2024
Decoy-resistant IL-18 reshapes the tumor microenvironment and enhances rejection by anti-CTLA-4 in renal cell carcinoma
Schoenfeld D, Djureinovic D, Su D, Zhang L, Lu B, Kamga L, Mann J, Huck J, Hurwitz M, Braun D, Jilaveanu L, Ring A, Kluger H. Decoy-resistant IL-18 reshapes the tumor microenvironment and enhances rejection by anti-CTLA-4 in renal cell carcinoma. JCI Insight 2024 PMID: 39561007, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.184545.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAnti-CTLA-4Renal cell carcinomaIL-18IL-18BPCell carcinomaTumor microenvironmentTumor typesPatients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitorsRegulatory T cell levelsAnti-PD-1 treatmentCD8+ T cellsAnti-PD-1Immune checkpoint inhibitorsCell renal cell carcinomaNon-responder patientsMyeloid cell populationsT cell levelsCytokine interleukin-18Anti-cancer efficacySecreted binding proteinCheckpoint inhibitorsResponding patientsPreclinical modelsT cellsMurine model
2023
Immune dysfunction revealed by digital spatial profiling of immuno-oncology markers in progressive stages of renal cell carcinoma and in brain metastases
Schoenfeld D, Moutafi M, Martinez S, Djureinovic D, Merkin R, Adeniran A, Braun D, Signoretti S, Choueiri T, Parisi F, Hurwitz M, Rimm D, Wei W, Jilaveanu L, Kluger H. Immune dysfunction revealed by digital spatial profiling of immuno-oncology markers in progressive stages of renal cell carcinoma and in brain metastases. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2023, 11: e007240. PMID: 37586773, PMCID: PMC10432651, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007240.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRenal cell carcinomaBrain metastasesPrimary tumorTumor microenvironmentDigital spatial profilingCell carcinomaActivation protein expressionInflammatory macrophage markersRCC brain metastasesInnate immune activatorsNormal kidney samplesProgressive stagesExtracranial metastasesTim-3Immune checkpointsImmune dysfunctionImmune activationRCC metastasisLonger survivalImmune activatorsMacrophage markersTreatment responseSeparate cohortTissue microarrayMetastatic samplesLenvatinib or anti-VEGF in combination with anti-PD-1 differentially augments anti-tumor activity in melanoma
Tran T, Caulfield J, Zhang L, Schoenfeld D, Djureinovic D, Chiang V, Oria V, Weiss S, Olino K, Jilaveanu L, Kluger H. Lenvatinib or anti-VEGF in combination with anti-PD-1 differentially augments anti-tumor activity in melanoma. JCI Insight 2023, 8: e157347. PMID: 36821392, PMCID: PMC10132152, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.157347.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor microenvironmentAnti-VEGFCytokine/chemokine signalingCytokine/chemokine profilingBlood-brain barrier modelBlood vesselsLeukocyte transmigrationTumor-associated blood vesselsTumor-associated macrophagesIntratumoral blood vesselsAnti-angiogenesis effectAnti-tumor activityExtracranial diseasePlasmacytoid DCsImmune checkpointsPD-1Melanoma murine modelImmune infiltrationBBB modelChemokine profilingEndothelial stabilizationMurine modelLenvatinibCombined targetingMelanoma model
2022
Emerging Studies of Melanoma Brain Metastasis
Caulfield JI, Kluger HM. Emerging Studies of Melanoma Brain Metastasis. Current Oncology Reports 2022, 24: 585-594. PMID: 35212922, DOI: 10.1007/s11912-022-01237-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMelanoma brain metastasesBrain metastasesClinical studiesTreatment approachesRecent FindingsClinical trialsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsAdditional treatment approachesRecent preclinical studiesNew treatment approachesCentral nervous systemBrain disseminationCheckpoint inhibitorsSignificant morbidityPerilesional edemaRadiation necrosisPatient populationClinical challengePreclinical studiesNervous systemSolid tumorsEmerging studiesMetastasisTumor microenvironmentDisease controlTumor homingInhibition of renalase drives tumour rejection by promoting T cell activation
Guo X, Jessel S, Qu R, Kluger Y, Chen TM, Hollander L, Safirstein R, Nelson B, Cha C, Bosenberg M, Jilaveanu LB, Rimm D, Rothlin CV, Kluger HM, Desir GV. Inhibition of renalase drives tumour rejection by promoting T cell activation. European Journal Of Cancer 2022, 165: 81-96. PMID: 35219026, PMCID: PMC8940682, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.01.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-1 inhibitorsMurine melanoma modelMelanoma-bearing miceMelanoma modelTumor microenvironmentTumor rejectionCell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitorsAnti-PD-1 activityEnhanced T cell infiltrationT cell-dependent fashionMelanoma cellsMelanoma tumor regressionPreclinical melanoma modelsT cell infiltrationNatural killer cellsForkhead box P3Expression of IFNγWild-type miceProtein 1 inhibitorT cell activationTumor cell contentWild-type melanoma cellsCD4 cellsAdvanced melanomaAntibody treatment
