Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Tumors use indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) as a major mechanism to induce an immunosuppressive microenvironment. IDO1 expression is upregulated in many cancers and considered to be a resistance mechanism to immune checkpoint therapies. IDO1 is induced in response to inflammatory stimuli such as IFNγ and promotes immune tolerance by depleting tryptophan and producing tryptophan catabolites, including kynurenine, in the tumor microenvironment. This leads to effector T-cell anergy and enhanced Treg function through upregulation of FoxP3. As a nexus for the induction of key immunosuppressive mechanisms, IDO1 represents an important immunotherapeutic target in oncology. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the novel selective, orally bioavailable IDO1 inhibitor EOS200271/PF-06840003. It reversed IDO1-induced T-cell anergy in vitro In mice carrying syngeneic tumor grafts, PF-06840003 reduced intratumoral kynurenine levels by over 80% and inhibited tumor growth both in monotherapy and, with an increased efficacy, in combination with antibodies blocking the immune checkpoint ligand PD-L1. We demonstrate that anti-PD-L1 therapy results in increased IDO1 metabolic activity thereby providing additional mechanistic rationale for combining PD-(L)1 blockade with IDO1 inhibition in cancer immunotherapies. Supported by these preclinical data and favorable predicted human pharmacokinetic properties of PF-06840003, a phase I open-label, multicenter clinical study (NCT02764151) has been initiated.

Original publication

DOI

10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-17-1104

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Cancer Ther

Publication Date

12/2018

Volume

17

Pages

2530 - 2542