Abstract
MM cells express high levels of CD38, while CD38 is expressed at relatively low levels on normal lymphoid and myeloid cells, and in some non-hematopoietic tissues. This expression profile, together with the role of CD38 in adhesion and as ectoenzyme, resulted in the development of CD38 antibodies for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). At this moment several CD38 antibodies are at different phases of clinical testing, with daratumumab already approved for various indications both as monotherapy and in combination with standards of care in MM. CD38 antibodies have Fc-dependent immune effector mechanisms, such as complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). Inhibition of ectoenzymatic function and direct apoptosis induction may also contribute to the efficacy of the antibodies to kill MM cells. The CD38 antibodies also improve host-anti-tumor immunity by the elimination of regulatory T cells, regulatory B cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Mechanisms of primary and/or acquired resistance include tumor-related factors, such as reduced cell surface expression levels of the target antigen and high levels of complement inhibitors (CD55 and CD59). Differences in frequency or activity of effector cells may also contribute to differences in outcome. Furthermore, the microenvironment protects MM cells to CD38 antibody-induced ADCC by upregulation of anti-apoptotic molecules, such as survivin. Improved understanding of modes of action and mechanisms of resistance has resulted in rationally designed CD38-based combination therapies, which will contribute to further improvement in outcome of MM patients.
Introduction
CD38 was discovered in 1980 by E.L Reinherz and S. Schlossman, and is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein. CD38 plays a role in regulation of migration, receptor-mediated adhesion by interaction with CD31 or hyaluronic acid, and signaling events (1–3). Furthermore, CD38 also has ectoenzymatic activity and is involved in the generation of nucleotide metabolites, which play a role in the control of intracellular calcium stores (4). Under normal conditions, CD38 is expressed at relatively low levels on myeloid and lymphoid cells and in some non-hematopoietic tissues (1). In contrast, normal plasma cells and multiple myeloma (MM) cells have high levels of CD38 expression, which makes CD38 an interesting target for therapeutic antibodies targeting cell surface molecules in MM.
Currently, daratumumab (fully human; Janssen Pharmaceuticals) is the first CD38-targeting antibody, which is approved as single agent and in combination with several standards of care in MM (4). Additional CD38 antibodies that are under clinical evaluation include isatuximab (chimeric; Sanofi), MOR202 (fully human; Morphosys), and TAK-079 (fully human; Takeda) (5). CD38 antibodies are not only evaluated in relapsed/refractory MM, but also in patients with newly diagnosed MM (6). Furthermore, various preclinical studies, case reports, and clinical trials have already demonstrated promising results of CD38 antibodies in other malignancies such NK/T cell lymphoma, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis (7–11).
Although, immunotherapy with CD38-targeting antibodies is an attractive approach because of a favorable toxicity profile and high activity of CD38 antibodies alone or in combination with standards of care, there is substantial heterogeneity in quality and duration of response among patients. In this review, we will first describe the different modes of action of CD38 antibodies: Fc-dependent immune effector mechanisms, direct effects, and immunomodulatory effects. This is followed by a discussion of several host- and tumor-related factors that influence daratumumab efficacy. We will also discuss which mechanisms contribute to the development of acquired resistance to CD38 antibodies. An increased understanding of mechanisms underlying variability in sensitivity or acquired resistance to CD38-targeting antibodies, may lead to new strategies to improve the effectiveness of CD38 antibody-based treatment. Our review will not discuss all details of the clinical studies which evaluated CD38 antibodies, and for this topic we refer to several excellent and recently published reviews (5, 12–14).
Mechanism of action of CD38-targeting antibodies
Classic FC-dependent immune effector mechanisms
CD38 antibodies kill tumor cells via Fc-dependent immune effector mechanisms including complement-dependent cytoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), and apoptosis upon secondary cross-linking (4, 5, 15). ADCC, ADCP, and crosslinking, are dependent on the interaction of the Fc region of the antibody with Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) expressed on immune effector cells. Importantly, the CD38-targeting antibodies differ with respect to their potency to induce CDC, ADCC, ADCP, or apoptosis upon secondary cross-linking (16). This may be explained in part by unique epitopes of the different CD38 antibodies.
