Neoantigen vaccine generates intratumoral T cell responses in phase Ib glioblastoma trial

Nature. 2019 Jan;565(7738):234-239. doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0792-9. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Abstract

Neoantigens, which are derived from tumour-specific protein-coding mutations, are exempt from central tolerance, can generate robust immune responses1,2 and can function as bona fide antigens that facilitate tumour rejection3. Here we demonstrate that a strategy that uses multi-epitope, personalized neoantigen vaccination, which has previously been tested in patients with high-risk melanoma4-6, is feasible for tumours such as glioblastoma, which typically have a relatively low mutation load1,7 and an immunologically 'cold' tumour microenvironment8. We used personalized neoantigen-targeting vaccines to immunize patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma following surgical resection and conventional radiotherapy in a phase I/Ib study. Patients who did not receive dexamethasone-a highly potent corticosteroid that is frequently prescribed to treat cerebral oedema in patients with glioblastoma-generated circulating polyfunctional neoantigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses that were enriched in a memory phenotype and showed an increase in the number of tumour-infiltrating T cells. Using single-cell T cell receptor analysis, we provide evidence that neoantigen-specific T cells from the peripheral blood can migrate into an intracranial glioblastoma tumour. Neoantigen-targeting vaccines thus have the potential to favourably alter the immune milieu of glioblastoma.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA Modification Methylases / genetics
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / genetics
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Glioblastoma / diagnosis
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / immunology*
  • Glioblastoma / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Dexamethasone
  • DNA Modification Methylases
  • MGMT protein, human
  • DNA Repair Enzymes