2022
Safety, tolerability and efficacy of agonist anti-CD27 antibody (varlilumab) administered in combination with anti-PD-1 (nivolumab) in advanced solid tumors
Sanborn RE, Pishvaian MJ, Callahan MK, Weise A, Sikic BI, Rahma O, Cho DC, Rizvi NA, Sznol M, Lutzky J, Bauman JE, Bitting RL, Starodub A, Jimeno A, Reardon DA, Kaley T, Iwamoto F, Baehring JM, Subramaniam DS, Aragon-Ching JB, Hawthorne TR, Rawls T, Yellin M, Keler T. Safety, tolerability and efficacy of agonist anti-CD27 antibody (varlilumab) administered in combination with anti-PD-1 (nivolumab) in advanced solid tumors. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2022, 10: e005147. PMID: 35940825, PMCID: PMC9364417, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005147.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsObjective response rateAnti-PD-1/L1Solid tumorsAnti-PD-1 therapyIntratumoral T cell infiltrationBetter progression-free survivalAnti-CD27 antibodyKey clinical endpointsTumor PD-L1Tumor-specific cohortsAdvanced solid tumorsProgression-free survivalRefractory solid tumorsOverall survival rateT cell infiltrationBetter clinical outcomesSquamous cell carcinomaOvarian cancer patientsPhase 2Phase 1Nivolumab monotherapyAdverse eventsImmune signaturesPD-L1Proinflammatory changes
2021
A Phase I Study of APX005M and Cabiralizumab with or without Nivolumab in Patients with Melanoma, Kidney Cancer, or Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Resistant to Anti-PD-1/PD-L1
Weiss SA, Djureinovic D, Jessel S, Krykbaeva I, Zhang L, Jilaveanu L, Ralabate A, Johnson B, Levit NS, Anderson G, Zelterman D, Wei W, Mahajan A, Trifan O, Bosenberg M, Kaech SM, Perry CJ, Damsky W, Gettinger S, Sznol M, Hurwitz M, Kluger HM. A Phase I Study of APX005M and Cabiralizumab with or without Nivolumab in Patients with Melanoma, Kidney Cancer, or Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Resistant to Anti-PD-1/PD-L1. Clinical Cancer Research 2021, 27: 4757-4767. PMID: 34140403, PMCID: PMC9236708, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-0903.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-PD-1/PD-L1Non-small cell lung cancerCell lung cancerRenal cell carcinomaPD-L1Lung cancerDisease progressionCommon treatment-related adverse eventsPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitorsTreatment-related adverse eventsPhase 2 doseSubstantial clinical challengeUnconfirmed partial responseDose-limiting toxicityPD-L1 inhibitorsPhase I trialDose-escalation designPro-inflammatory cytokinesMultiple tumor typesAsymptomatic elevationStable diseaseIntolerable toxicityAdverse eventsMedian durationPartial responseResistance mechanisms to checkpoint inhibitors
Weiss SA, Sznol M. Resistance mechanisms to checkpoint inhibitors. Current Opinion In Immunology 2021, 69: 47-55. PMID: 33676271, DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2021.02.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsPD-1/PD-L1 axisMultiple immune checkpoint inhibitorsPD1/PD-L1PD-L1 axisHuman translational studiesPre-clinical studiesPre-clinical animalResistance mechanismsCheckpoint inhibitorsPD-L1Clinical outcomesTreatment failureClinical trialsTranslational studiesCancer treatmentPotential mechanismsInhibitorsPatientsClinicTrialsAntibodies
2020
Survival after checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic acral, mucosal and uveal melanoma
Klemen ND, Wang M, Rubinstein JC, Olino K, Clune J, Ariyan S, Cha C, Weiss SA, Kluger HM, Sznol M. Survival after checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic acral, mucosal and uveal melanoma. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2020, 8: e000341. PMID: 32209601, PMCID: PMC7103823, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000341.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCheckpoint inhibitorsOverall survivalMetastatic melanomaPrimary tumorLocal therapyCutaneous melanomaAnti-PD-1 antibodyAggressive multidisciplinary approachCutaneous primary tumorPrimary tumor histologyMedian overall survivalSingle institutional experienceRare melanoma subtypeMedian OSMetastatic diseaseProgressive diseaseAcral skinComplete responsePD-1PD-L1Uveal tractTumor histologyCombination therapyCTLA-4Longer survivalAdenosine 2A Receptor Blockade as an Immunotherapy for Treatment-Refractory Renal Cell Cancer
