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2087 Background: PCNSL is a rare and aggressive form of NHL in the central nervous system or vitreoretinal space. Despite high initial rates of responses to HD-MTX-based induction chemotherapies, most patients relapse in two years. R/R PCNSL is associated with poor prognosis, representing a clear unmet medical need, as there are no currently approved treatments for this disease. IRAK4 kinase activity is required for TLR and IL-1R signaling in a variety of myeloid and lymphoid cell types, including PCNSL. Recruitment of IRAK4 to these receptors and subsequent activation is facilitated by the MyD88 adaptor protein, which is mutated in ~70% of PCNSL. This leads to constitutive activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, increased inflammation, and tumor growth. Emavusertib is a novel and potent oral inhibitor of IRAK4 and FLT3, which has demonstrated the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier in PCNSL xenografts. In preclinical studies, the combination of emavusertib with ibrutinib overcomes resistance to BTK inhibitors. This combination has an acceptable safety profile across a broad population of R/R NHL patients, including PCNSL. Here we present updated safety and efficacy data for emavusertib in combination with ibrutinib in patients with R/R PCNSL. Methods: The safety, clinical activity, and potential biomarkers of emavusertib in R/R PCNSL are being investigated in the ongoing open-label, Phase 1/2 TakeAim Lymphoma trial (NCT03328078). The eligible patients with R/R PCNSL received emavusertib (100-300 mg BID) in combination with ibrutinib (560 mg QD) in a 21-day cycle until tumor progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: Here, we present updated data from R/R PCNSL patients with prior ibrutinib exposure who were treated with emavusertib in combination with ibrutinib. The median number of prior lines of anti-cancer therapies was 3 (range: 2-5), all patients were R/R to both frontline therapy and subsequent ibrutinib regimens. Prior responses to ibrutinib based regimens included only 1 CR. Here, we report a higher CR rate when these patients are subsequently treated with emavusertib in combination with ibrutinib.Results revealed no dose-limiting toxicities. Conclusions: Emavusertib in combination with ibrutinib was well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile and promising efficacy in R/R PCNSL patients with previous exposure to ibrutinib (BTKi). Enrollment in this trial is ongoing (NCT03328078). Clinical trial information: NCT03328078 .

6539 Background: AML is a heterogenous disease and exhibits a dynamic mutational landscape as the disease progresses. Internal tandem duplication (ITD) of FLT3 is considered an acquired late-event mutation and is associated with a poor prognosis in AML. Emavusertib is a potent oral inhibitor of both IRAK4 and FLT3, conferring potential dual efficacy advantages compared to other IRAK4 or FLT3 inhibitors as single agents. IRAK4 is upregulated during anti-FLT3- or other cytotoxic therapies, which drives a resistance pathway of early relapse and progression. Methods: The safety, clinical activity, and potential biomarkers of emavusertib in R/R AML and higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome are being investigated in the ongoing open-label, Phase 1/2a TakeAim Leukemia trial (NCT04278768). Next generation sequencing (NGS) of 68 genes was performed on genomic DNA from bone marrow or peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline and on treatment. Here, we present preliminary safety, efficacy data and molecular characterization in a subset of enrolled AML patients who carried FLT3m at baseline and were treated with emavusertib monotherapy. Results: In this study, we treated 11 R/R AML patients with FLT3m at dose levels of 200-400 mg BID. The median number of prior anti-cancer therapies was 2 (range 1-6). 8 of 11 patients had prior exposure to FLT3 inhibitors. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) Grade ≥ 3 were reported in 2 of 11 (18%) patients. All responders were dosed at the Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) of 300 mg BID and with < 3 lines of prior therapy. In addition, responders demonstrated more than 90% bone marrow blast reduction compared to baseline. The most common co-mutations in this subset of patients included RUNX1, NRAS, and TET2. Emavusertib treatment significantly decreased the variant allele frequency of these mutations. FLT3-ITD levels were decreased or became undetectable in responders. Additional corelative analysis between bone marrow blast counts and mutation status indicates that AML patients with FLT3m demonstrated increased bone marrow blast reductions (P≤0.05) on emavusertib treatment, when compared to FLT3 WT AML patients. Conclusions: Emavusertib has a favorable safety and tolerability profile in pretreated AML patients with FLT3m and demonstrated monotherapy anti-cancer activity in patients with FLT3m, including patients who have progressed on prior FLT3 inhibitors. Mutational profiles are suggestive of disease-modifying activity of emavusertib. We will present updated safety and efficacy data, including data for patients who proceeded to stem cell transplant. Enrollment in this ongoing trial is continuing at RP2D in patients with < 3 lines of prior anti-cancer therapies. Clinical trial information: NCT04278768 .

