus enhanced systemic response to aPD-1 therapy, by re-shaping the microenvironment of both injected and non-injected tumors. Therefore, our pre-clinical data support the rationale for a trial utilizing a combination of aPD-1 plus virus for the treatment of human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafne C. A. Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao M. Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - James H.A. Clubb
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatiana V. Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saru Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
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9
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Cervera-Carrascon V, Quixabeira DCA, Santos JM, Havunen R, Milenova I, Verhoeff J, Heiniö C, Zafar S, Garcia-Vallejo JJ, van Beusechem VW, de Gruijl TD, Kalervo A, Sorsa S, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Adenovirus Armed With TNFa and IL2 Added to aPD-1 Regimen Mediates Antitumor Efficacy in Tumors Refractory to aPD-1. Front Immunol 2021; 12:706517. [PMID: 34367166 PMCID: PMC8343222 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.706517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 have revolutionized the field of oncology over the past decade. Nevertheless, the majority of patients do not benefit from them. Virotherapy is a flexible tool that can be used to stimulate and/or recruit different immune populations. T-cell enabling virotherapy could enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, even in tumors resistant to these inhibitors. The T-cell potentiating virotherapy used here consisted of adenoviruses engineered to express tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-2 in the tumor microenvironment. To study virus efficacy in checkpoint-inhibitor resistant tumors, we developed an anti-PD-1 resistant melanoma model in vivo. In resistant tumors, adding virotherapy to an anti-PD-1 regimen resulted in increased survival (p=0.0009), when compared to anti-PD-1 monotherapy. Some of the animals receiving virotherapy displayed complete responses, which did not occur in the immune checkpoint-inhibitor monotherapy group. When adenoviruses were delivered into resistant tumors, there were signs of increased CD8 T-cell infiltration and activation, which - together with a reduced presence of M2 macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells - could explain those results. T-cell enabling virotherapy appeared as a valuable tool to counter resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The clinical translation of this approach could increase the number of cancer patients benefiting from immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao M Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ioanna Milenova
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Orca Therapeutics, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan Verhoeff
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute and Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sadia Zafar
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juan J Garcia-Vallejo
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute and Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Victor W van Beusechem
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tanja D de Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Suvi Sorsa
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
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10
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Quixabeira DCA, Zafar S, Santos JM, Cervera-Carrascon V, Havunen R, Kudling TV, Basnet S, Anttila M, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Oncolytic Adenovirus Coding for a Variant Interleukin 2 (vIL-2) Cytokine Re-Programs the Tumor Microenvironment and Confers Enhanced Tumor Control. Front Immunol 2021; 12:674400. [PMID: 34084172 PMCID: PMC8168464 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.674400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The notion of developing variants of the classic interleukin 2 (IL-2) cytokine has emerged from the limitations observed with the systemic use of human IL-2 in the clinic: severe adverse events accompanied by low therapeutic response rate in treated patients. Modifications made in the IL-2 receptor-binding structure leads to preferential binding of IL-2 variant cytokine to receptors on effector anti-tumor lymphocytes over T regulatory (TReg) cells. Because of their inherent immunogenicity, oncolytic adenoviruses are useful for expression of immunomodulatory molecules in tumors, for induction of a pro-inflammatory state in the tumor microenvironment. In the present study, we constructed an adenovirus coding for an IL-2 variant (vIL-2) protein, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2. Functionality of the new virus was tested in vitro, and anti-tumor efficacy and mechanism of action studies were performed in immunocompetent hamsters bearing pancreatic tumors. Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 treatment elicited efficient anti-tumor response, with 62.5% monotherapy complete response. Moreover, it promoted substantial repression of genes associated with myeloid cells mediated immunosuppression (CD11b, ARG1, CD206). This was seen in conjunction with upregulation of genes associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cytotoxicity (CD3G, SAP, PRF1, GZMM and GZMK). In summary, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 demonstrates therapeutic potential by counteracting immunosuppression and in efficiently coordinating lymphocytes mediated anti-tumor response in immunosuppressive tumors. Thus, Ad5/3-E2F-d24-vIL2 is a promising candidate for translation into clinical trials in human immunosuppressive solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sadia Zafar
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao M Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatiana V Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saru Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
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11