Fong L, Hotson A, Powderly JD, Sznol M, Heist RS, Choueiri TK, George S, Hughes BGM, Hellmann MD, Shepard DR, Rini BI, Kummar S, Weise AM, Riese MJ, Markman B, Emens LA, Mahadevan D, Luke JJ, Laport G, Brody JD, Hernandez-Aya L, Bonomi P, Goldman JW, Berim L, Renouf DJ, Goodwin RA, Munneke B, Ho PY, Hsieh J, McCaffery I, Kwei L, Willingham SB, Miller RA. Adenosine 2A Receptor Blockade as an Immunotherapy for Treatment-Refractory Renal Cell Cancer. Cancer Discovery 2020, 10: 40-53. PMID: 31732494, PMCID: PMC6954326, DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-19-0980.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsCarcinoma, Renal CellDrug Resistance, NeoplasmFemaleFollow-Up StudiesFuransHumansKidney NeoplasmsMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalPrognosisPyridinesPyrimidinesReceptor, Adenosine A2ASalvage TherapySurvival RateConceptsRenal cell cancerPretreatment tumor biopsiesClinical responseGene expression signaturesCell cancerTumor biopsiesPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitorsPD-1/PD-L1Refractory renal cell cancerPhase I clinical trialL1 combination therapyRecruitment of CD8Targetable immune checkpointsDurable clinical benefitPD-L1 inhibitorsT cell repertoireAdenosine 2A receptorAntitumor immunityReceptor blockadeImmune checkpointsPD-L1L1 antibodyClinical benefitCombination therapyImmune cells
2019
Patterns of failure after immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors predict durable progression-free survival after local therapy for metastatic melanoma
Klemen ND, Wang M, Feingold PL, Cooper K, Pavri SN, Han D, Detterbeck FC, Boffa DJ, Khan SA, Olino K, Clune J, Ariyan S, Salem RR, Weiss SA, Kluger HM, Sznol M, Cha C. Patterns of failure after immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors predict durable progression-free survival after local therapy for metastatic melanoma. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2019, 7: 196. PMID: 31340861, PMCID: PMC6657062, DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0672-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsThree-year progression-free survivalProgression-free survivalDisease-specific survivalFive-year disease-specific survivalPatterns of failureDurable progression-free survivalLocal therapyStereotactic body radiotherapyMetastatic melanomaNew metastasesPatient selectionIndependent radiological reviewOngoing complete responseResultsFour hundred twentyEvidence of diseaseCNS metastasisCPI treatmentImmunotherapy failureCheckpoint inhibitorsMost patientsProgressive diseaseRadiological reviewComplete responsePD-1PD-L1
2018
Clinical activity and molecular correlates of response to atezolizumab alone or in combination with bevacizumab versus sunitinib in renal cell carcinoma
McDermott DF, Huseni MA, Atkins MB, Motzer RJ, Rini BI, Escudier B, Fong L, Joseph RW, Pal SK, Reeves JA, Sznol M, Hainsworth J, Rathmell WK, Stadler WM, Hutson T, Gore ME, Ravaud A, Bracarda S, Suárez C, Danielli R, Gruenwald V, Choueiri TK, Nickles D, Jhunjhunwala S, Piault-Louis E, Thobhani A, Qiu J, Chen DS, Hegde PS, Schiff C, Fine GD, Powles T. Clinical activity and molecular correlates of response to atezolizumab alone or in combination with bevacizumab versus sunitinib in renal cell carcinoma. Nature Medicine 2018, 24: 749-757. PMID: 29867230, PMCID: PMC6721896, DOI: 10.1038/s41591-018-0053-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntibodies, MonoclonalAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsBevacizumabCarcinoma, Renal CellFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateKidney NeoplasmsMaleMiddle AgedMutationSunitinibTreatment OutcomeConceptsProgression-free survivalPFS hazard ratioRenal cell carcinomaHazard ratioPD-L1Cell carcinomaTreatment-naive metastatic renal-cell carcinomaRandomized phase 2 studyMetastatic renal cell carcinomaInflammatory gene expression signatureExploratory biomarker analysisPhase 2 studyImmune checkpoint blockadeCo-primary endpointsPrediction of outcomeAtezolizumab monotherapyCheckpoint blockadeGene expression signaturesNeoantigen burdenT effectorsClinical activityAtezolizumabBevacizumabTumor mutationsSunitinib
