Safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T cells modified to target mesothelin and express PD-1 antibodies in patients with relapsed/refractory solid cancers in a phase I trial.

Authors

null

Juemin Fang

Shanghai Tenth People‘s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

Juemin Fang , Yan Sun , Xianling Guo , Bailu Xie , Hui Wang , Wei Mao , Zhongzheng Zhu , Zhuqing Liu , Fei Hu , Min Yuan , Song Gao , Zhicai Lin , Zhiwei Zhang , Huimei Li , Wenqi Chu , Xinru Pang , Qijun Qian , Huanlong Qing , Qing Xu

Organizations

Shanghai Tenth People‘s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, Shanghai Cell therapy Group Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China, Shanghai Tenth People‘s Hospital, Shanghai, China, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China, Shanghai, China, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China

Research Funding

Other
Funding from Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital

Background: The limitations of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) in solid tumors are immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and difficult infiltration to tumor. In order to reduce on-target off-tumor toxicities and circumvent the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment(TME), we modified autologous CAR-T to be specific for mesothelin (MSLN) on cancer cells and secrete PD-1 antibodies (aPD1-MSLN-CAR T cells). Here, we report the safety and efficacy of aPD1-MSLN-CAR T cells in 10 patients with relapsed/refractory solid cancers in this single-arm, open-label, first-in-human phase I pilot study (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT03615313). Methods: aPD1-MSLN-CAR T cells were prepared from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and engineered using PiggyBac Transposon System to target MSLN and secrete PD-1 antibodies. 10 patients with mesothelin positive relapsed/refractory solid cancers after failure to standard therapies were treated with aPD1-MSLN-CAR T cells for two or more cycles until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. The dose escalation of CAR T cells was designed to be 5×106/kg, 5×107/kg, and 1×108/kg, respectively. Adverse events were evaluated according to CTCAE-V4.03 and clinical response was assessed by RECIST 1.1. CAR expression was analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. PD-1 antibodies were detected by ELISA. Serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α were measured using flow cytometry. Results: The most common adverse events were mild fatigue and fever. Abdominal pain was also observed in 1 patient. Grade 1 and 2 cytokine release syndromes were observed without neurologic symptoms in 10 patients. After aPD1-MSLN-mRNA-CAR T cells treatment, 2 patients (20%) achieved partial response (PR), 4 (40%) remained stable (SD), and the rest 4 (40%) patients developed disease progression (PD). The median PFS was 97 days [95% CI (13, 180)] estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. Conclusions: These findings lend support that the combination of modified CAR T cells targeting MSLN with PD1 inhibition for solid tumors is safe. Modified CAR-T cells expressing PD-1 antibodies maybe an option to improve CAR-T efficacy as a result of refined TME. Clinical trial information: NCT03615313.

Characteristics and clinical responses.

CharacteristicsNO.
Mean Age, years54.5 (39, 67) years
Male/ Female2/8
Ovarian cancer6
Rectal cancer2
Gallbladder cancer2
PR2(20%)
SD4(40%)
PD4(40%)
PFS, days97 [95% CI (13, 180)]

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy

Track

Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy

Sub Track

Cellular Immmunotherapy

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT03615313

Citation

J Clin Oncol 38: 2020 (suppl; abstr 3039)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.3039

Abstract #

3039

Poster Bd #

103

Abstract Disclosures