Virtual Library

Start Your Search

K. Schalper



Author of

  • +

    MA09 - Immunotherapy Combinations (ID 390)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Mini Oral Session
    • Track: Chemotherapy/Targeted Therapy/Immunotherapy
    • Presentations: 1
    • +

      MA09.06 - Viagenpumatucel-L Bolsters Response to Nivolumab Therapy in Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma: Preliminary Data from the DURGA Trial (ID 4650)

      14:20 - 15:50  |  Author(s): K. Schalper

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background:
      Viagenpumatucel-L (HS-110) is an allogeneic whole-cell vaccine, selected for high expression of adenocarcinoma tumor antigens, transfected to secrete gp96-Ig. Prior studies with HS-110 (and related gp96-Ig vaccines) have shown a correlation between increases in CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and tumor response. The DURGA trial was designed evaluate the combination of HS-110 and nivolumab, in an attempt to increase tumor inflammation and improve the response rates observed with nivolumab alone. Clinical Trial identifier: NCT02439450

      Methods:
      Patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma who received at least one prior line of therapy were assigned to two cohorts based on baseline levels of TIL in patient biopsies: low TIL (≤10% CD8+ T cells) or high TIL (>10% CD8+ T cells). All patients received standard of care nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks and weekly HS-110 for 18 weeks until intolerable adverse events, disease progression, or death. Each 9-patient Phase 1b cohort could be expanded to 30 patients in Phase 2 based on exhibited efficacy. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability. Biopsies at baseline and Week 10 were used to track changes in TIL and PD-L1 staining. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were evaluated by flow cytometry for detection of circulating leukocyte subsets. ELISPOT was used to track antigen-specific immune response.

      Results:
      HS-110 vaccine and nivolumab combination was well tolerated with a safety profile consistent with single-agent nivolumab. Among the 8 initial patients, only 4 had optimal biopsies which showed 2 patients with high and 2 with low TILs. PD-L1 was >1% in 3 patients. IFNγ ELISPOT assay defined 4 patients as immune responders (doubling of IFNγ-secreting cells after re-stimulation with total vaccine antigen and individual cancer antigens, IR) and 4 patients as non-immune responders (NIR). The overall response rate (ORR) was 50% in the IR patients and 0% in the NIR patients. At the time of the data cutoff, 6 patients remain alive, including the 4 IR patients, with ongoing responses for 150 to 326 days. Patients with objective response also exhibited injection site reactions and maculopapular rash consistent with HS-110 mechanism of action, decreased Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC) in the blood, and increased markers of activated CD8+ T cell subsets by flow cytometry (CD8+CTLA-4+, CD8+Tim3+). Although the pathology specimens were sub-optimal in the two responding patients, the limited tissue available showed lower baseline TILs in both patients.

      Conclusion:
      Allogeneic gp96-based vaccination may have synergistic activity in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

      Only Members that have purchased this event or have registered via an access code will be able to view this content. To view this presentation, please login, select "Add to Cart" and proceed to checkout. If you would like to become a member of IASLC, please click here.

      Only Active Members that have purchased this event or have registered via an access code will be able to view this content. To view this presentation, please login or select "Add to Cart" and proceed to checkout.

  • +

    P2.01 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 461)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Poster Presenters Present
    • Track: Biology/Pathology
    • Presentations: 1
    • +

      P2.01-046 - Quantitative Measurement of B7-H3 Protein Expression and Its Association with B7-H4, PD-L1 and TILs in NSCLC (ID 4288)

      14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): K. Schalper

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background:
      B7-H3 (CD276) is a type I transmembrane protein that belongs to the B7 immunoregulatory family including PD-L1 (B7-H1) and is upregulated in multiple malignancies including Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Clinical activity of monoclonal B7-H3 blocking antibodies such as Enoblituzumab are under investigation. In this study we measured the levels of B7-H3 protein in NSCLC and studied its association with major tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) subsets, levels of PD-L1, B7-H4 and clinico-pathological characteristics in three independent NSCLC cohorts.

