Ahmad A Tarhini,Zeynep Eroglu,Islam Eljilany,Jonathan S Zager,Ricardo J Gonzalez,Amod A Sarnaik,C Wayne Cruse,Nikhil I Khushalani,Deanryan B De Aquino,Edith Abraham,Diana M Acevedo,Allison Richards,Michael J Schell,Denise Kalos,Pei-Ling Chen,Jane L Messina,David A Canton,Vernon K Sondak
{"title":"Neoadjuvant intratumoral plasmid interleukin-12 electro-gene-transfer and nivolumab in patients with operable locoregionally advanced melanoma.","authors":"Ahmad A Tarhini,Zeynep Eroglu,Islam Eljilany,Jonathan S Zager,Ricardo J Gonzalez,Amod A Sarnaik,C Wayne Cruse,Nikhil I Khushalani,Deanryan B De Aquino,Edith Abraham,Diana M Acevedo,Allison Richards,Michael J Schell,Denise Kalos,Pei-Ling Chen,Jane L Messina,David A Canton,Vernon K Sondak","doi":"10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-24-2768","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"PURPOSE\r\nIntratumoral (IT) TAVO-EP (tavokinogene telseplasmid delivered by electroporation) results in localized expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) within the tumor microenvironment (TME). This study evaluated neoadjuvant TAVO-EP combined with intravenous (IV) nivolumab followed by surgery and adjuvant nivolumab in patients with operable locoregionally advanced melanoma.\r\n\r\nPATIENTS AND METHODS\r\nThe neoadjuvant phase comprised up to 3 Χ 4-week cycles where TAVO-EP was given IT on days 1, 8, and 15 (optional) concurrently with 480 mg nivolumab IV on day 8 of each 4-week cycle. Surgery followed, and adjuvant nivolumab was initiated after surgery. The primary endpoint was pathologic complete response (pCR). Secondary endpoints included major pathological response (MPR; pCR or near pCR).\r\n\r\nRESULTS\r\nSixteen patients were enrolled and the preoperative radiological response rate was 63%. One patient declined surgery after experiencing a significant clinical response. Among the remaining 15 patients, pCR rate was 60% and MPR was 80%. No patient with MPR has had disease recurrence with a median follow-up from the date of surgery of 15.4 months. At baseline, most patients exhibited low CD8+ TIL, PD-L1 and IFN-γ gene expression signature. There was enhanced immune activation following treatment in the TME and blood including increased immune-related gene expression, CD8+ TIL and proliferating immune cell subsets.\r\n\r\nCONCLUSIONS\r\nThe clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant IT TAVO-EP + nivolumab is promising with 80% of patients achieving an MPR. Evidence of potent immune activation both systemically and within the TME along with a favorable safety profile supports the activity of local IL-12 and anti-PD1 based regimens.","PeriodicalId":10279,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Cancer Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":10.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical Cancer Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-24-2768","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ONCOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
PURPOSE
Intratumoral (IT) TAVO-EP (tavokinogene telseplasmid delivered by electroporation) results in localized expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) within the tumor microenvironment (TME). This study evaluated neoadjuvant TAVO-EP combined with intravenous (IV) nivolumab followed by surgery and adjuvant nivolumab in patients with operable locoregionally advanced melanoma.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
The neoadjuvant phase comprised up to 3 Χ 4-week cycles where TAVO-EP was given IT on days 1, 8, and 15 (optional) concurrently with 480 mg nivolumab IV on day 8 of each 4-week cycle. Surgery followed, and adjuvant nivolumab was initiated after surgery. The primary endpoint was pathologic complete response (pCR). Secondary endpoints included major pathological response (MPR; pCR or near pCR).
RESULTS
Sixteen patients were enrolled and the preoperative radiological response rate was 63%. One patient declined surgery after experiencing a significant clinical response. Among the remaining 15 patients, pCR rate was 60% and MPR was 80%. No patient with MPR has had disease recurrence with a median follow-up from the date of surgery of 15.4 months. At baseline, most patients exhibited low CD8+ TIL, PD-L1 and IFN-γ gene expression signature. There was enhanced immune activation following treatment in the TME and blood including increased immune-related gene expression, CD8+ TIL and proliferating immune cell subsets.
CONCLUSIONS
The clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant IT TAVO-EP + nivolumab is promising with 80% of patients achieving an MPR. Evidence of potent immune activation both systemically and within the TME along with a favorable safety profile supports the activity of local IL-12 and anti-PD1 based regimens.
期刊介绍:
Clinical Cancer Research is a journal focusing on groundbreaking research in cancer, specifically in the areas where the laboratory and the clinic intersect. Our primary interest lies in clinical trials that investigate novel treatments, accompanied by research on pharmacology, molecular alterations, and biomarkers that can predict response or resistance to these treatments. Furthermore, we prioritize laboratory and animal studies that explore new drugs and targeted agents with the potential to advance to clinical trials. We also encourage research on targetable mechanisms of cancer development, progression, and metastasis.