IL-1 receptor antagonist controls transcriptional signature of inflammation in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Inflammation affects tumor immune surveillance and resistance to therapy. Here we show that production of interleukin (IL)-1b in primary breast cancer (BC) tumors is linked with advanced disease. Patients with metastatic HER2-negative BC display a transcriptional signature of inflammation in the blood, which is attenuated after IL1 blockade. Eleven female patients with HER2-negative metastatic BC received chemotherapy along with anakinra 100mg/day (FDA-approved dose for adults with rheumatoid arthritis) (Kineret®, Amgen Inc.) following 2-week treatment with anakinra only. The study was approved by Institutional Review Board (IRB 012-099), conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines (Declaration of Helsinki) and written informed consent was obtained from the patients. Blood was collected prior to anakinra treatment, then at 2 weeks, then monthly for 6 months (mos). 11 healthy controls were included (IRB 012-200). Whole blood mRNA was measured using the Nanostring nCounter Human Immunology V2 panel. NOTE: Sample titles represent patient number and timepont.