Effects of docetaxel on circulating immune cell subsets and association with outcomes in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

Authors

null

Elias Chandran

Center for Immuno-Oncology, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD

Elias Chandran , Meghali Goswami , Renee Nicole Donahue , Mohammad O. Atiq , Fatima Karzai , Marijo Bilusic , Jennifer L. Marte , Philip M. Arlen , Lisa M. Cordes , Helen Owens , Megan Hausler , Amy Hankin , Monique Williams , William L. Dahut , William Douglas Figg , Jeffrey Schlom , James L. Gulley , Ravi Amrit Madan

Organizations

Center for Immuno-Oncology, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD

Research Funding

U.S. National Institutes of Health
U.S. National Institutes of Health

Background: Docetaxel with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been shown to improve survival in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). There is limited data on the immunologic effects of docetaxel in mCSPC. Greater knowledge of the immune impact of docetaxel could inform future trials in prostate cancer. Methods: A clinical trial in mCSPC evaluated sequencing docetaxel and ADT with Prostvac, a poxviral vaccine targeting prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Eligibility criteria included mCSPC within 4 months of ADT and ECOG performance status 0-2. Patients given 6 cycles of docetaxel 75mg/m2 with ADT alone for mCSPC were included in this analysis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were sampled at baseline and at 3 weeks after commencing docetaxel. Immune cell subsets analyzed included CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, T regulatory cells (Tregs), natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DCs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Analyses were performed to determine if the baseline immune status or immune changes induced by therapy associate with PSA at 2 years. Results: Fifteen patients were evaluated for peripheral immune responses in this study. Median age was 63 years (range 50-73). Fourteen were white and 1 was black. ECOG performance status was 0 in 11 patients, 1 in 4 patients. Disease volume was high in 7 and low in 8 patients. Among 158 immune cell subsets assessed, only changes in Tregs and activated NK cells with a lytic and cytokine producing phenotype (CD16+ CD56br) were noted after initiation of docetaxel in addition to ADT. Patients with PSA ≤0.2 at 2 years had higher baseline frequencies of total CD4+ T cells, several activated CD4+ T-cell subsets, plasmacytoid DCs, and CD49d- Tregs. They also had lower baseline frequencies of total CD8+ T cells, naïve CD8+ T cells, and CD73+CD8+ T-cells. Patients with PSA ≤0.2 at 2 years also had greater percent increases in CD8+ effector memory (EM) PD-1+ T-cells after treatment. Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate increases in activated NK cells with lytic and cytokine producing potential after treatment with docetaxel. Given that NK cells are associated with clinical outcomes in prostate cancer (Zhao SG, JNCI, 2019) and that increased NK cells were seen after treatment with enzalutamide as well (Madan, JITC, 2021), developing immunotherapy combinations to capitalize on NK cell activity may be a path forward for developing immunotherapy in prostate cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT02649855.

ParameterNoteworthy Changes in Immune Cell Subsets after Docetaxel
Increase or
Decrease
Median pre-treatmentMedian post-treatmentp value# (%) of patients with >25% increase# (%) of patients with >25% decrease
Treg0.480.610.0458 (53%)1 (7%)
Treg ICOS+0.340.460.0388 (53%)0 (0%)
Treg CD49d-0.370.530.0459 (60%)1 (7%)
NK CD56br CD16+0.180.280.01310 (67%)1 (7%)

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Prostate Cancer and Urothelial Carcinoma

Track

Urothelial Carcinoma,Prostate Cancer - Advanced

Sub Track

Translational Research, Tumor Biology, Biomarkers, and Pathology

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT02649855

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 6; abstr 207)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.6_suppl.207

Abstract #

207

Poster Bd #

F8

Abstract Disclosures