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Combining STING-based neoantigen-targeted vaccine with checkpoint modulators enhances antitumor immunity in murine pancreatic cancer
Heather L. Kinkead, Alexander Hopkins, Eric Lutz, Annie A. Wu, Mark Yarchoan, Kayla Cruz, Skylar Woolman, Teena Vithayathil, Laura H. Glickman, Chudi O. Ndubaku, Sarah M. McWhirter, Thomas W. Dubensky Jr., Todd D. Armstrong, Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Neeha Zaidi
Heather L. Kinkead, Alexander Hopkins, Eric Lutz, Annie A. Wu, Mark Yarchoan, Kayla Cruz, Skylar Woolman, Teena Vithayathil, Laura H. Glickman, Chudi O. Ndubaku, Sarah M. McWhirter, Thomas W. Dubensky Jr., Todd D. Armstrong, Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Neeha Zaidi
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Research Article Oncology

Combining STING-based neoantigen-targeted vaccine with checkpoint modulators enhances antitumor immunity in murine pancreatic cancer

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Abstract

Tumor neoantigens arising from somatic mutations in the cancer genome are less likely to be subject to central immune tolerance and are therefore attractive targets for vaccine immunotherapy. We utilized whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing (RNASeq), and an in silico immunogenicity prediction algorithm, NetMHC, to generate a neoantigen-targeted vaccine, PancVAX, which was administered together with the STING adjuvant ADU-V16 to mice bearing pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Panc02) cells. PancVAX activated a neoepitope-specific T cell repertoire within the tumor and caused transient tumor regression. When given in combination with two checkpoint modulators, namely anti–PD-1 and agonist OX40 antibodies, PancVAX resulted in enhanced and more durable tumor regression and a survival benefit. The addition of OX40 to vaccine reduced the coexpression of T cell exhaustion markers, Lag3 and PD-1, and resulted in rejection of tumors upon contralateral rechallenge, suggesting the induction of T cell memory. Together, these data provide the framework for testing personalized neoantigen-based combinatorial vaccine strategies in patients with pancreatic and other nonimmunogenic cancers.

Authors

Heather L. Kinkead, Alexander Hopkins, Eric Lutz, Annie A. Wu, Mark Yarchoan, Kayla Cruz, Skylar Woolman, Teena Vithayathil, Laura H. Glickman, Chudi O. Ndubaku, Sarah M. McWhirter, Thomas W. Dubensky Jr., Todd D. Armstrong, Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Neeha Zaidi

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Figure 3

Tumor-specific peptides in combination with ADU-V16 and AddaVax result in tumor regression and a survival benefit.

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Tumor-specific peptides in combination with ADU-V16 and AddaVax result i...
(A) Schematic representation of the vaccination schedule. Mice were challenged with 106 Panc02 tumor cells in the right hind leg on day 0, followed by vaccination, at days 3 and 10, with Panc02 peptides together with AddaVax (50 μg) and either Poly I:C (10 μg) or ADU-V16 (5 μg). Mice were euthanized when the tumors reached 10 × 10 mm or when tumors began to impair mobility or ulcerate. (B) Kaplan-Meier curves showing the percentage of mice that were tumor free. Statistics by log-rank Mantel-Cox test. (C) Tumor growth was measured every 3 to 4 days with calipers until tumors reached 10 × 10 mm. *P < 0.001, Student’s t test, corrected for multiple comparisons. n = 10 mice in each treated group, 5 mice in untreated group for both B and C. (D) Mice were similarly vaccinated as in A and were either depleted of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells or both with the respective antibodies (see Methods). Kaplan-Meier curves showing the percentage of mice that were tumor free. n = 10 mice per group at outset. Statistics by log-rank Mantel-Cox test. (E) Flow cytometry for cell surface exhaustion markers of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from mice treated with PancVAX, ADU-V16, and AddaVax. Live, CD3+CD8+Tbet+PD1+ T cells were gated and graphed for Tim3 and Lag3 expression (representative data shown). (F) Panc02 cells were cultured in the presence or absence of 10 ng/ml mouse IFN-γ for 72 hours. Cells were stained with anti-mouse PD-L1 or control isotype antibody and analyzed by flow cytometry (shown as representative traces).

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