ADCC
Therapeutic antibody-mediated ADCC results in lysis of antibody-coated tumor cells by effector cells. NK-cells play a critical role in ADCC mediated by therapeutic antibodies. Indeed, depletion of NK-cells markedly reduced the capacity of daratumumab to kill MM cells via ADCC (17). Upon the binding of FcγRs to the Fc tail of the CD38-targeting antibody, NK-cells release toxic proteins including granzymes and perforins, which will kill the target cells (18). In addition, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, and γδ T-cells have also been shown to induce ADCC against tumor cells coated with a therapeutic antibody (19, 20), but their role in CD38 antibody-induced ADCC is currently unknown and requires further investigations.
ADCP
In the process of ADCP, phagocytosis of antibody-opsonized tumor cells occurs via binding of FcγRs (such as FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIA), which are present on monocytes and macrophages. Phagocytosis contributes to the anti-tumor activity of CD38-targeting antibodies (16, 21). Interestingly, individual macrophages have the ability to quickly and sequentially engulf multiple daratumumab-coated tumor cells, indicating that ADCP is an efficient killing mechanism of daratumumab (21).
Uptake of antibody-opsonized cancer cells by antigen-presenting cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells may also lead to enhanced antigen presentation, which may contribute to the development of tumor antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immune responses (22, 23). This has been demonstrated for several therapeutic antibodies (24), but additional investigations are required to analyze to what extent FcγR-mediated enhancement of antigen presentation contributes to the anti-MM activity of CD38-targeting antibodies.
CDC
Binding of C1q to the Fc tail of the therapeutic antibody initiates the complement cascade, ultimately resulting in the generation of the membrane attack complex (MAC) and subsequently permeabilization of the cell membrane (25, 26). Deposition of complement components, such as C3b, on the surface of the target cell, is also the consequence of complement activation. These deposited complement components interact with complement receptors on phagocytic cells resulting in the engulfment of the tumor cells. In addition, complement activation also leads to generation of C3a and C5a. C5a increases expression of activating FcγRs, while at the same time reducing inhibitory FcγRs, which leads to enhanced phagocytosis capacity of effector cells. C3a and C5a also recruit immune cells to the tumor. Altogether, this indicates that there may be synergy between complement and the FcγR system in eliminating tumor cells (27, 28).
Daratumumab is the most effective inducer of CDC of all currently available CD38 antibodies (4). Indeed, daratumumab was selected from a panel of 42 antibodies based on its ability to strongly induce CDC (29).
Direct effects
In an antibody screen, isatuximab was selected for further evaluation based on its ability to directly trigger MM cell death in the absence of cross-linking agents and independently of effector cells, even in cells harboring p53 mutations (30, 31). These direct effects are independent of Fc fragment binding to Fc receptors (30). Isatuximab-mediated MM cell death is mediated by the classical caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway, as well as the lysosomal cell death pathway, which is characterized by lysosomal enlargement, lysosomal membrane permeabilization, and cathepsin hydrolase release (30). Isatuximab induces reactive oxygen species production, which occurs downstream of lysosomal activation and contributes to MM cell death (30). Daratumumab and MOR202 lack the ability to directly induce MM cell death (16). In addition, CD38 antibodies also modulate the enzymatic activity of CD38, which may contribute to MM cell death (4, 16).
It is currently unknown whether CD38 antibodies also modulate the activity of key signal transduction pathways that regulate growth and survival, as has been described for other therapeutic antibodies, such as rituximab (32). A better understanding of these potential effects, may lead to improved CD38 antibody-based combinations.
Immunomodulatory effects
Next to the classic Fc-dependent mechanisms of action, daratumumab has also immunomodulatory effects via the elimination of CD38-positive immune suppressor cells, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), regulatory B cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (4, 33, 34). The depletion of these suppressor cells in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment explains the increase in T-cell numbers, T-cell clonality, as well as T-cell activity following the initiation of daratumumab treatment (33, 35). Furthermore, T-cells also contain higher levels of granzyme B after exposure to daratumumab, which indicates that they have improved killing capacity (36, 37). Altogether, this suggests that daratumumab treatment leads to an improved host-anti-tumor immune response, which may be important for sustained disease control (33, 34).
