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Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
Published on: February 22, 2019
Efficacy of intracellular immune checkpoint-silenced DC vaccine
Danhong Wang1, Xue F Huang2, Bangxing Hong3
1Department of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Affiliated Hospital of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Background:
DC-based tumor vaccines have had limited clinical success thus far. SOCS1, a key inhibitor of inflammatory cytokine signaling, is an immune checkpoint regulator that limits DC immunopotency.
Methods:
We generated a genetically modified DC (gmDC) vaccine to perform immunotherapy. The adenovirus (Ad-siSSF) delivers two tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), survivin and MUC1; secretory bacterial flagellin for DC maturation; and an RNA interference moiety to suppress SOCS1. A 2-stage phase I trial was performed for patients with relapsed acute leukemia after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: in stage 1, we compared the safety and efficacy between gmDC treatment (23 patients) and standard donor lymphocyte infusion (25 patients); in stage 2, we tested the efficacy of the gmDC vaccine for 12 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with early molecular relapse.
Results:
gmDCs elicited potent TAA-specific CTL responses in vitro, and the immunostimulatory activity of gmDC vaccination was demonstrated in rhesus monkeys. A stage 1 study established that this combinatory gmDC vaccine is safe in acute leukemia patients and yielded improved survival rate. In stage 2, we observed a complete remission rate of 83% in 12 relapsed AML patients. Overall, no grade 3 or grade 4 graft-versus-host disease incidence was detected in any of the 35 patients enrolled.
Conclusions:
This study, with combinatory modifications in DCs, demonstrates the safety and efficacy of SOCS1-silenced DCs in treating relapsed acute leukemia.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01956630.
Funding:
National Institute of Health (R01CA90427); the Key New Drug Development and Manufacturing Program of the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" of China (2011ZX09102-001-29); and Clinical Application Research of Beijing (Z131107002213148).
Insights
This study developed a novel genetically modified dendritic cell (gmDC) vaccine for relapsed acute leukemia. The gmDC vaccine demonstrated safety and efficacy, achieving an 83% complete remission rate in relapsed AML patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Dendritic cell (DC)-based tumor vaccines have shown limited clinical success.
- Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) inhibits DC immunopotency by regulating inflammatory cytokine signaling.
- Targeting SOCS1 can enhance DC-mediated anti-tumor immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a genetically modified DC (gmDC) vaccine for immunotherapy in patients with relapsed acute leukemia.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of the gmDC vaccine compared to standard treatment.
- To investigate the potential of SOCS1-silenced DCs in treating relapsed acute leukemia.
Main Methods:
- A novel gmDC vaccine (Ad-siSSF) was engineered to deliver tumor-associated antigens (survivin and MUC1), bacterial flagellin, and an RNA interference moiety to suppress SOCS1.
- A 2-stage phase I clinical trial was conducted in patients with relapsed acute leukemia post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
- Stage 1 compared gmDC treatment (23 patients) with donor lymphocyte infusion (25 patients); Stage 2 evaluated gmDC efficacy in 12 AML patients with early molecular relapse.
Main Results:
- In vitro, gmDCs induced potent TAA-specific CTL responses.
- Rhesus monkeys demonstrated the immunostimulatory activity of gmDC vaccination.
- Stage 1 showed the gmDC vaccine is safe and improves survival in acute leukemia patients.
- Stage 2 reported an 83% complete remission rate in 12 relapsed AML patients.
- No grade 3 or 4 graft-versus-host disease was observed in 35 enrolled patients.
Conclusions:
- Combinatorial modifications in DCs, including SOCS1 silencing, result in a safe and effective gmDC vaccine for relapsed acute leukemia.
- This approach offers a promising new immunotherapy strategy for hematological malignancies.
- The study highlights the therapeutic potential of enhancing DC immunopotency through targeted gene modulation.
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