2017
PD-L1 Studies Across Tumor Types, Its Differential Expression and Predictive Value in Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Kluger HM, Zito CR, Turcu G, Baine M, Zhang H, Adeniran A, Sznol M, Rimm DL, Kluger Y, Chen L, Cohen JV, Jilaveanu LB. PD-L1 Studies Across Tumor Types, Its Differential Expression and Predictive Value in Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Clinical Cancer Research 2017, 23: 4270-4279. PMID: 28223273, PMCID: PMC5540774, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-3146.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerPD-L1 expressionRenal cell carcinomaPD-1 inhibitorsCell carcinomaImmune-infiltrating cellsMelanoma patientsPD-L1Tumor cellsTumor typesTumor-associated inflammatory cellsCTLA-4 inhibitorsCell lung cancerRenal cell carcinoma cellsHigh response rateClin Cancer ResCell linesMelanoma tumor cellsPD-1Multivariable analysisNSCLC specimensInflammatory cellsLung cancerTissue microarrayResponse rateNuclear IRF-1 expression as a mechanism to assess “Capability” to express PD-L1 and response to PD-1 therapy in metastatic melanoma
Smithy JW, Moore LM, Pelekanou V, Rehman J, Gaule P, Wong PF, Neumeister VM, Sznol M, Kluger HM, Rimm DL. Nuclear IRF-1 expression as a mechanism to assess “Capability” to express PD-L1 and response to PD-1 therapy in metastatic melanoma. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2017, 5: 25. PMID: 28331615, PMCID: PMC5359951, DOI: 10.1186/s40425-017-0229-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAntibodies, MonoclonalAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, PharmacologicalDisease-Free SurvivalFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansImmunotherapyInterferon Regulatory Factor-1IpilimumabMaleMelanomaMiddle AgedNeoplasm MetastasisNeoplasms, Second PrimaryNivolumabProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorConceptsProgression-free survivalObjective radiographic responsePD-L1 expressionPD-L1IRF-1 expressionMetastatic melanomaAnti-PD-1 therapyCombination ipilimumab/nivolumabHigh PD-L1 expressionAnti-PD-1 immunotherapyYale-New Haven HospitalIpilimumab/nivolumabPD-1 therapyPR/CRPre-treatment formalinRECIST v1.1 criteriaDeath ligand 1Valuable predictive biomarkerMajor unmet needNew Haven HospitalInterferon regulatory factor 1Combination ipilimumabProgressive diseaseRadiographic responseComplete response
2015
Characterization of PD-L1 Expression and Associated T-cell Infiltrates in Metastatic Melanoma Samples from Variable Anatomic Sites
Kluger HM, Zito CR, Barr ML, Baine MK, Chiang VL, Sznol M, Rimm DL, Chen L, Jilaveanu LB. Characterization of PD-L1 Expression and Associated T-cell Infiltrates in Metastatic Melanoma Samples from Variable Anatomic Sites. Clinical Cancer Research 2015, 21: 3052-3060. PMID: 25788491, PMCID: PMC4490112, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-3073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 expressionT-cell contentPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitorsHigher T-cell contentT-cell infiltratesPD-L1 inhibitorsAnatomic sitesBrain metastasesMetastatic melanomaTissue microarrayHigh PD-L1 expressionLess PD-L1 expressionLow PD-L1 expressionTumor PD-L1 expressionHigher TIL contentImproved overall survivalT cell infiltrationLess T cellsMetastatic melanoma samplesExtracerebral metastasesCerebral metastasesOverall survivalDermal metastasesImproved survivalPD-L1Combined Nivolumab and Ipilimumab or Monotherapy in Untreated Melanoma