Laboratory experiments showed that isatuximab also has immunomodulatory activity, but at this moment no data are available from isatuximab-treated patients. Isatuximab inhibits the suppressive function of Tregs by reducing their numbers, decreasing immune inhibitory cytokine production including IL-10, and blocking their trafficking. This results in improved NK- and T-cell-mediated anti-tumor immune responses (38).
Interestingly, exhausted T-cells not only express high levels of well-known inhibitory receptors, such as PD-1, but also CD38 (39, 40). Recent findings suggest that the NADase activity of CD38 also contributes to the development of T-cell exhaustion via reducing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels in T-cells, resulting in decreased Sirt1/Foxo1 activity (40). Indeed, elevated levels of NAD+ in T-cells are required for an optimal anti-tumor T-cell immune response (40). Importantly, CD38 inhibition on T-cells by anti-CD38 antibodies improved anti-tumor activity in mouse models by increasing NAD+ levels (40).
Mechanisms of resistance
In a pooled analysis of 148 patients who received daratumumab treatment as single agent at a dose of 16 mg/kg in the first in human phase 1/2 GEN501 study (41) or in the Sirius study (42), at least partial response (PR) was achieved in 31% of the patients including at least very good partial response (VGPR) in 13.5% and complete response (CR) in 4.7% (43). These patients were heavily pretreated with a median of five prior lines of therapy with 86% double-refractory to a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) (43). The median duration of response was 7.6 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) were 4.0 and 20.1 months, respectively. This indicates that daratumumab induces durable responses in heavily pretreated patients. However, the majority of the responding patients develop progressive disease during daratumumab monotherapy. In addition, more than half of the patients does not respond to single agent daratumumab. Importantly, the other CD38-targeting antibodies, isatuximab and MOR202, induce similar response rates with similar response duration, when compared to daratumumab in a heavily pretreated patient population (44–46).
To improve these results, various CD38-based combinations were evaluated. Preclinical studies showed enhanced anti-MM activity when IMiDs or proteasome inhibitors were added to CD38-targeting antibodies (17, 47). IMiDs improve CD38 antibody-mediated ADCC, ADCP, direct effects, as well-immunomodulatory activity (additional details are given below) (17, 30, 36, 48). It is currently less clear why proteasome inhibitors combine well with CD38 antibodies, but this is probably related to the pleiotropic effects of proteasome inhibitors on both the MM cells and the tumor microenvironment (49). Based on these preclinical data, CD38 antibodies were combined with several standards of care for the treatment of relapsed/refractory MM patients. Adding daratumumab to lenalidomide-dexamethasone (DRd) or bortezomib-dexamethasone (DVd), led to significant improvements in clinical outcome: higher response rate, higher frequency of minimal-residual disease negativity, and improved PFS (50, 51). Based on these results, DRd and DVd were approved by both FDA and EMA for the treatment of MM patients with at least one prior line of therapy (4). The FDA also approved daratumumab in combination with pomalidomide-dexamethasone (DPd), while in Europe the results of the phase 3 APOLLO study (DPd vs. pomalidomide-dexamethasone) are required for approval of this combination. Isatuximab and MOR202 can also be effectively combined with IMiDs and proteasome inhibitors (44, 52–54).
In the following section, we will describe what is currently known about mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to CD38-targeting antibodies. At this time, the majority of information about modes of resistance is derived from preclinical and clinical studies which evaluated daratumumab.
Effect of prior treatment
Daratumumab as monotherapy was tested in heavily pretreated MM patients (43), but not in untreated newly diagnosed MM patients. However, laboratory studies performed with BM aspirates from MM patients, containing tumor cells and autologous effector cells, showed that the efficacy of daratumumab to induce CDC or ADCC was very heterogeneous, but without a significant difference in ADCC or CDC between samples from patients with newly diagnosed MM or relapsed/refractory disease (55). Also, in the subgroup of patients with lenalidomide- and bortezomib- (double) refractory MM, the activity of daratumumab was comparable to that observed in samples obtained from newly diagnosed patients or relapsed/refractory patients with less prior treatments (55). Data generated from these preclinical studies indicates that resistance to steroids, anthracyclins, alkylators, IMiDs, and proteasome inhibitors is not associated with reduced sensitivity to ADCC and CDC mediated by daratumumab (55).
