Characterization of tumor antigen expression and myeloid immune profiles to inform the development of immune stimulating antibody conjugates (ISACs).

Authors

null

Lisa K. Blum

Bolt Biotherapeutics, Redwood City, CA

Lisa K. Blum , Jason Ptacek , Heidi LeBlanc , William G. Mallet , Bruce A. Hug , Michael N. Alonso , Edith A. Perez , David Dornan , Marcin Kowanetz

Organizations

Bolt Biotherapeutics, Redwood City, CA

Research Funding

Other

Background: Immuno-oncology (IO) has historically focused on T cell-driven effects, but a growing class of myeloid therapies are under investigation. This class includes immune-stimulating antibody conjugates (ISACs), which comprise a tumor-targeting antibody conjugated to an immune-stimulating payload. ISACs may require both tumor-associated antigens and tumor-resident myeloid cells for activity. As new IO strategies such as TLR-activating ISACs are developed, understanding the myeloid landscape is relevant for cancer biology and drug development. Methods: Tumor microarrays with formalin-fixed paraffin embedded sections of breast (BC), colorectal (CRC), gastric (GC), head and neck squamous cell (HNSCC), and non-small cell lung (NSCLC) cancers were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for tumor antigens (HER2, CEA, PD-L1), myeloid cell markers (CD68/CD163/CD11c/BDCA2), and CD8+ T cells. Results: Tumor infiltrating myeloid cells and CD8+ T cells varied across indications (Table). Low densities of intra-tumoral CD8+ T cells (<100/mm2) were observed in CRC, with higher CD8+ T cell counts observed in other cohorts. In contrast to T cells, substantial myeloid infiltrates were observed across tumor types. While MSI status was associated with higher CD8+ T cell infiltration in CRC, myeloid cells were abundant in both MSI and MSS samples. Monocyte-derived (mDC) and conventional DCs (cDC), which respond strongly to TLR activation, were present in all indications, with highest numbers observed in NSCLC. HER2+ BC samples had high infiltration of plasmacytoid DCs, a key TLR7-responsive population. PD-L1 expression on immune cells was associated with higher CD8+ T cell and myeloid cell numbers. In contrast to HER2 and PD-L1, CEA expression was independent of immune infiltration. Conclusions: Abundant myeloid infiltrates were observed across solid tumors, independent of T-cell infiltration. The presence of myeloid cells in multiple tumor types offers broadscale therapeutic targets for ISACs and other myeloid-directed therapies that can activate the innate immune system as a bridge to adaptive immunity.

Median density (interquartile range) of cells/mm2.

N
CD8+ cells
Macrophages
(CD68+BDCA2- or CD163+CD11c-BDCA2-)
cDC & mDCs
(CD11c+ CD68- BDCA2-)
Plasmacytoid DCs
(BDCA2+ CD68- CD163-)
CRC: Total
245
99 (23, 228)
217 (84, 493)
50 (19, 193)
12 (4, 33)
CRC: MSI-L/H
38
224 (92, 405)
283 (132, 492)
41 (16, 210)
9 (4, 21)
CRC: MSS
157
68 (22, 187)
217 (98, 429)
49 (17, 171)
12 (4, 35)
BC: Total
178
140 (41, 384)
398 (215, 723)
96 (41, 215)
11 (4, 70)
BC: HER2+
37
212 (116, 780)
241 (166, 403)
20 (5, 62)
1423 (665, 2392)
BC: Triple Negative
70
187 (31, 593)
699 (346, 1117)
93 (44, 234)
10 (3, 31)
NSCLC
74
207 (74, 510)
549 (324, 787)
445 (246, 861)
7 (4, 17)
HNSCC
74
223 (77, 626)
585 (311, 879)
166 (59, 353)
9 (3, 20)
GC
98
109 (31, 473)
434 (234, 659)
204 (80, 339)
8 (5, 17)

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2022 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy

Track

Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy

Sub Track

Inflammatory Signatures

Citation

J Clin Oncol 40, 2022 (suppl 16; abstr 2557)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2022.40.16_suppl.2557

Abstract #

2557

Poster Bd #

212

Abstract Disclosures