Targeted molecular therapy is a landmark advance in the treatment of solid cancers. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), the most common human sarcoma, has been a model for molecular therapy because it is driven primarily by either a Kit or Pdgfr? mutation, and the small molecule inhibitor imatinib mesylate is effective against both associated oncoproteins. Previously, we have shown that part of the anti-tumor efficacy of imatinib depends on altering the intratumoral immune response to promote T cell immunity. Our goal is to optimize the use of immune therapy with molecular therapy to achieve better oncologic outcomes. Current therapy of advanced GIST relies entirely on tyrosine kinase inhibitors, since conventional chemotherapy is ineffective. While imatinib is efficacious, its effects are usually short-lived as acquired resistance develops, usually due to an additional mutation in Kit. Furthermore, some patients with GIST have primary resistance to imatinib, as their tumor never responds to treatment. Therefore, novel treatments are needed. We have discovered that the transcription factors estrogen receptor alpha and beta-catenin are critical to tumor cell survival in mouse and human GIST. In this proposal, we will investigate estrogen receptor alpha and beta-catenin inhibition in imatinib-sensitive and imatinib-resistant GIST and combine it with immunotherapy to increase anti-tumor efficacy. We will utilize three genetically engineered mouse models of GIST, two of which contain imatinib-resistant Kit mutations. We will perform correlative immunologic studies on freshly procured human GIST surgical specimens. We expect that the results will advance our understanding of the biology of GIST and lead to novel clinical trials combining immune and molecular therapy. While we are focused on GIST, our findings will have relevance to other cancers treated with targeted therapy.

Public Health Relevance

In this proposal, we will investigate two proteins that we have discovered to be important in a gastrointestinal cancer. We will determine the effectiveness of targeting these proteins along with immunotherapy in mouse models. Our results may identify a more effective approach to treat patients with cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA102613-13
Application #
9570655
Study Section
Cancer Immunopathology and Immunotherapy Study Section (CII)
Program Officer
Forry, Suzanne L
Project Start
2017-09-01
Project End
2021-07-31
Budget Start
2018-08-01
Budget End
2019-07-31
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Zhang, Jennifer Q; Zeng, Shan; Vitiello, Gerardo A et al. (2018) Macrophages and CD8+ T Cells Mediate the Antitumor Efficacy of Combined CD40 Ligation and Imatinib Therapy in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. Cancer Immunol Res 6:434-447
Fairweather, Mark; Balachandran, Vinod P; Li, George Z et al. (2018) Cytoreductive Surgery for Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Treated With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A 2-institutional Analysis. Ann Surg 268:296-302
Vitiello, Gerardo A; Medina, Benjamin D; Zeng, Shan et al. (2018) Mitochondrial Inhibition Augments the Efficacy of Imatinib by Resetting the Metabolic Phenotype of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. Clin Cancer Res 24:972-984
Zeng, Shan; Seifert, Adrian M; Zhang, Jennifer Q et al. (2017) Wnt/?-catenin Signaling Contributes to Tumor Malignancy and Is Targetable in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. Mol Cancer Ther 16:1954-1966
Burgoyne, Adam M; De Siena, Martina; Alkhuziem, Maha et al. (2017) Duodenal-Jejunal Flexure GI Stromal Tumor Frequently Heralds Somatic NF1 and Notch Pathway Mutations. JCO Precis Oncol 2017:
Seifert, Adrian M; Zeng, Shan; Zhang, Jennifer Q et al. (2017) PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade Enhances T-cell Activity and Antitumor Efficacy of Imatinib in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 23:454-465
Bosbach, Benedikt; Rossi, Ferdinand; Yozgat, Yasemin et al. (2017) Direct engagement of the PI3K pathway by mutant KIT dominates oncogenic signaling in gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E8448-E8457
Cohen, Noah A; Kim, Teresa S; DeMatteo, Ronald P (2017) Principles of Kinase Inhibitor Therapy for Solid Tumors. Ann Surg 265:311-319
Zeng, Shan; Seifert, Adrian M; Zhang, Jennifer Q et al. (2017) ETV4 collaborates with Wnt/?-catenin signaling to alter cell cycle activity and promote tumor aggressiveness in gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Oncotarget 8:114195-114209
D'Angelo, Sandra P; Shoushtari, Alexander N; Keohan, Mary Louise et al. (2017) Combined KIT and CTLA-4 Blockade in Patients with Refractory GIST and Other Advanced Sarcomas: A Phase Ib Study of Dasatinib plus Ipilimumab. Clin Cancer Res 23:2972-2980

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