Daratumumab is also being evaluated in patients with intermediate-risk and high-risk smoldering MM (SMM) (56). In these patients with a premalignant asymptomatic precursor disease at high risk of progression to symptomatic disease, daratumumab was evaluated in three different treatment schedules: short (16 mg/kg; one 8-weeks cycle with daratumumab administered once weekly), intermediate (16 mg/kg, one 8-weeks cycle with daratumumab administered once weekly, followed by daratumumab once every 8 weeks during cycle 2–20), and long (16 mg/kg, one 8-weeks cycle with daratumumab once weekly, then eight infusions every 2 weeks, followed by eight infusions every 4 weeks, and then infusions every 8 weeks during cycle 8–20) (56). At least PR was achieved in 38%, 54%, and 56% and at least VGPR in 15%, 24%, and 29% in the short, intermediate, and long treatment schedules, respectively. This is a higher response rate when compared to the efficacy of daratumumab in highly pretreated MM. Possible explanations for a better response in SMM include increased genetic instability from SMM to MM, altered interactions with the BM microenvironment during disease progression, and impairment of the host immune system during evolution from SMM to MM.
Interestingly, it was recently demonstrated that reintroduction of a previously failed IMiD in daratumumab-refractory patients while continuing daratumumab as a backbone, can be active in heavily pretreated MM patients (57). Similarly, the combination of pomalidomide-dexamethasone and daratumumab induces a 33% response rate in patients previously demonstrated to be refractory to both pomalidomide and daratumumab (58). In addition, 52% of heavily-pretreated lenalidomide-refractory MM patients achieve at least PR with the combination of isatuximab plus lenalidomide-dexamethasone, which is higher than what would be expected with isatuximab as a single agent (52). Altogether, this suggests that the synergistic effects between IMiDs and daratumumab, such as enhanced NK-cell and T-cell activity, potentially overcome refractoriness to both anti-MM agents.
Cytogenetic abnormalities
The presence of high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities, such as del(17p), t(4;14) and t(14;16) is associated with a impaired survival of MM patients. High-risk MM patients benefit from CD38 antibodies, but the poor risk cytogenetic abnormalities still have a negative impact on clinical outcome in patients treated with CD38-targeting antibodies.
Twenty percent of high-risk patients achieved at least PR in the SIRIUS study (daratumumab monotherapy), while this was 29.4% for standard-risk patients (42). Interestingly, deep sustained response with daratumumab monotherapy in a high-risk patient was associated with profound reduction in Treg frequency and T-cell expansion (59).
In the randomized phase 3 POLLUX and CASTOR studies, the addition of daratumumab to Rd or Vd markedly improved the outcome of high-risk patients, when compared to Rd or Vd only. However, poor-risk conferred by the presence of del(17p), t(4;14), or t(14;16) was not completely abrogated by adding daratumumab (60). Although overall response rates with the DPd combination were similar for MM patients with standard or high-risk disease, the median PFS was inferior in high-risk patients, when compared to standard risk patients (3.9 vs. 10.3 months), while OS was similar in both groups (61). Also high-risk patients treated with isatuximab plus lenalidomide-dexamethasone or isatuximab plus pomalidomide-dexamethasone had a lower response rate, when compared to standard-risk patients (52, 62).
It is likely that other tumor-related factors, such as mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, and activation status of signaling pathways also contribute to the variability in response to therapy with CD38 antibodies, but this requires further investigation. A better understanding of the role of molecular and biochemical mechanisms of resistance may also contribute to new combination treatments that overcome resistance.
CD38 target antigen
CD38 and primary resistance
Extent of daratumumab-associated ADCC and CDC is associated with expression levels of CD38 on the cell surface (55). Indeed, CD38-overexpressing clones were more susceptible toward ADCC and CDC, when compared to the non-transduced parental cell lines (55). There is also marked heterogeneity in intensity of CD38 expression on primary MM cells without a difference between MM cells from newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory patients (55). Similar to the observations with cell lines, daratumumab-mediated ADCC and CDC was less effective against MM cells with low CD38 expression (55).
To further understand the heterogeneity in response, we analyzed CD38 cell surface expression levels in 102 patients, who received 16 mg/kg daratumumab as monotherapy in the GEN501 and Sirius studies to analyze the impact of CD38 expression levels on response. In this analysis, MM patients who achieved at least PR had higher baseline CD38 expression levels, when compared to patients who achieved less than PR (63). Because of the substantial overlap in CD38 expression levels between responders and non-responders, selecting patients based on CD38 expression alone does not seem warranted.