In the era of immune checkpoint blockade, the role of cancer vaccines in immune priming has provided additional potential for therapeutic improvements. Prior studies have demonstrated delayed type hypersensitivity and anti-tumor immunity with vaccines engineered to secrete granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The safety, efficacy and anti-tumor immunity of GM-CSF secreting vaccine in patients with previously treated stage III or IV melanoma needs further investigation. In this phase II trial, excised lymph node metastases were processed to single cells, transduced with an adenoviral vector encoding GM-CSF, irradiated, and cryopreserved. Individual vaccines were composed of 1x106, 4x106, or 1x107 tumor cells, and were injected intradermally and subcutaneously at weekly and biweekly intervals. The primary endpoints were feasibility of producing vaccine in stage III patients and determining the proportion of patients alive at two years in stage IV patients. GM-CSF vaccine was successfully developed and administered in all 61 patients. Toxicities were restricted to grade 1-2 local skin reactions. The median OS for stage III patients (n = 20) was 71.1 (95% CI, 43.7 to NR) months and 14.9 (95%CI, 12.1 to 39.7) months for stage IV patients. The median PFS in stage III patients was 50.7 (95%CI, 36.3 to NR) months and 4.1 (95% CI, 3.0-6.3) months in stage IV patients. In the overall population, the disease control rate was 39.3% (95%CI, 27.1 to 52.7%). In stage III patients, higher pre-treatment plasma cytokine levels of MMP-1, TRAIL, CXCL-11, CXCL-13 were associated with improved PFS (p<0.05 for all). An increase in post-vaccination levels of IL-15 and TRAIL for stage III patients was associated with improved PFS (p=0.03 for both). Similarly, an increase in post-vaccination IL-16 level for stage IV patients was associated with improved PFS (p=0.02) and clinical benefit. Vaccination with autologous melanoma cells secreting GM-CSF augments antitumor immunity in stage III and IV patients with melanoma, is safe, and demonstrates disease control. Luminex data suggests that changes in inflammatory cytokines and immune cell infiltration promote tumor antigen presentation and subsequent tumor cell destruction. Additional investigation to administer this vaccine in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors is needed.

Abstract Background. IRAK4 is a protein kinase downstream the Toll-like receptor (TLR), activated through the adaptor protein MYD88, crucial for the signaling cascade that leads to NF-κB-mediated cytokine and survival factor expression. Somatic mutations in the gene coding for the adaptor protein MYD88 are common in lymphoid tumors. In particular, the MYD88-L265P mutations, known to sustain NF-κB activation, is specifically observed in a fraction of the activated B cell (ABC) diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL), in the vast majority of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL), and in rare marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs). So far, no success has been achieved to directly inhibit MYD88. Emavusertib (CA-4948) is an IRAK4 inhibitor, which has shown preclinical activity in ABC DLBCL and MZL models, especially in cases bearing the MYD88-L265P. We and others have shown synergism when combining emavusertib with the first generation BTK inhibitor ibrutinib. Clinical trials are on-going exploring emavusertib as single agent or in combination in patients with hematological cancers or solid tumors. Since ibrutinib is associated with possible toxicities that can outbalance its clinical efficacy, here, we have tested the combination of emavusertib with acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib, two 2nd generation BTK inhibitors that have shown improved safety profile in clinical trials. Methods. Cell lines were exposed to five increasing concentrations of each compound as single agent or in combination for 72 h, followed by MTT assay. The beneficial effect of the combinations compared to the single agents was considered both as synergism according to the Chou-Talalay combination index and as potency and efficacy according to the MuSyC algorithm. Results. Cell lines bearing the MYD88-L265P mutation and derived from ABC DLBCL (OCI-Ly-10, TMD8, HBL1) or MZL/LPL (Karpas-1718) were exposed to emavusertib, acalabrutinib or zanubrutinib as single agent or in combination. Synergism, defined as a median Chou-Talalay index &amp;lt; 0.9, was observed for both the combination of emavusertib plus acalabrutinib and for the combination of emavusertib plus zanubrutinib in all four cell lines. Based on the MuSyC algorithm, the synergistic activity of emavusertib was mainly due to an improved efficacy (i.e., maximal effect) rather than improved potency (i.e., minimal active dose) of the BTK inhibitors. Conclusions. In MYD88-L265P mutated lymphoma cell lines, synergism is observed combining the IRAK4 inhibitor emavusertib with the 2nd generation BTK inhibitors acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib. Our data sustain further clinical exploration of the combination of IRAK4 and BTK inhibitors for lymphoma patients. Citation Format: Francesca Guidetti, Alberto J. Arribas, Eleonora Cannas, Emanuele Zucca, Anastasios Stathis, Reinhard von Roemeling, Francesco Bertoni. The IRAK4 inhibitor emavusertib (CA-4948) synergizes with second generation BTK inhibitors acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib in MYD88-L265P mutated lymphoma cell lines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C139.