      Methods:
      We used automated quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF) to assess the levels of B7-H3 (clone D9M2L, CST), PD-L1 (clone SP142, Spring), B7-H4 (Clone D1M8I, CST) CD3, CD8 and CD20 in 634 NSCLC cases from 3 retrospective cohorts represented in tissue microarray format. The targets were selectively measured in the tumor and stromal compartments using co-localization with cytokeratin. Associations between the marker levels, major clinic-pathological variables and survival were analyzed.

      Results:
      Expression of B7-H3 protein was found in 80.4% (510/634) of the cases and the levels were higher in the tumor than in the stromal compartment. High B7-H3 protein expression level (top 10 percentile) was associated with poor survival in two out of three of the cohorts (p <0.05). Elevated B7-H3 was consistently associated with smoking history across the 3 cohorts, but not with sex, age, clinical stage and histology. Co-expression of B7-H3 and PD-L1 was found in 17.6% of the cases (112/634) and with B7-H4 in 10% (63/634). B7-H4 and PD-L1 were simultaneously detected only in 1.8% of NSCLCs (12/634). The expression of B7-H3 was not associated with the levels of CD3, CD8 and CD20 positive TILs.

      Conclusion:
      B7-H3 protein is expressed in the majority of NSCLCs and is associated with smoking history. High B7-H3 protein levels may have a prognostic effect in lung carcinomas. Elevated levels of B7-H3 are not associated with lymphocyte infiltration. Co-expression of B7-H3 with PD-L1 and B7-H4 is relatively low, suggesting a non-redundant biological role of these targets and possibilities for combination therapies using monoclonal antibodies.

      Only Active Members that have purchased this event or have registered via an access code will be able to view this content. To view this presentation, please login or select "Add to Cart" and proceed to checkout.

  • +

    P3.02c - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 472)

    • Event: WCLC 2016
    • Type: Poster Presenters Present
    • Track: Advanced NSCLC
    • Presentations: 1
    • +

      P3.02c-048 - A Phase I/II Trial Evaluating the Combination of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy and Pembrolizumab in Metastatic NSCLC (ID 5249)

      14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): K. Schalper

      • Abstract

      Background:
      Immune checkpoint inhibitors are taking on a growing role in the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC. Pre-clinical evidence suggests that radiotherapy may increase the frequency, or enhance the strength of the host anti-cancer immune response. We report the preliminary results of an ongoing phase I/II trial combining stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic NSCLC.

      Methods:
      Eligible patients are those with metastatic NSCLC who have received no prior immune-directed therapy, and have at least 2 sites of measurable disease as per RECIST 1.1. PD-L1 expression is not required for study entry. All patients are treated with pembrolizumab at 200 mg every 3 weeks until development of progressive disease by immune-related RECIST criteria (irPD). After irPD, patients receive SBRT to a single site of disease and continue pembrolizumab. The primary endpoint is safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints include the pre- and post-SBRT overall response rate.

      Results:
      27 patients with advanced NSCLC have enrolled and started trial therapy. The overall response rate (irPR and irCR) to the initial course of pembrolizumab is 35%. To date, 13 patients have had irPD: 5 were not eligible for SBRT and stopped study treatment (2 developed new brain metastases, 3 had decline in PS), and 8 patients received SBRT to a single site of disease (6 thoracic, 1 adrenal, 1 vertebral) and continued pembrolizumab. 5 of these patients are evaluable for post-SBRT response: 1 patient had confirmed irPD, 4 have irSD and continue pembrolizumab post-SBRT at a median duration of 3 months (range 1 to 5 months). 2 of the 4 patients with irSD have had > 20% decrease in the sum of diameters of their unirradiated targets, since SBRT. Regarding adverse events, in the pre-SBRT phase 6 of 27 patients (22%) developed grade 3 treatment-related toxicity (2 colitis, hepatitis, pneumonitis, hypothyroidism, conjunctivitis). In the SBRT and post-SBRT phases, there have been no grade 2 or greater treatment-related events.

      Conclusion:
      The addition of SBRT to pembrolizumab has not resulted in an increase in treatment-related toxicity. Several patients who had serially confirmed irPD to pembrolizumab monotherapy underwent SBRT and now have irSD, with some evidence of tumor regression. Updated results will be presented.