Analysis of Adenoviral p53 Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BackgroundWe conducted an analysis of previous adenoviral p53 (Ad-p53) treatment data in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients to identify optimal Ad-p53 treatment methods for future clinical trials.MethodsThe analysis involved recurrent HNSCC patients treated with Ad-p53...

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Main Authors: Robert E. Sobol, Kerstin B. Menander, Sunil Chada, Dora Wiederhold, Beatha Sellman, Max Talbott, John J. Nemunaitis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.645745/full
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author Robert E. Sobol
Kerstin B. Menander
Sunil Chada
Dora Wiederhold
Beatha Sellman
Max Talbott
John J. Nemunaitis
author_facet Robert E. Sobol
Kerstin B. Menander
Sunil Chada
Dora Wiederhold
Beatha Sellman
Max Talbott
John J. Nemunaitis
author_sort Robert E. Sobol
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundWe conducted an analysis of previous adenoviral p53 (Ad-p53) treatment data in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients to identify optimal Ad-p53 treatment methods for future clinical trials.MethodsThe analysis involved recurrent HNSCC patients treated with Ad-p53 for whom p53 genotyping and immunohistochemistry tumor biomarker studies had been performed (n = 70). Ad-p53 tumor treatment responses defined by RECIST 1.1 criteria were correlated with Ad-p53 dose and tumor p53 biomarkers. Gene expression profiles induced by Ad-p53 treatment were evaluated using the Nanostring IO 360 panel.ResultsAd-p53 dose based upon the injected tumor volume had a critical effect on tumor responses. All responders had received Ad-p53 doses greater than 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3 of tumor volume. There was a statistically significant difference in tumor responses between patients treated with greater than 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3 compared to patients treated at lower Ad-p53 doses (Tumor Response 31% (9/29) for Ad-p53 > 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3 versus 0% (0/25) for Ad-p53 < 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3; p = 0.0023). All responders were found to have favorable p53 biomarker profiles defined by less than 20% p53 positive tumor cells by immunohistochemistry (IHC), wild type p53 gene sequence or p53 deletions, truncations, or frame-shift mutations without functional p53 tetramerization domains. Preliminary gene expression profiling results revealed that Ad-p53 treatment increased interferon signaling, decreased TGF-beta and beta-catenin signaling resulting in an increased CD8+ T cell signature which are associated with increased responses to immune checkpoint blockade.ConclusionsOur findings have important implications for future p53 targeted cancer treatments and identify fundamental principles to guide Ad-p53 gene therapy. We discovered that previous Ad-p53 clinical trials were negatively impacted by the inclusion of patients with unfavorable p53 biomarker profiles and by under dosing of Ad-p53 treatment. Future Ad-p53 clinical trials should have favorable p53 biomarker profiles inclusion criteria and Ad-p53 dosing above 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3 of injected tumor volume. Preliminary gene expression profiling identified p53 mechanisms of action associated with responses to immune checkpoint blockade supporting evaluation of Ad-p53 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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spelling doaj.art-e071119b1cfd4ac88efdb2e379e13fd42022-12-21T17:26:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2021-04-011110.3389/fonc.2021.645745645745Analysis of Adenoviral p53 Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRobert E. Sobol0Kerstin B. Menander1Sunil Chada2Dora Wiederhold3Beatha Sellman4Max Talbott5John J. Nemunaitis6MultiVir Inc, Houston, TX, United StatesMultiVir Inc, Houston, TX, United StatesMultiVir Inc, Houston, TX, United StatesMultiVir Inc, Houston, TX, United StatesMultiVir Inc, Houston, TX, United StatesMultiVir Inc, Houston, TX, United StatesUniversity of Toledo Medical Center, Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center, Toledo, OH, United StatesBackgroundWe conducted an analysis of previous adenoviral p53 (Ad-p53) treatment data in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients to identify optimal Ad-p53 treatment methods for future clinical trials.MethodsThe analysis involved recurrent HNSCC patients treated with Ad-p53 for whom p53 genotyping and immunohistochemistry tumor biomarker studies had been performed (n = 70). Ad-p53 tumor treatment responses defined by RECIST 1.1 criteria were correlated with Ad-p53 dose and tumor p53 biomarkers. Gene expression profiles induced by Ad-p53 treatment were evaluated using the Nanostring IO 360 panel.ResultsAd-p53 dose based upon the injected tumor volume had a critical effect on tumor responses. All responders had received Ad-p53 doses greater than 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3 of tumor volume. There was a statistically significant difference in tumor responses between patients treated with greater than 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3 compared to patients treated at lower Ad-p53 doses (Tumor Response 31% (9/29) for Ad-p53 > 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3 versus 0% (0/25) for Ad-p53 < 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3; p = 0.0023). All responders were found to have favorable p53 biomarker profiles defined by less than 20% p53 positive tumor cells by immunohistochemistry (IHC), wild type p53 gene sequence or p53 deletions, truncations, or frame-shift mutations without functional p53 tetramerization domains. Preliminary gene expression profiling results revealed that Ad-p53 treatment increased interferon signaling, decreased TGF-beta and beta-catenin signaling resulting in an increased CD8+ T cell signature which are associated with increased responses to immune checkpoint blockade.ConclusionsOur findings have important implications for future p53 targeted cancer treatments and identify fundamental principles to guide Ad-p53 gene therapy. We discovered that previous Ad-p53 clinical trials were negatively impacted by the inclusion of patients with unfavorable p53 biomarker profiles and by under dosing of Ad-p53 treatment. Future Ad-p53 clinical trials should have favorable p53 biomarker profiles inclusion criteria and Ad-p53 dosing above 7 × 1010 viral particles/cm3 of injected tumor volume. Preliminary gene expression profiling identified p53 mechanisms of action associated with responses to immune checkpoint blockade supporting evaluation of Ad-p53 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.645745/fullp53 gene therapy clinical trialsp53 immunotherapyabscopal effectNanostring analysisp53 biomarkers
spellingShingle Robert E. Sobol
Kerstin B. Menander
Sunil Chada
Dora Wiederhold
Beatha Sellman
Max Talbott
John J. Nemunaitis
Analysis of Adenoviral p53 Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Frontiers in Oncology
p53 gene therapy clinical trials
p53 immunotherapy
abscopal effect
Nanostring analysis
p53 biomarkers
title Analysis of Adenoviral p53 Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
title_full Analysis of Adenoviral p53 Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
title_fullStr Analysis of Adenoviral p53 Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Adenoviral p53 Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
title_short Analysis of Adenoviral p53 Gene Therapy Clinical Trials in Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
title_sort analysis of adenoviral p53 gene therapy clinical trials in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
topic p53 gene therapy clinical trials
p53 immunotherapy
abscopal effect
Nanostring analysis
p53 biomarkers
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.645745/full
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