Ott PA, Hu-Lieskovan S, Chmielowski B, Govindan R, Naing A, Bhardwaj N, Margolin K, Awad MM, Hellmann MD, Lin JJ, Friedlander T, Bushway ME, Balogh KN, Sciuto TE, Kohler V, Turnbull SJ, Besada R, Curran RR, Trapp B, Scherer J, Poran A, Harjanto D, Barthelme D, Ting YS, Dong JZ, Ware Y, Huang Y, Huang Z, Wanamaker A, Cleary LD, Moles MA, Manson K, Greshock J, Khondker ZS, Fritsch E, Rooney MS, DeMario M, Gaynor RB, and Srinivasan L
Neoantigens arise from mutations in cancer cells and are important targets of T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Here, we report the first open-label, phase Ib clinical trial of a personalized neoantigen-based vaccine, NEO-PV-01, in combination with PD-1 blockade in patients with advanced melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, or bladder cancer. This analysis of 82 patients demonstrated that the regimen was safe, with no treatment-related serious adverse events observed. De novo neoantigen-specific CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses were observed post-vaccination in all of the patients. The vaccine-induced T cells had a cytotoxic phenotype and were capable of trafficking to the tumor and mediating cell killing. In addition, epitope spread to neoantigens not included in the vaccine was detected post-vaccination. These data support the safety and immunogenicity of this regimen in patients with advanced solid tumors (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02897765)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests P.A.O.: research funding paid to the institution—Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, AstraZeneca, Celldex, CytomX, GlaxoSmithKline, ARMO Biosciences, Neon Therapeutics; consultant—Array, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Genentech, Pfizer, Novartis, Neon Therapeutics, CytomX, Celldex. S.H.-L.: consultant—Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genmab, Xencor; research support—Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, and Vaccinex. B.C.: member of the speakers’ bureaus for Regeneron and Sanofi. R.G.: advisory board member—Achilles; consultant—Horizon Pharma (spouse), GenePlus. A.N.: research funding from NCI, EMD Serono, MedImmune, Healios Oncology Nutrition, Atterocor, Amplimmune, ARMO BioSciences, Eli Lilly, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Incyte, Novartis, Regeneron, Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, CytomX Therapeutics, Neon Therapeutics, Calithera Biosciences, TopAlliance Biosciences, Kymab, PsiOxus, and Immune Deficiency Foundation (spouse); advisory board member—CytomX Therapeutics, Novartis, Kymab, and Genome; travel and accommodation expense—ARMO BioSciences. N.B.: scientific advisory board member—Checkpoint Sciences, Curevac, Primevax, Novartis, Avidea, BI, Rome Therapeutics, Neon Therapeutics, Roche, and Genentech. Extramural member of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy K.M.: advisory boards or consultant—Nektar, ImaginAb, Neoleukin, and Akrevia; DSMB—IOvance. M.M.A.: research grants—Genentech, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Lilly; consultant—Genentech, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Merck, Maverick, Blueprint Medicine, Syndax, Ariad, Nektar, Gritstone, and Neon Therapeutics M.D.H.: research funding—Bristol-Myers Squibb; consultant—Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Genentech/Roche, Nektar, Syndax, Mirati, Blueprint, Immunai, and Shattuck Labs; travel support/honoraria—AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Merck, and Bristol-Myers Squibb; and a patent has been filed by MSK related to the use of tumor mutation burden to predict the response to immunotherapy (PCT/US2015/062208), which has received licensing fees from PGDx. J.J.L.: honoraria/consultant—Pfizer, C4 Therapeutics, Nuvalent, and Genentech; institutional research funding—Neon, Hengrui Therapeutics, Turning Point Therapeutics, and Novartis; travel fees—Pfizer; CME funding—OncLive. T.F.: research funding—Janssen; research funding to the institute—Seattle Genetics, Incyte, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Neon Therapeutics, and Roche/Genentech. R.B.G.: board of directors—Alkermes plc and Infinity Pharmaceuticals; scientific advisory board—Leap Therapeutics; stockholder and employee—Neon Therapeutics/BioNTech US. Stockholder and either current or past employees of Neon Therapeutics/BioNTech US: M.E.B., K.N.B., T.E.S., V.K., S.J.T., R.B., R.R.C., B.T., J.S., A.P., D.H., D.B., Y.S.T., J.Z.D., Y.W., Y.H., Z.H., A.W., L.D.C., M.A.M., K.M., J.G., Z.S.K., M.S.R., M.D., E.F., and L.S., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)