Maximizing cancer therapy via complementary mechanisms of immune activation: PD-1 blockade, neoantigen vaccination, and Tregs depletion

Nouscom recently published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer a manuscript entitled: “Maximizing cancer therapy via complementary mechanisms of immune activation: PD-1 blockade, neoantigen vaccination, and Tregs depletion” (D’Alise AM, Leoni G, De Lucia M, et al reference below). The manuscript highlights the relevance of targeting different steps of the cancer immunity cycle to fully reverse resistance to immunotherapy by showing complete eradication of large tumors in 100% of mice treated with NousCom neantigen-based vaccine, anti-PD1 and Treg modulating agents, either BEMPEG (PEGylated IL2) or anti-mCTLA4.

Therapeutic efficacy was associated with vaccine-driven expansion of pre-existing and de-novo neoantigen specific T cells, reversal of T cell exhaustion by anti-PD1 and intratumoral Tregs reduction promoted in a similar manner by BEMPEG and anti-mCTLA4, thus elucidating key features of combination immunotherapies for better antitumor activity.

Reference: D’Alise AM, Leoni G, De Lucia M, et al. Maximizing cancer therapy via complementary mechanisms of immune activation: PD-1 blockade, neoantigen vaccination, and Tregs depletion. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer 2021;0:e003480.doi:10.1136/jitc-2021-003480