RESUMO
Background: Cancer neoantigens are important targets of cancer immunotherapy and neoantigen vaccines are currently in development in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and other cancer types. Immune regulatory mechanisms in pancreatic cancer may limit the efficacy of neoantigen vaccines. Targeting immune checkpoint signaling pathways in PDAC may improve the efficacy of neoantigen vaccines. Methods: We used KPC4580P, an established model of PDAC, to test whether neoantigen vaccines can generate therapeutic efficacy against PDAC. We focused on two immunogenic neoantigens associated with genetic alterations in the CAR12 and CDK12 genes. We tested a neoantigen vaccine comprised of two 20-mer synthetic long peptides and poly IC, a Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist. We investigated the ability of neoantigen vaccine alone, or in combination with PD-1 and TIGIT signaling blockade to impact tumor growth. We also assessed the impact of TIGIT signaling on T cell responses in human PDAC. Results: Neoantigen vaccines induce neoantigen-specific T cell responses in tumor-bearing mice and slow KPC4580P tumor growth. However, KPC4580P tumors express high levels of PD-L1 and the TIGIT ligand, CD155. A subset of neoantigen-specific T cells in KPC4580P tumors are dysfunctional, and express high levels of TIGIT. PD-1 and TIGIT signaling blockade in vivo reverses T cell dysfunction and enhances neoantigen vaccine-induced T cell responses and tumor regression. In human translational studies, TIGIT signaling blockade in vitro enhances neoantigen-specific T cell function following vaccination. Conclusions: Taken together, preclinical and human translational studies support testing neoantigen vaccines in combination with therapies targeting the PD-1 and TIGIT signaling pathways in patients with PDAC.
Assuntos
Vacinas Anticâncer , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Humanos , Camundongos , Animais , Receptor de Morte Celular Programada 1 , Antígenos de Neoplasias , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/genética , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/genética , Peptídeos/uso terapêutico , Receptores Imunológicos/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias PancreáticasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies and early clinical trials have shown that targeting cancer neoantigens is a promising approach towards the development of personalized cancer immunotherapies. DNA vaccines can be rapidly and efficiently manufactured and can integrate multiple neoantigens simultaneously. We therefore sought to optimize the design of polyepitope DNA vaccines and test optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines in preclinical models and in clinical translation. METHODS: We developed and optimized a DNA vaccine platform to target multiple neoantigens. The polyepitope DNA vaccine platform was first optimized using model antigens in vitro and in vivo. We then identified neoantigens in preclinical breast cancer models through genome sequencing and in silico neoantigen prediction pipelines. Optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines specific for the murine breast tumor E0771 and 4T1 were designed and their immunogenicity was tested in vivo. We also tested an optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccine in a patient with metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. RESULTS: Our data support an optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccine design encoding long (≥20-mer) epitopes with a mutant form of ubiquitin (Ubmut) fused to the N-terminus for antigen processing and presentation. Optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines were immunogenic and generated robust neoantigen-specific immune responses in mice. The magnitude of immune responses generated by optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines was similar to that of synthetic long peptide vaccines specific for the same neoantigens. When combined with immune checkpoint blockade therapy, optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines were capable of inducing antitumor immunity in preclinical models. Immune monitoring data suggest that optimized polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccines are capable of inducing neoantigen-specific T cell responses in a patient with metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed and optimized a novel polyepitope neoantigen DNA vaccine platform that can target multiple neoantigens and induce antitumor immune responses in preclinical models and neoantigen-specific responses in clinical translation.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Neoplasias/imunologia , Epitopos/imunologia , Imunidade , Pesquisa Translacional Biomédica , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Adulto , Animais , Apresentação de Antígeno/imunologia , Proliferação de Células , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Células HeLa , Humanos , Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico , Imunoterapia , Masculino , Neoplasias Mamárias Animais/patologia , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Metástase Neoplásica , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/imunologia , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/patologia , Peptídeos/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologiaRESUMO
