Abstract 1710: DKN-01, a therapeutic DKK1 neutralizing antibody, has immune modulatory activity in nonclinical tumor models

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Vol. 78; no. 13_Supplement; p. 1710
• Main Authors: Haas, Michael, Heath, Heidi, Wu, Yinyuan, Zhang, Xinjun, Sirard, Cynthia, He, Xi, Newman, Walter, Kagey, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-07-2018
• ISSN: 0008-5472; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2018-1710

Wnt signaling is a fundamental pathway that is dysregulated in oncology. The Wnt signaling modulator DKK1 is expressed in a variety of tumor types and elevated levels frequently correlate with poor survival. DKK1 promotes tumor growth by stimulating proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, and has been implicated in contributing to an immune suppressive tumor microenvironment. DKN-01 is a humanized monoclonal therapeutic antibody that binds DKK1 with high affinity and selectivity. It is currently being evaluated clinically as a monotherapy and in combination in a variety of solid tumors. Here we describe further characterization of the mechanism of action of DKN-01 and demonstrate immune mediated anti-tumor activity in nonclinical models. A murine version of DKN-01 (mDKN-01) has efficacy in a syngeneic melanoma B16 tumor model. However, mDKN-01 is unable to impede B16 tumor growth in NSG immunodeficient mice, indicating that a functioning immune system is required for antibody activity. Furthermore, preliminary data suggest that mDKN-01 is targeting a myeloid derived suppressor cell population in the tumor microenvironment. These data support an immune mediated mechanism of action of DKN-01 and provide a rationale for clinical development in combination with immunotherapy agents. The first clinical study evaluating DKN-01 in combination with pembrolizumab has initiated enrollment in patients with relapse/refractory esophagogastric malignancies.
Citation Format: Michael Haas, Heidi Heath, Yinyuan Wu, Xinjun Zhang, Cynthia Sirard, Xi He, Walter Newman, Michael Kagey. DKN-01, a therapeutic DKK1 neutralizing antibody, has immune modulatory activity in nonclinical tumor models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1710.