LAUSR

Interleukin-18 (IL18) is a proinflammatory cytokine that modulates both innate and adaptive immune responses. Although recombinant mIL18 has demonstrated efficacy in mouse tumor models, recombinant human IL18 has not been efficacious in clinical studies, likely due to upregulation of IL18 binding protein (IL18BP), a negative regulator of the IL18 signaling axis. IL18BP is induced 10 - 100 fold after IL18 administration, binds to IL18 with high affinity, and prevents IL18 binding to the IL18 receptor. Analysis of expression data from the TCGA database as well as archived patient samples from select indications revealed that both IL18 and IL18BP are co-expressed in a number of tumor types, suggesting there may be a preexisting pool of IL18/IL18BP complex at the site of the tumor in some patients. Inhibition of IL18/IL18BP binding using a monoclonal antibody may therefore allow release of IL18 in situ, leading to IL18-mediated proinflammatory effects and enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Although the interaction of IL18 with IL18BP is a high affinity interaction, we have been able to identify very high affinity antibodies which can both inhibit complex formation and disrupt existing mouse IL18/IL18BP complexes. These antibodies are active in a number of cell-based functional assays, resulting in potent stimulation of interferon gamma production from cell lines or splenocytes. In vivo, we observed efficacy in a mouse syngeneic tumor model using an anti-mIL18BP antibody. RNA and protein analysis demonstrated expression of both IL18BP and IL18 within the tumors. Combined, these data suggest that inhibition of IL18/IL18BP binding may prove efficacious in the treatment of cancers where existing pools of IL18/IL18BP complexes prevent an IL18-mediated proinflammatory response. Experiments exploring anti-IL18BP therapy in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 are under current investigation. Citation Format: H. Toni Jun, Deborah A. Witherden, Eric K. Elliot, Christine M. Chidester, Maggie Willen, Bryan R. Peguero, Merrick Chai, Robert A. Horlick, David J. King. Discovery and evaluation of an anti-IL18BP antibody to enhance anti-tumor immunity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1824.