Since CD38 expression is a key determinant of susceptibility of MM cells to daratumumab-mediated ADCC and CDC, as well as clinical response, several groups are evaluating agents that increase CD38 protein levels to improve the efficacy of daratumumab. Binding of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) to the retinoic acid receptor affects gene expression, which includes increased expression of CD38 (64, 65). This can be explained by the presence of a retinoic acid-responsive element in the first intron of the CD38 gene (66). Interestingly, ATRA also increased CD38 expression levels on MM cell lines and primary MM cells without having an effect on MM cell viability (55). ATRA-induced CD38 upregulation markedly enhanced daratumumb-mediated ADCC and CDC against MM cells. Furthermore, ATRA increased the activity of daratumumab in MM cells, which were resistant to daratumumab in the absence of other drugs (55). Also in a humanized mouse model, ATRA and daratumumab showed synergistic anti-MM activity (55). A clinical study is currently evaluating the value of adding ATRA to daratumumab-refractory patients. Furthermore, the histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat induces epigenetic modifications that lead to enhanced expression of CD38 (67). The increase in CD38 antigen density by panobinostat resulted in improved daratumumab-mediated ADCC (67).
CD38 and acquired resistance
There is a rapid decrease in CD38 expression levels on the MM cell surface during daratumumab-treatment (63, 68). Directly following the first datatumumab infusion an ~90% reduction in CD38 expression levels is noticed on non-depleted MM cells (68). A similar CD38 reduction is observed at the time of progression during daratumumab therapy. The reduction in CD38 cell surface expression is a transient phenomenon, because CD38 levels are restored to baseline levels on the MM cells ~6 months after the last daratumumab infusion (63). Daratumumab-mediated CD38 reduction is a general phenomenon, which is also observed on non-tumor cells, such as normal B-cells, T-cells, NK-cells and monocytes (68). Daratumumab reduces CD38 on the cell surface by several mechanisms. First, in responding patients daratumumab may select for MM cells with lower CD38 expression levels, while preferentially killing the MM cells with higher levels of CD38 (68). In addition, recent studies showed that daratumumab treatment results in the clustering of CD38 molecules into distinct polar aggregates, which can subsequently be released as tumor-derived microvesicles (69). Direct internalization may also contribute to loss of CD38. Finally, active transfer of CD38-daratumumab complexes and accompanying cell membrane from MM cells to monocytes and granulocytes also contributes to CD38 reduction (68). This process of trogocytosis is in part FcγR-dependent (68).
Reduced CD38 expression on non-depleted MM cells is associated with protection against ADCC and CDC (63, 68). Reduced daratumumab-mediated ADCC and CDC induced by CD38 loss was also observed in patients with persistent response (68). Interestingly, ATRA also increased CD38 expression, almost to pretreatment values, in these daratumumab-resistant MM cells, leading to improvements in daratumumab-mediated CDC and ADCC.
Importantly, the reduction in CD38 expression levels, which is associated with impaired classic Fc-dependent immune effector mechanisms, was similar in responding and non-responding patients (63). Indeed, CD38 expression is also reduced in patients with sustained high quality response, suggesting that CD38 reduction is not necessarily associated with escape from daratumumab-mediated killing, but indicates that the pressure to keep MM cells in a state of low CD38 expression, may also offer clinical benefit. Reduced CD38 expression may result in impaired adhesion to stromal cells via CD38-CD31 interactions leading to reduced growth and impaired protection against apoptosis (70). Moreover, daratumumab-mediated trogocytosis may also impair the ability of tumor cells to interact with the protective BM microenvironment by reducing expression of several other adhesion molecules (such as CD49d, CD56, and CD138) on MM cells (68). In addition, daratumumab-mediated reduction of CD38 on MM cells may also result in reduced generation of immunosuppressive adenosine molecules (71), and thereby an improved host-anti-tumor immune response (72–74).
