Checkpoint immunotherapy is associated with preferential activation of tumor-antigen specific CD4+ T cells in MDS

A growing body of literature suggests that the efficacy of DNA hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are mediated via activation of anti-tumor immune mechanisms. Based upon this hypothesis a series of early phase trials combining immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) with azacitidine in MDS/AML patients were undertaken but clinical and immunological efficacy have proven disappointing. In these studies, the lack of antigen specificity made systematic assessment of the anti-MDS immune response challenging. We hypothesized that combining vaccination against the NY-ESO-1 tumor antigen with decitabine and an ICI would allow us to understand antigen-specific immune responses in patients with MDS. To test this hypothesis, we developed an investigator-initiated Phase 1 trial in transplant-ineligible patients with MDS/low blast count AML incorporating the anti-PD-1 ICI nivolumab. All patients developed NY-ESO-1 specific CD4+ T cell responses associated with up-regulation of an anti-PD-1 immunotherapy gene signature in the CD4+ memory T cell compartment. By contrast, no responses were observed in the CD8+ T cell compartment. Patients had reduced numbers of conventional dendritic cells marked by high expression of CD141 (cDC1), a population critical for successful responses to immunotherapy. cDC1 from MDS patients showed reduced expression of genes that are key for optimal T-cell activation and expansion. These results suggest that the use of immunotherapy to induce effective, cytotoxic anti-tumor T cell responses depends upon the myeloid immunologic milieu in MDS patients. Approaches to augment the number and function of cDC1 populations in myeloid disease might overcome this defect and enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy for patients with MDS.