e21547 Background: The incidence of metastatic melanoma is on the rise, and 40-60% of patients will develop melanoma brain metastases (MBM). Frontline treatment consists of stereotactic radiosurgery given concurrently with immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) or BRAF/MEK inhibition in BRAF mutated patients. While this therapy is effective at local control, the immune-suppressive nature of the CNS creates a permissive environment that facilitates distal intracranial relapse in over half of patients within 1 year. An improved understanding of the CNS tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for designing effective treatments that improve MBM response to ICI. MyD88 is part of the inflammasome complex downstream of toll-like receptor or IL-1R receptor activation, and is aberrantly activated in the MBM TME. While critical for mediating innate immune activation, unrelenting stimulation of this pathway can trigger immune suppression through the reflexive recruitment of suppressive myeloid cells. Emavusertib (CA-4948) is a CNS permeable inhibitor of IRAK-4, a rate-limiting factor in the myddosome cascade. Thus, emavusertib may recondition the immunologic landscape of MBM through inhibition of myddosome induced myeloid infiltration, improving tumor response to ICI. Materials and Methods: Patient MBM tissues were examined by IHC to validate myddosome activation in the TME. Immunologic profiling of preclinical MBM tumors and PBMCs was performed via flow cytometry in response to anti-PD-1 ICI alone and in combination with emavusertib. Geospatial profiling of lymphocyte and myeloid cell distribution in single and combination treated MBM tumors was done using 3D imaging of cleared brain tissue. Overall survival was assessed in response to anti-PD-1 ICI treatment in combination with emavusertib. Results: In addition to promoting lymphocyte recruitment to MBM tumors, anti-PD-1 ICI significantly increases tumor infiltration by myeloid cells. Surface expression of PD-L1 was also elevated on myeloid cells in response to anti-PD-1 ICI. Microglia demonstrated no change in overall PD-L1 expression in response to either therapy, suggesting that peripheral myeloid cells are the principle target of therapy. Concomitant treatment with emavusertib alleviated ICI induced peripheral myeloid recruitment and reduced PD-L1 expression in MBM tumors while preserving effector lymphocyte infiltration. Emavusertib treatment also improved overall survival of mice when treated in combination with anti-PD-1 as compared to anti-PD-1 therapy alone. Conclusions: Emavusertib reconditions the MBM TME by mitigating the recruitment of infiltrating suppressive myeloid cells that likely confer resistance to anti-PD-1 ICI. This improves the anti-tumor efficacy of anti-PD-1 ICI, resulting in increased overall survival. Thus, emavusertib may be an effective adjuvant for improving treatment response to ICI in patients with MBM.

V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is a B7 family member that plays key roles in maintaining T cell quiescence and regulation of myeloid cell populations, which together establish it as a novel immunotherapy target for solid tumors. Here we review the growing literature on VISTA expression in relation to various malignancies to better understand the role of VISTA and its interactions with both tumor cells and immune cells expressing other checkpoint molecules within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The biology of VISTA creates several mechanisms to maintain the TME, including supporting the function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, regulating natural killer cell activation, supporting the survival of regulatory T cells, limiting antigen presentation on antigen-presenting cells and maintaining T cells in a quiescent state. Understanding these mechanisms is an important foundation of rational patient selection for anti-VISTA therapy. We provide a general framework to describe distinct patterns of VISTA expression in correlation with other known predictive immunotherapy biomarkers (programmed cell death ligand 1 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) across solid tumors to facilitate investigation of the most efficacious TMEs for VISTA-targeted treatment as a single agent and/or in combination with anti-programmed death 1/anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 therapies.

Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) represent a recognized option for the treatment of patients affected by indolent B cell lymphomas. However, small molecules as single agents show limited success in their ability in inducing complete responses, with only partial remission achieved in most patients, suggesting the need for combination therapies. IRAK4 is a protein kinase downstream of the Toll-like receptor signaling (TLR), a driver pathway of secondary tumor° resistance in both hematological and solid tumor malignancies. Activation of IRAK4 upon TLRs and IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) stimulation and through the adaptor protein MYD88 initiates a signaling cascade that induces cytokine and survival factor expression mediated by the transcription factor NF-κB. MYD88-L265P encoding mutations occur in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, in lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas and in few marginal zone lymphomas (MZL). The IRAK4 inhibitor emavusertib (CA-4948) has shown early safety and clinical activity in lymphoma and leukemia patients. In this preclinical study, we assessed emavusertib effectiveness in MZL, both as single agent and in combination with targeted agents, with a particular focus on its capability to overcome resistance to BTK and PI3K inhibitors. We showed that the presence of MYD88 L265P mutation in bona fide MZL cell lines confers sensitivity to the IRAK4 inhibitor emavusertib as single agent. Emavusertib-based combinations improved the sensitivity of MZL cells to BTK and PI3K inhibitors, including cells with a secondary resistance to these agents. Emavusertib exerted its activity via inhibition of NF-κB signaling and induction of apoptosis. Considering the early safety data from clinical trials, our study identifies the IRAK4 inhibitor emavusertib as a novel compound to be explored in trials for patients with MYD88-mutated indolent B cell lymphomas as single agent and as combination partner with BTK or PI3K inhibitors in unselected populations of patients.