CD5 is expressed on T cells and a subset of B cells (B1a). It can attenuate TCR signalling and impair CTL activation and is a therapeutic targetable tumour antigen expressed on leukemic T and B cells. However, the potential therapeutic effect of functionally blocking CD5 to increase T cell anti-tumour activity against tumours (including solid tumours) has not been explored. CD5 knockout mice show increased anti-tumour immunity: reducing CD5 on CTLs may be therapeutically beneficial to enhance the anti-tumour response. Here, we show that ex vivo administration of a function-blocking anti-CD5 MAb to primary mouse CTLs of both tumour-naïve mice and mice bearing murine 4T1 breast tumour homografts enhanced their capacity to respond to activation by treatment with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 MAbs or 4T1 tumour cell lysates. Furthermore, it enhanced TCR sig- nalling (ERK activation) and increased markers of T cell activation, including proliferation, CD69 levels, IFN-γ production, apoptosis and Fas receptor and Fas ligand levels. Finally, CD5 function-blocking MAb treatment enhanced the capacity of CD8 + T cells to kill 4T1mouse tumour cells in an ex vivo assay. These data support the potential of blockade of CD5 function to enhance T cell-mediated anti-tumour immunity.Keywords: AICD r Anti-tumour immunity r CD5 r CD8 + T cell r Fas receptor Additional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section at the end of the article. Faizah Alotaibi et al. Eur. J. Immunol. 2020. 50: 695-704 Abbreviations: AICD: activation-induce cell death · FasL: Fas ligand · FasR: Fas receptor · ICS: Intracellular cytokine staining · SRCR: scavenger receptor cysteine-rich · Treg: T regulatory
BackgroundCheckpoint inhibitors have changed the outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma. However, many patients still show primary resistance to single-agent therapy. Recently, the role of the gut microbiome in influencing antitumor immunity has been established. Currently, various methods of modifying the gut microbiome of cancer patients are being explored. We report the initial safety results of the first two patients treated on a phase I study combining Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) with single-agent anti-PD1 in treatment-naïve patients with advanced melanoma.MethodsTwo healthy donors were selected through our screening process and approximately 100 grams of fresh stool was processed and prepared for FMT as per our standardized protocol. FMT recipients were melanoma patients with unresectable or metastatic disease who were treatment naïve for their advanced disease. Bowel preparation was completed the day prior and FMT was performed using oral administration of approximately 40 capsules. Anti-PD1 was started at least 1 week after FMT to allow for microbiome engraftment. Blood and stool were analyzed at baseline (pre-FMT), before immunotherapy, and three weeks after it.ResultsPatient 1 was diagnosed with recurrent melanoma of the lower limb with multiple in-transit lesions refractory to control with surgery and a single intralesional injection of IL-2. Patient received stool from Donor 1 and did not experience any adverse effects from FMT. At the time of treatment #4, a solitary large cutaneous lesion stabilized but the patient experienced grade 1 diarrhoea, grade 2 nausea, and grade 2 fatigue, and grade 2 depression (NCI-CTCAE v5.0). Patient 2 was diagnosed with recurrent melanoma of the parotid gland with metastatic lesions in the lungs. Patient 2 received stool from Donor 2 and experienced only grade 1 flatus from FMT. At the time of treatment #3, the patient experienced grade 1 constipation. Both patients had a vigorous immune response to FMT measured by changes in the immune subpopulations in peripheral blood one week after FMT, including an increase in CD28+ CD8+ T cells and a decrease in PDL1+ CD3- cells. Following anti-PD1 therapy, both patients had an increase in CD39+ CD8+ T cell population. The PD1+ CD38+ CD8+ dysfunctional T cell levels decreased in both patients post-FMT and anti-PD1 therapy.ConclusionsFMT combined with anti-PD1 therapy in patients with advanced melanoma appears to be safe. A measurable immune response was observed one week after FMT in both patients. One patient experienced several grade 2 toxicities with stabilization of a large cutaneous lesion.AcknowledgementsThis study is funded by a grant from The Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation and a grant from The Medical Oncology Research Funds (MORF) from Western University.Trial RegistrationNCT03772899Ethics ApprovalThe study was approved by Western University Institutution‘s Ethics Board, approval number 113131, date of approval March 15, 2019.
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