Soluble CD38 and anti-drug antibodies
Soluble CD38 may neutralize CD38-targeting antibodies and thereby have an impact on pharmacokinetic profile and response. In the GEN501 and Sirius daratumumab monotherapy studies, soluble CD38 was found in only 2 out of 110 patients (63). Both patients achieved a PR with daratumumab treatment. To the best of our knowledge, impact of soluble CD38 levels on clinical outcome was not reported in the studies with MOR202 and isatuxumab (5).
In a similar way, development of anti-drug antibodies may lead to impaired activity of CD38 antibodies. Up till now, anti-daratumumab or anti-isatuximab antibodies have not been detected (41, 42, 50, 75), while development of anti-drug antibodies is a rare event with MOR202 (76).
CDC resistance
Several fluid phase regulators, as well as membrane-associated complement-inhibitory proteins, such as CD46, CD55 and CD59, protect healthy tissues against accidental complement attack. These complement inhibitors have also been shown to confer protection of tumor cells against several therapeutic antibodies (77–79).
In an analysis of 23 MM and lymphoma cell lines, daratumumab-sensitive cell lines had lower CD59 and CD55 expression, when compared to CDC-resistant cell lines (63). No difference was found for CD46 (63). Removal of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored CD55 and CD59 molecules from the cell surface with phospholipase-C, rendered cell lines more sensitive to daratumumab-mediated CDC. In contrast, expression levels of these complement inhibitors were not associated with extent of complement-mediated lysis of primary MM cells by daratumumab (63). Similarly, in the GEN501 and Sirius studies (MM patients treated with 16 mg/kg daratumumab as single agent), there were no differences in pretreatment expression levels of CD46, CD55 and CD59 between responding and non-responding patients (63). However, at the time of progression during daratumumab therapy, a marked increase in CD55 and CD59 was observed on both MM cells localized in the BM, as well as on circulating MM cells (63). Interestingly, in some MM tumors there are coexisting subpopulations of tumor cells with markedly different levels of CD55 and CD59 expression. During daratumumab therapy, the selective pressure resulted in selection of daratumumab-resistant MM cells with high expression of complement-inhibitory proteins (63).
ATRA improved CDC to a higher extent than ADCC, which was explained by the reduction of CD55 and CD59 by ATRA, next to its effect on CD38 expression (55). Importantly, ATRA also reduces CD55 and CD59 expression levels in MM cells obtained from patients with daratumumab-refractory disease, which together with CD38 upregulation, leads to improved daratumumab-mediated CDC (63). Although the histone deacetylase inhibitor, panobinostat, induces a marked increase in CD38 expression on MM cells, CDC was not enhanced, probably as a result of a concomitant increase in CD55 and CD59 expression (67).
ADCC resistance
NK-cells
In experiments with patients' samples, daratumumab-mediated ADCC was superior in samples with a high NK-cell to MM cell ratio, when compared to samples with a low ratio (55, 80–83). Similar associations were found between efficacy of daratumumab to kill primary MM cells and frequency of activated NK-cells defined as CD3−/CD56+/CD16+ (55).
This indicates that agents that have the ability to induce NK-cell activation may enhance daratumumab-mediated ADCC. Indeed, IMiDs, such as lenalidomide and pomalidomide, induce NK-cell activation and synergize with daratumumab in ADCC assays (17, 47, 84). In preclinical experiments, IMiDs also improve daratumumab-mediated ADCC in case of lenalidomide-refractory MM cells, indicating that the immune system of these patients is still able to respond to the immunomodulatory effects of IMiDs (17). Similarly, lenalidomide also increases anti-MM activity of CD38-targeting antibodies in patients with lenalidomide-refractory MM (52). Blocking the three main inhibitory KIR receptors (KIR2DL1/2/3) on NK cells with the IPH2102 antibody also leads to improved NK-cell activity against tumor cells (85, 86). This monoclonal antibody also enhances the efficacy of daratumumab-induced, NK-cell-mediated ADCC via the modulation of KIR-inhibitory signaling (87). Interestingly, KIR and HLA genotypes have an impact on the clinical outcome of MM patients receiving treatment with isatuximab plus lenalidomide-dexamethasone (88).