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Milenova I, Lopez Gonzalez M, Quixabeira DCA, Santos JM, Cervera-Carrascon V, Dong W, Hemminki A, van Beusechem VW, van de Ven R, de Gruijl TD. Oncolytic Adenovirus ORCA-010 Activates Proinflammatory Myeloid Cells and Facilitates T Cell Recruitment and Activation by PD-1 Blockade in Melanoma. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:178-191. [PMID: 33470166 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have advanced the treatment of melanoma. Nevertheless, a majority of patients are resistant, or develop resistance, to immune checkpoint blockade, which may be related to prevailing immune suppression by myeloid regulatory cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). ORCA-010 is a novel oncolytic adenovirus that selectively replicates in, and lyses, cancer cells. We previously showed that ORCA-010 can activate melanoma-exposed conventional dendritic cells (cDCs). To study the effect of ORCA-010 on melanoma-conditioned macrophage development, we used an in vitro co-culture model of human monocytes with melanoma cell lines. We observed a selective survival and polarization of monocytes into M2-like macrophages (CD14+CD80-CD163+) in co-cultures with cell lines that expressed macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Oncolysis of these melanoma cell lines, effected by ORCA-010, activated the resulting macrophages and converted them to a more proinflammatory state, evidenced by higher levels of PD-L1, CD80, and CD86 and an enhanced capacity to prime allogenic T cells and induce a type-1 T cell response. To assess the effect of ORCA-010 on myeloid subset distribution and activation in vivo, ORCA-010 was intratumorally injected and tested for T cell activation and recruitment in the human adenovirus nonpermissive B16-OVA mouse melanoma model. While systemic PD-1 blockade in this model in itself did not modulate myeloid or T cell subset distribution and activation, when it was preceded by i.t. injection of ORCA-010, this induced an increased rate and activation state of CD8α+ cDC1, both in the TME and in the spleen. Observed increased rates of activated CD8+ T cells, expressing CD69 and PD-1, were related to both increased CD8α+ cDC1 rates and M1/M2 shifts in tumor and spleen. In conclusion, the myeloid modulatory properties of ORCA-010 in melanoma, resulting in recruitment and activation of T cells, could enhance the antitumor efficacy of PD-1 blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Milenova
- Departments of Medical Oncology and Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,ORCA Therapeutics BV, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Lopez Gonzalez
- Departments of Medical Oncology and Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao Manuel Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Wenliang Dong
- ORCA Therapeutics BV, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor W van Beusechem
- Departments of Medical Oncology and Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rieneke van de Ven
- Departments of Medical Oncology and Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Departments of Otolaryngology/Head-Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tanja D de Gruijl
- Departments of Medical Oncology and Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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12
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Santos JM, Heiniö C, Cervera-Carrascon V, Quixabeira DCA, Siurala M, Havunen R, Butzow R, Zafar S, de Gruijl T, Lassus H, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Oncolytic adenovirus shapes the ovarian tumor microenvironment for potent tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte tumor reactivity. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:jitc-2019-000188. [PMID: 31940588 PMCID: PMC7057530 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ovarian cancers often contain significant numbers of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) that can be readily harnessed for adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT). However, the immunosuppressive ovarian tumor microenvironment and lack of tumor reactivity in TILs can limit the effectiveness of the therapy. We hypothesized that by using an oncolytic adenovirus (Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL2; TILT-123) to deliver tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) and interleukin-2 (IL-2), we could counteract immunosuppression, and enhance antitumor TIL responses in ovarian cancer (OVCA). Methods We established ex vivo tumor cultures freshly derived from patients with advanced OVCA and evaluated the effects of Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL2 or Ad5/3-E2F-D24 (the control virus without TNFa and IL-2) on TILs, cytokine response and tumor viability. Tumor reactivity was assessed by determining interferon gamma (IFNg) response of clinically relevant TILs towards autologous T-cell-depleted ex vivo tumor cultures pretreated with or without the aforementioned oncolytic adenoviruses. Results Treatment of ex vivo tumor cultures with Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL2 caused a substantial rise in proinflammatory signals: increased secretion of IFNg, CXCL10, TNFa and IL-2, and concomitant activation of CD4+ and CD8+ TILs. Potent tumor reactivity was seen, as clinically relevant TIL secreted high levels of IFNg in response to autologous T-cell-depleted ovarian ex vivo tumor cultures treated with Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL2. This phenomenon was independent of PD-L1 expression in tumor cells, a factor that determined the variability of IFNg responses seen in different patient samples. Conclusions Overall, oncolytic adenovirus Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL2 was able to rewire the ovarian tumor microenvironment to accommodate heightened antitumor TIL reactivity. Such effects may improve the clinical effectiveness of ACT with TILs in patients with advanced OVCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Manuel Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Siurala
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ralf Butzow
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sadia Zafar
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tanja de Gruijl
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Departments of Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Heini Lassus