2021
Clinical Significance of PDCD4 in Melanoma by Subcellular Expression and in Tumor-Associated Immune Cells
Tran TT, Rane CK, Zito CR, Weiss SA, Jessel S, Lucca L, Lu BY, Oria VO, Adeniran A, Chiang VL, Omay SB, Hafler DA, Kluger HM, Jilaveanu LB. Clinical Significance of PDCD4 in Melanoma by Subcellular Expression and in Tumor-Associated Immune Cells. Cancers 2021, 13: 1049. PMID: 33801444, PMCID: PMC7958624, DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051049.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPDCD4 expressionImproved survivalTumor-Associated Immune CellsTumor microenvironmentNeoplastic progressionBrain metastasis outcomesExtracranial metastatic diseaseMelanoma brain metastasesNatural killer cellsBrain metastasis samplesImmune cell infiltrationImmune cell subsetsMultiple tissue microarraysExpression of PDCD4Brain metastasesMetastatic diseaseClinical outcomesKiller cellsClinicopathological variablesIntracranial metastasesCell subsetsCell infiltrationCell death 4Immune cellsPrimary melanoma
2019
Baseline tumor-immune signatures associated with response to bempegaldesleukin (NKTR-214) and nivolumab.
Hurwitz M, Cho D, Balar A, Curti B, Siefker-Radtke A, Sznol M, Kluger H, Bernatchez C, Fanton C, Iacucci E, Liu Y, Nguyen T, Overwijk W, Zalevsky J, Tagliaferri M, Hoch U, Diab A. Baseline tumor-immune signatures associated with response to bempegaldesleukin (NKTR-214) and nivolumab. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2019, 37: 2623-2623. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.2623.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPD-L1CD8 TILsResponse rateAnti-PD-1 therapyOngoing phase 1/2 studyPre-treatment tumor biopsiesTumor microenvironmentBaseline immune signaturesSurface PD-1Tumor immune signaturePhase 1/2 studyAdvanced solid tumorsUrothelial carcinoma patientsFavorable tumor microenvironmentBaseline immune phenotypeLow groupMedian valueRECIST 1.1Baseline demographicsImmune signaturesPrognostic factorsCarcinoma patientsPD-1Biomarker subgroupsImmune cellsTranscriptomic Hallmarks of Tumor Plasticity and Stromal Interactions in Brain Metastasis
Wingrove E, Liu ZZ, Patel KD, Arnal-Estapé A, Cai WL, Melnick MA, Politi K, Monteiro C, Zhu L, Valiente M, Kluger HM, Chiang VL, Nguyen DX. Transcriptomic Hallmarks of Tumor Plasticity and Stromal Interactions in Brain Metastasis. Cell Reports 2019, 27: 1277-1292.e7. PMID: 31018140, PMCID: PMC6592283, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.085.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBrain metastasesBrain tumor microenvironmentLineage programTumor microenvironmentTumor plasticityStromal gene expressionTranscriptomic hallmarksGene expressionTranscriptional hallmarksMultiple tumor typesMolecular landscapeStromal interactionsMajor siteIntact tissueNeuroinflammatory responseSyngeneic modelPatient biopsiesTumor typesMetastasisMalignant cellsDifferent subtypesTumor cellsHallmarkTranscriptomeCellsTranscriptomic Hallmarks of Tumor Plasticity and Stromal Interactions in Brain Metastasis
Wingrove E, Liu Z, Patel K, Arnal‐Estape A, Melnick M, Politi K, Monteiro C, Zhu L, Valiente M, Kluger H, Chiang V, Nguyen D. Transcriptomic Hallmarks of Tumor Plasticity and Stromal Interactions in Brain Metastasis. The FASEB Journal 2019, 33: 368.8-368.8. DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.368.8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBrain tumor microenvironmentBrain metastasesTumor microenvironmentTumor cellsLung adenocarcinomaTumor lesionsBrain metastatic tumor cellsBreast cancer brain metastasesHuman tumorsExpression of TIM3Cancer brain metastasesMetastatic brain tumorsExpression of astrocytesIntra-arterial injectionTumor-associated macrophagesSyngeneic model systemModels of melanomaFull-text articlesMetastatic tumor cellsCNS metastasesNeuroinflammatory responseBrain lesionsLung tumorsT cellsAthymic mice
2017
Effect of a novel IL-2 cytokine immune agonist (NKTR-214) on proliferating CD8+T cells and PD-1 expression on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment in patients with prior checkpoint therapy.
