Alloplex SUPLEXA cells resist immunosuppressive action of two inhibitory cytokines typically found in tumor microenvironment

Boston, MA — April 11, 2022. 

On April 12, 2022, Jim Lederer, MD, Chief Scientific Officer of Alloplex Biotherapeutics Inc. will present a Poster at the AACR 2022 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana:

  • AACR Abstract: IL-10/TGFβ
  • Abstract Control Number: 3599
  • Title: Interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-beta do not suppress tumor killing activity of PBMC-derived SUPLEXA cells
  • Poster presentation: April 12, 2022. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Alloplex’s continued evaluation of the unique mechanism and therapeutic potential of SUPLEXA has shown that IL-10 and TGFβ, both immunosuppressive cytokines, have no adverse impact on the cytolytic function of SUPLEXA cells in vitro. This observation highlights the ability of SUPLEXA to evade or minimize the inhibitory effectors within the patient’s tumor microenvironment (TME), enabling SUPLEXA to maintain tumor killing activity.

Whereas the TME is not readily amenable to replication in vitro – owing to the complex interaction of multiple cellular and soluble components – it is known that two immunosuppressive cytokines that are abundantly present (IL-10 and TGFβ typically impede anti-tumor immune responses. It is of note that IL-10 significantly enhanced the killing activity and production of IFNγ, MIP-1α, and Rantes, and that TGFβ1 suppression was modest.

“The observation that SUPLEXA cells are not inhibited by these cytokines in vitro, but rather enhanced, suggests that SUPLEXA cells are more likely to retain their antitumor activity in the TME, which increases their likelihood of inducing clinical response,” said Alloplex Biotherapeutics Inc.’s Founder & CEO, Frank Borriello, MD, PhD.


Poster conclusions

  • The manufacture of SUPLEXA cells from PBMCs generates immune effector cell types with potent and broad tumor cell killing activity.
  • Comprehensive phenotyping of SUPLEXA cells by CyTOF indicates that SUPLEXA cells are a mixture of NK cells, CD8+ T cells, CD56+ NK-like T cells, TCRγδ cells, and CD4 T cells that express high-levels of killer cell factors (granzymes and perforin) and activation markers (not shown).
  • IL-10 significantly enhanced the killing activity and production of IFNγ, MIP-1α, and Rantes by SUPLEXA cells in a dose-dependent fashion.
  • TGFβ1 modestly suppressed SUPLEXA cell mediated tumor cell killing activity and reduced IFNγ and MIP-1α production.

About Alloplex & SUPLEXA:

Alloplex Biotherapeutics is a clinic-ready company focused on developing SUPLEXA; a potential first-in-Alloplex Biotherapeutics is a clinic-ready company focused on developing SUPLEXA for the treatment of cancer patients. The privately-held company was established in 2016 by Scientific Founder and CEO, Dr. Frank Borriello, MD, PhD.

SUPLEXA is a potential first-in-class, autologous, pan cancer-cellular therapy. SUPLEXA, made from the patient’s own immune cells, and is comprised primarily of cells with known anti-tumor killing cells such as NK cells, NKT cells and T cells. SUPLEXA therapeutic cells are manufactured ex vivo over a 2-week period and administered intravenously.

The company received regulatory permission to conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial for SUPLEXA therapeutic cells earlier this year. The trial will commence shortly.

About AACR:
The AACR Annual Meeting is the focal point of the cancer research community, where scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, survivors, patients, and advocates gather to share the latest advances in cancer science and medicine. From population science and prevention; to cancer biology, translational, and clinical studies; to survivorship and advocacy; the AACR Annual Meeting highlights the work of the best minds in cancer research from institutions all over the world. https://www.aacr.org/meeting/aacr-annual-meeting-2022/