Larkin J, Chiarion-Sileni V, Gonzalez R, Grob JJ, Cowey CL, Lao CD, Schadendorf D, Dummer R, Smylie M, Rutkowski P, Ferrucci PF, Hill A, Wagstaff J, Carlino MS, Haanen JB, Maio M, Marquez-Rodas I, McArthur GA, Ascierto PA, Long GV, Callahan MK, Postow MA, Grossmann K, Sznol M, Dreno B, Bastholt L, Yang A, Rollin LM, Horak C, Hodi FS, Wolchok JD. Combined Nivolumab and Ipilimumab or Monotherapy in Untreated Melanoma. New England Journal Of Medicine 2015, 373: 23-34. PMID: 26027431, PMCID: PMC5698905, DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1504030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalMedian progression-free survivalIpilimumab groupMetastatic melanomaNivolumab groupUntreated patientsPD-L1Negative tumorsTreatment-related adverse eventsLonger progression-free survivalUnresectable stage IIICoprimary end pointsCTLA-4 blockadePhase 3 studyPD-1 ligandsCombined NivolumabAdverse eventsOverall survivalPD-1Combination therapyUntreated melanomaIpilimumabNivolumabGrade 3Stage III
2013
Programmed death ligand-1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer
Velcheti V, Schalper KA, Carvajal DE, Anagnostou VK, Syrigos KN, Sznol M, Herbst RS, Gettinger SN, Chen L, Rimm DL. Programmed death ligand-1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer. Laboratory Investigation 2013, 94: 107-116. PMID: 24217091, PMCID: PMC6125250, DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2013.130.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCarcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungCell Line, TumorChi-Square DistributionCohort StudiesConnecticutFemaleGreeceHumansImmunohistochemistryLung NeoplasmsLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMalePrognosisReproducibility of ResultsRNA, MessengerSurvival AnalysisTissue Array AnalysisConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerPD-L1 expressionCell lung cancerPD-L1Tissue microarrayBetter outcomesNSCLC casesLung cancerDeath ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressionCell death ligand 1PD-L1 protein expressionEarly phase clinical trialsLigand 1 expressionTumor-infiltrating lymphocytesDeath ligand 1Significant better outcomePD-L1 mRNAPD-L1 proteinPhase clinical trialsNormal human placentaPrediction of responseQuantitative fluorescence approachesFrequency of expressionPD-1Prognostic value
2012
Safety, Activity, and Immune Correlates of Anti–PD-1 Antibody in Cancer
Topalian SL, Hodi FS, Brahmer JR, Gettinger SN, Smith DC, McDermott DF, Powderly JD, Carvajal RD, Sosman JA, Atkins MB, Leming PD, Spigel DR, Antonia SJ, Horn L, Drake CG, Pardoll DM, Chen L, Sharfman WH, Anders RA, Taube JM, McMiller TL, Xu H, Korman AJ, Jure-Kunkel M, Agrawal S, McDonald D, Kollia GD, Gupta A, Wigginton JM, Sznol M. Safety, Activity, and Immune Correlates of Anti–PD-1 Antibody in Cancer. New England Journal Of Medicine 2012, 366: 2443-2454. PMID: 22658127, PMCID: PMC3544539, DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1200690.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-PD-1 antibodyCell lung cancerRenal cell cancerObjective responseLung cancerAdverse eventsPD-L1Drug-related adverse eventsPD-1 ligand expressionCastration-resistant prostate cancerImmune-related causesPretreatment tumor specimensAdverse event profilePD-L1 expressionPD-1-PDCumulative response rateBMS-936558Immune correlatesL1 pathwayAdvanced melanomaComplete responseDeath-1PD-1Negative tumorsPositive tumors
2010
Clinical Experiences With Anti-CD137 and Anti-PD1 Therapeutic Antibodies
Ascierto PA, Simeone E, Sznol M, Fu YX, Melero I. Clinical Experiences With Anti-CD137 and Anti-PD1 Therapeutic Antibodies. Seminars In Oncology 2010, 37: 508-516. PMID: 21074066, DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2010.09.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDurable objective responsesPotent cellular immunityAnti-CD137 antibodyCellular immune responsesLigand PD-L1Reasonable safety profileSevere liver toxicityTumor response criteriaTransplantable murine tumorsDose-dependent effectSurface of antigenImmunostimulatory mAbsAntitumor immunityObjective responseDeath-1PD-L1Tumor immunityCellular immunitySafety profileLiver toxicityClinical activityT lymphocytesImmune responseTumor antigensAgonist antibody