Bernatchez C, Haymaker C, Hurwitz M, Kluger H, Tetzlaff M, Jackson N, Gergel I, Tagliaferri M, Zalevsky J, Hoch U, Fanton C, Iacucci E, Aung S, Imperiale M, Liao E, Bentebibel S, Tannir N, Hwu P, Sznol M, Diab A. Effect of a novel IL-2 cytokine immune agonist (NKTR-214) on proliferating CD8+T cells and PD-1 expression on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment in patients with prior checkpoint therapy. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2017, 35: 2545-2545. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.2545.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNKTR-214PD-1 expressionT-cell clonalityTumor microenvironmentNK cellsCell clonalityIL-2 receptor pathwayDays post doseDrug-related AEsImmune-related AEAnti-PD1 therapyCapillary leak syndromePhase 1/2 trialMetastatic solid tumorsFavorable safety profileImmune checkpoint genesSignificant tumor regressionTumor tissue samplesGene expression analysisCytotoxic markersEffector CD8Leak syndromeCheckpoint therapyPrior immunotherapyRegulatory cellsA phase 1/2 study of a novel IL-2 cytokine, NKTR-214, and nivolumab in patients with select locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors.
Diab A, Tannir N, Bernatchez C, Haymaker C, Bentebibel S, Curti B, Wong M, Gergel I, Tagliaferri M, Zalevsky J, Hoch U, Aung S, Imperiale M, Cho D, Tykodi S, Puzanov I, Kluger H, Hurwitz M, Hwu P, Sznol M. A phase 1/2 study of a novel IL-2 cytokine, NKTR-214, and nivolumab in patients with select locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2017, 35: e14040-e14040. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.e14040.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNKTR-214Phase 1/2 studyT cellsIL-2 receptor pathwayTumor immune cell infiltratesTumor microenvironmentNivolumab combination therapyDose limiting toxicitiesImmune cell infiltratesUnconfirmed complete responseMetastatic solid tumorsWeeks of treatmentFavorable safety profileIL-2 pathwayIL-2 cytokineT-cell clonalityBiomarker dataTumor response dataImmunotherapy-naïveMonotherapy trialsQ3w scheduleRECIST 1.1Checkpoint inhibitorsEffector CD8Adverse eventsEffect of NKTR-214 on the number and activity of CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Hurwitz M, Diab A, Bernatchez C, Haymaker C, Kluger H, Tetzlaff M, Gergel I, Tagliaferri M, Imperiale M, Aung S, Hoch U, Zalevsky J, Hwu P, Sznol M, Tannir N. Effect of NKTR-214 on the number and activity of CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2017, 35: 454-454. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.6_suppl.454.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNKTR-214T cellsTumor microenvironmentIL-2 receptor pathwayAnti-PD-1 blockadeAdvanced renal cell carcinomaImmune-related AEPatient experienced DLTPrior TKI treatmentImmune checkpoint inhibitorsT-cell receptor diversityAdvanced solid tumorsPD-1 expressionT-cell infiltratesActivity of CD8Effector T cellsFavorable safety profileRenal cell carcinomaAnti-tumor activityBaseline CD8Experienced DLTsLow TILsRECIST 1.1Checkpoint inhibitorsEffector CD8
2016
Renalase Expression by Melanoma and Tumor-Associated Macrophages Promotes Tumor Growth through a STAT3-Mediated Mechanism
Hollander L, Guo X, Velazquez H, Chang J, Safirstein R, Kluger H, Cha C, Desir G. Renalase Expression by Melanoma and Tumor-Associated Macrophages Promotes Tumor Growth through a STAT3-Mediated Mechanism. Cancer Research 2016, 76: 3884-3894. PMID: 27197188, PMCID: PMC5031238, DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-1524.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsApoptosisBiomarkers, TumorBlotting, WesternCase-Control StudiesCell CycleCell ProliferationFemaleFollow-Up StudiesGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansImmunoenzyme TechniquesMacrophagesMaleMelanomaMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, NudeMonoamine OxidaseNeoplasm StagingP38 Mitogen-Activated Protein KinasesPrognosisProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSignal TransductionSTAT3 Transcription FactorSurvival RateTumor Cells, CulturedXenograft Model Antitumor AssaysConceptsTumor-associated macrophagesDisease-specific survivalManagement of melanomaPotential therapeutic implicationsCell cycle inhibitor p21Melanoma cell growthPI3K/AktMelanoma cell survivalCell growth arrestPathogenic rolePrimary melanomaToxic injuryMurine xenograftsTherapeutic implicationsTumor growthClinical specimensRenalaseBax activationTumor microenvironmentTumor cellsInhibitor p21Growth arrestSurvival factorElevated expressionMAPK pathway