ADCC requires activation of FcγRs, which are present on the cell surface of NK-cells. Allelic variants of FcγRs with different functionality are implicated in differential response to antibody-based therapy in lymphomas and solid tumors (89–91). The FcγRIIA-131H or FcγRIIIA-158V polymorphisms are associated with a higher affinity for IgG, when compared to their allelic counterparts (92, 93). In addition, the FcγRIIB-232T polymorphism is not able to associate with lipid rafts and thereby markedly weaker in its negative regulatory activity (93). In patients treated with daratumumab monotherapy, FcγRIIIA and FcγRIIB variants have a modest impact on response and PFS, but have no significant effect on OS (94).
Although daratumumab-mediated ADCC is enhanced by agents that increase NK-cell activity, CD38 is highly expressed on NK-cells, which explains their rapid reduction in peripheral blood and BM after infusion of daratumumab (95). This reduction in NK-cells may impair tumor cell killing (95, 96). The rapid NK-cell depletion occurs due to daratumumab-mediated NK-cell fratricide via ADCC (NK-mediated cytotoxicity against neighboring NK-cells) (96). As expected, the residual NK-cells have low CD38 cell surface expression levels (68, 96). NK-cell numbers increase again 3–6 months after the last daratumumab infusion (95). Importantly, responding and non-responding patients experience similar reductions in NK-cell frequencies. The multiple mechanisms of action of daratumumab may explain the lack of association between extent of NK-cell depletion and efficacy of treatment. In addition, no relationship was observed between PFS or occurrence of side effects including infections and maximum reduction in NK-cells (95). Outcome following daratumumab therapy may be enhanced by administration of ex vivo expanded NK-cells (96). In addition, pretreatment of expanded NK-cells with F(ab)2 fragments of daratumumab to avoid NK-cell fratricide may represent an alternative approach to improve daratumumab-mediated ADCC in patients. However, feasibility and efficacy of this approach should be assessed in clinical trials. At this moment there is no clinical data on NK-cell frequencies available from patients treated with isatuximab or MOR202, but in ex vivo assays isatuximab and, to a lesser extent, MOR202, also reduce NK-cell numbers (95).
Bone marrow stromal cells
It is well-known that stromal cells protect MM cells against various anti-MM drugs, such as dexamethasone, doxorubicin, melphalan, lenalidomide, and bortezomib, via soluble factors or cell adhesion (97–100). It was recently shown that stromal cells also confer protection of MM cells against daratumumab-induced ADCC (101). This protection was not mediated via alteration of target expression levels or suppression of NK cell activity, but possibly via upregulation of anti-apoptotic molecules, such as survivin and Mcl-1 (101).
ADCP resistance
Similar to CDC and ADCC, capacity of daratumumab to induce phagocytosis is in part dependent on CD38 expression levels (21). Furthermore, in ex vivo experiments a high monocyte-MM cell ratio resulted in improved killing of MM cells (55). Similar to ADCC, ADCP also requires activation of the FcγR. As described in the previous section, FcγR polymorphisms have a modest impact on efficacy of CD38 antibodies to eliminate tumor cells (94). Interestingly, it was recently shown that CD47 on MM cells inhibits phagocytosis induced by CD38 antibodies via ligation to SIPRα, which is expressed on phagocytes (102). Blockade of CD47-SIPRα “don't eat me” signaling may therefore increase the clinical activity of CD38 antibodies. In addition, low-dose cyclophosphamide potentiates daratumumab-mediated ADCP via enhancing FcγR expression levels on macrophages and reducing CD47 levels on tumor cells (103, 104). IMiDs also enhance the tumoricidal activity of macrophages and promote ADCP (48). Other possible determinants of ADCP efficiency of CD38 antibodies include target cell size and shape (105, 106).
Resistance to direct effects
Extent of isatuximb-mediated direct anti-MM activity is in part dependent on CD38 target expression levels. Indeed, CD38-overexpressing cell lines were more sensitive to the direct cytotoxic effects of isatuximab, when compared to the parental cell lines (30). IMiDs enhance the direct apoptotic effects of isatuximab (30). In this respect, pomalidomide was more potently enhancing direct cytotoxic effects than lenalidomide (30).
Acquired mechanisms of resistance to these direct effects, such as altered activity of signal transduction pathways, are currently unknown, and require further investigations.