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland .,TILT Biotherapeutics, Helsinki, Finland
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Cervera-Carrascon V, Quixabeira DCA, Santos JM, Havunen R, Zafar S, Hemminki O, Heiniö C, Munaro E, Siurala M, Sorsa S, Mirtti T, Järvinen P, Mildh M, Nisen H, Rannikko A, Anttila M, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Tumor microenvironment remodeling by an engineered oncolytic adenovirus results in improved outcome from PD-L1 inhibition. Oncoimmunology 2020; 9:1761229. [PMID: 32923123 PMCID: PMC7458667 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2020.1761229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy and validated immunotherapy as an approach. Unfortunately, responses are seen in a minority of patients. Our objective is to use engineered adenoviruses designed to increase lymphocyte trafficking and cytokine production at the tumor, to assess if they increase the response rate to checkpoint inhibition, as these features have been regarded as predictive for the responses. When Ad5/3-E2F-d24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL2 (an oncolytic adenovirus coding for TNFa and IL-2, also known as TILT-123) and checkpoint inhibitors were used together in fresh urological tumor histocultures, a significant shift toward immune activity (not only tumor necrosis alpha and interleukin-2 but also interferon gamma and granzyme B) and increased T-cell trafficking signals (CXCL10) was observed. In vivo, our viruses enabled an anti-PD-L1 (a checkpoint inhibitor) delivering complete responses in all the treated animals (hazard ratios versus anti-PD-L1 alone 0.057 [0.007; 0.451] or virotherapy alone 0.067 [0.011; 0.415]). To conclude, when an engineered oncolytic adenovirus was utilized to modify the tumor microenvironment towards what meta-analyses have pointed as predictive markers for checkpoint inhibitory therapy, the response to them increased synergistically. Of note, key findings were confirmed in fresh patient-derived tumor explants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao Manuel Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sadia Zafar
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otto Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eleonora Munaro
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Siurala
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Suvi Sorsa
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuomas Mirtti
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Pathology, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Pathology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petrus Järvinen
- Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markus Mildh
- Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Harry Nisen
- Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antti Rannikko
- Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjukka Anttila
- Pathology Unit, Finnish Food Safety Authority (EVIRA), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
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14
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Cervera-Carrascon V, Quixabeira DCA, Havunen R, Santos JM, Kutvonen E, Clubb JHA, Siurala M, Heiniö C, Zafar S, Koivula T, Lumen D, Vaha M, Garcia-Horsman A, Airaksinen AJ, Sorsa S, Anttila M, Hukkanen V, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Comparison of Clinically Relevant Oncolytic Virus Platforms for Enhancing T Cell Therapy of Solid Tumors. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2020; 17:47-60. [PMID: 32322662 PMCID: PMC7163046 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite some promising results, the majority of patients do not benefit from T cell therapies, as tumors prevent T cells from entering the tumor, shut down their activity, or downregulate key antigens. Due to their nature and mechanism of action, oncolytic viruses have features that can help overcome many of the barriers currently facing T cell therapies of solid tumors. This study aims to understand how four different oncolytic viruses (adenovirus, vaccinia virus, herpes simplex virus, and reovirus) perform in that task. For that purpose, an immunocompetent in vivo tumor model featuring adoptive tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy was used. Tumor growth control (p < 0.001) and survival analyses suggest that adenovirus was most effective in enabling T cell therapy. The complete response rate was 62% for TILs + adenovirus versus 17.5% for TILs + PBS. Of note, TIL biodistribution did not explain efficacy differences between viruses. Instead, immunostimulatory shifts in the tumor microenvironment mirrored efficacy results. Overall, the use of oncolytic viruses can improve the utility of T cell therapies, and additional virus engineering by arming with transgenes can provide further antitumor effects. This phenomenon was seen when an unarmed oncolytic adenovirus was compared to Ad5/3-E2F-d24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL2 (TILT-123). A clinical trial is ongoing, where patients receiving TIL treatment also receive TILT-123 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04217473).
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne C A Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao M Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Emma Kutvonen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - James H A Clubb
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Siurala
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sadia Zafar
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teija Koivula
- Department of Chemistry, Radiochemistry, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dave Lumen
- Department of Chemistry, Radiochemistry, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjo Vaha
- Regenerative Pharmacology Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Arturo Garcia-Horsman
- Regenerative Pharmacology Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu J Airaksinen
- Department of Chemistry, Radiochemistry, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Suvi Sorsa
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Veijo Hukkanen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
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