Generation of CD8 T-cell responses to pathogens and tumors requires optimal expression of class I major histocompatibility complex/peptide complexes, which, in turn, is dependent on host cellular processing events and subject to interference by pathogens. To create a stable structure that is more immunogenic and resistant to immune evasion pathways, we have engineered class I molecules as single-chain trimers (SCTs), with flexible linkers connecting peptide, beta2m, and heavy chain. Herein we extend our earlier studies with SCTs to the K(b) ligand derived from vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) to characterize further SCTs as probes of immune function as well as their potential in immunotherapy. The VSVp-beta2m-K(b) SCTs were remarkably stable at the cell surface, and immunization with DNA encoding SCTs elicited complex-specific antibody. In addition, SCTs were detected by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes specific for the native molecule, and the covalently bound peptide was highly resistant to displacement by exogenous peptide. SCTs can also prime CD8 T-cells in vivo that recognize the native molecule. Furthermore, SCTs were resistant to downregulation by the immune evasion protein mK3 of gamma herpesvirus 68. Moreover, owing to their preassembled nature, SCTs should be resistant to other immune evasion proteins that restrict peptide supply. Thus, SCTs possess therapeutic potential both for prophylactic treatment and for the treatment of ongoing infection.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/química , Animais , Especificidade de Anticorpos , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/metabolismo , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Ligantes , Camundongos , Modelos Moleculares , Engenharia de Proteínas , Estrutura Quaternária de Proteína , Proteínas Recombinantes/química , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , Vacinas de DNA/genética , Vacinas de DNA/imunologiaRESUMO
The two mouse MHC class I alleles, L(d) and L(q), share complete amino acid sequence identity except in the alpha2 domain, where they differ at six positions. Despite their similarity, L(q) has a stronger association with beta2-microglobulin (beta2m), is expressed at higher levels on the cell surface, demonstrates an increased cell surface half-life, and has fewer open forms on the cell surface than L(d). To determine the basis for their phenotypic differences, L(d) molecules containing chimeric L(d)-L(q) alpha2 domains were characterized, and these analyses implicated residue 97 (L(d)Trp and L(q)Arg) as the polymorphic site responsible for the disparity in beta2m association between the two alleles. Single substitution analysis at this site (L(d)W97R and L(q)R97W) confirmed this. Furthermore, the L(d)W97R mutant molecule has a longer cell surface half-life than either L(q) or L(d), and fewer open forms of L(d)W97R are observed on the cell surface. In addition, both L(d)W97R and L(q) possess decreased binding affinity for the L(d)-restricted tum(-) P91A(14-22) peptide compared with L(d). Collectively, these results and the known location of Trp(97) in the peptide binding cleft of L(d) strongly suggest that the substitution of Arg for Trp(97) in L(d) alters the peptide binding cleft, increasing its affinity for endogenous peptides, which results in greater cell surface stability and better retention of beta2m. Furthermore, these results imply that Trp(97) plays an important role in the ability of L(d) to efficiently participate in alternative MHC class I Ag presentation pathways.
Assuntos
Substituição de Aminoácidos/imunologia , Epitopos/genética , Epitopos/imunologia , Antígenos H-2/genética , Peptídeos/genética , Peptídeos/imunologia , Polimorfismo Genético/imunologia , Microglobulina beta-2/metabolismo , Alelos , Substituição de Aminoácidos/genética , Animais , Arginina/genética , Linhagem Celular , Membrana Celular/genética , Membrana Celular/imunologia , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Epitopos/metabolismo , Antígenos H-2/metabolismo , Meia-Vida , Antígeno de Histocompatibilidade H-2D , Isoantígenos/genética , Isoantígenos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Peptídeos/metabolismo , Ligação Proteica/genética , Ligação Proteica/imunologia , Transfecção , Triptofano/genéticaRESUMO
To persist in the presence of an active immune system, viruses encode proteins that decrease expression of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules by using a variety of mechanisms. For example, murine gamma-2 herpesvirus 68 expresses the K3 protein, which causes the rapid turnover of nascent class I molecules. In this report we show that certain mouse class I alleles are more susceptible than others to K3-mediated down regulation. Prior to their rapid degradation, class I molecules in K3-expressing cells exhibit impaired assembly with beta(2)-microglobulin. Furthermore, K3 is detected predominantly in association with class I molecules lacking assembly with high-affinity peptides, including class I molecules associated with the peptide loading complex TAP/tapasin/calreticulin. The detection of K3 with class I assembly intermediates raises the possibility that molecular chaperones involved in class I assembly are involved in K3-mediated class I regulation.