Date:- 5 June, 2017
- For the first time, a tumor microenvironment immune gene signature associated with CAR T-cell treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients has been described.
- Data analysis pointed to immune programs which may facilitate or modulate anti-tumor activity of CAR-T cells.
- These data may potentially lead to rational optimization of CAR T-cell treatment of aggressive NHL patients.
HalioDx SAS, an immuno-oncology diagnostic company, announced the presentation of data describing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell treatment signature in the tumor microenvironment utilizing Immunosign® at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. This was generated in context of the multicenter registrational trial ZUMA-1 sponsored by Kite Pharma, testing axicabtagene ciloleucel (an autologous anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy) in patients with refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Immunosign® Clinical Research assay is a set of new immune gene expression signatures designed to investigate the immune response within the tumor environment. In ZUMA-1, Immunosign® was used for a characterization of anti-CD19 CAR T cell-mediated tumor microenvironment immune gene profile.
In data presented at ASCO 2017 by Dr. Jérôme Galon, a tumor immune gene signature associated with CAR T-cell treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients is described for the first time.
This analysis, performed on DLBCL patients’ samples from the ZUMA-1 Phase 2 multicenter trial, defined a tumor immune gene signature induced or amplified by CAR T-cell treatment, involving both T cell proliferative (IL-15), chemokine, CD8 / immune effector genes and immune checkpoints.
These data may potentially lead to rational optimization of T-cell interventions in cancer.
Adrian Bot, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President, Translational Sciences, Kite Pharma, comments: “In our ZUMA-1 Phase 2 trial with axicabtagene ciloleucel, in refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, we characterized for the first time an immune gene signature in the tumor microenvironment. This work points to several immune pathways that may orchestrate the clinical activity, as well as strategies to optimize this therapeutic modality”.
Jérôme GALON, Ph.D., Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, INSERM, presenter of the study, adds: “Axicabtagene ciloleucel therapy showed very encouraging clinical results in a difficult to treat disease. As for other immunotherapeutic approaches, characterizing adaptive immunity may be essential in identifying patients who will potentially benefit from this therapy or guiding future treatment optimizations. We look with confidence in the future of cancer treatment by combining immune-based diagnostic assays with efficient immunotherapies such as CAR T-cell infusion.”
Vincent FERT, CEO of HalioDx concludes:“We are proud to contribute to the development of such game-changing immunotherapy as a growing number of biopharma are utilizing our flagships assays Immunoscore®, Immunosign® and Halioseek™ in their clinical program. We bring to our Biopharma partners not only a unique view on the dynamic of the immune response to tumors but also a reliable and risk-free biomarker-to-diagnostic roadmap with the potential to leverage their post-development strategic options.”
Poster presentation:
Abstract #3025
Poster Session: Developmental Therapeutics – Immunotherapy
Poster Board #120
Session Time/Location: Monday, June 5, 2017: 8:00-11:30 AM CDT, Hall A
Presenter: Jerome Galon, Ph.D., Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, INSERM