Resistance to immunomodulatory activity
In patients treated with daratumumab as single agent, the frequency of activated T-cells declines when patients experienced relapse (33). Future studies are needed to evaluate why the number of activated T-cells is reduced at the time of relapse. In addition, single-cell RNA sequencing in patients treated with daratumumab plus IMiD revealed that responding patients are characterized by higher CD28 expression on T cells, a significantly larger cluster of central memory T cells, and a M1 activated macrophage signature, when compared to resistant or progressing patients (107).
It is currently unknown whether tumor-associated factors, such as mutations in the antigen processing and presentation pathways, loss of neoantigen expression, or insensitivity to T-cell effector molecules are associated with primary or acquired resistance to CD38-targeting antibodies (108).
Compensatory upregulation of multiple inhibitory immune checkpoints, which is implicated in the resistance to programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) or programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, may also contribute to development of resistance to the immunomodulatory activities of CD38 antibodies (108, 109). Indeed, preclinical data suggest that immunomodulatory activity of CD38 antibodies can be enhanced by combining a CD38 antibody with a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor. For example, in MM, lung cancer, and colon adenocarcinoma mouse models targeting the CD38 and PD-1 pathway with the combination of a CD38 antibody and PD-1 antibody resulted in enhanced anti-tumor activity, when compared to targeting either pathway alone (110). This was accompanied by increased T-cell infiltration and T-cell activation in the tumors with combined anti-CD38 and anti-PD-1 treatment (110). In addition, another group showed that CD38 expression is increased following therapy with a PD-L1 inhibitor in a lung cancer mouse model, which was associated with impaired CD8+ T-cell function (111). This suggests that increased CD38 expression is a novel resistance mechanism to PD-1/PD-L1 antibody treatment. As expected, enhanced antitumor activity was observed when a CD38 antibody was combined with a PD-L1 inhibitor in this lung cancer mouse model (111).
Based on these preclinical studies, various clinical trials are evaluating whether the anti-MM activity of CD38 antibodies can be enhanced by immuno-oncology combinations with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors (5). Furthermore, this antibody combination is also tested in other tumors irrespective of expression of CD38 on the tumor cells (5).
Furthermore, IMiDs not only enhance ADCC and ADCP, but also increase CD38 expression levels on Tregs, which leads to enhanced isatuximab-induced inhibition of Tregs in the presence of IMiDs (38). This indicates that IMiDS also enhance the immunomodulatory activity of CD38 antibodies.
Conclusions and future prospects
CD38-targeting antibodies utilize multiple effector mechanisms including classic Fc-dependent immune effector mechanisms, but also the recently discovered immunomodulatory mode of action contributes to anti-tumor activity. These pleiotropic mechanisms of action explain the high activity of the CD38 antibodies as single agent in heavily pretreated MM patients.
The efficacy of CD38-targeting antibody therapy can be improved by adding a partner drug with a different mode of action. Indeed, addition of an IMiD or proteasome inhibitor to a CD38 antibody leads to markedly improved outcome. Further improvement may be achieved by addition of an agent that has the ability to enhance complement activation, NK-cell-mediated ADCC, macrophage-mediated ADCP and/or host-anti-tumor T-cell immunity. Indeed, a better understanding of mechanisms that contribute to innate and acquired resistance has already resulted in the rational design of several new combinations with daratumumab, which are currently evaluated in clinical trials (Figure 1).
Figure 1
At the moment of development of resistance to a CD38 antibody-based treatment, an alternative treatment regimen can be selected based on several patient- and tumor-related factors, such as type of prior therapies, presence of comorbidities, and aggressiveness of relapse (112, 113). Alternatively, patients that develop resistance to a CD38 antibody may benefit from adding another drug, such as ATRA, that reverses resistance to CD38 antibodies. Several trials are currently evaluating such agents in patients who developed CD38 antibody-refractory disease (Figure 1). Another approach is to switch to a different CD38 antibody with different mode of action in case of refractoriness to CD38 antibody treatment. However, although functional differences exist between the CD38-targeting antibodies (16), it is currently unclear whether resistance to one CD38-targeting antibody confers resistance to all CD38 antibodies. A phase 1 trial is currently evaluating the value of isatuximab in daratumumab-refractory patients (NCT02514668). Alternatively, resistance to CD38 antibody-based therapy may also be reversed by adding a synergistic partner drug or changing the partner drug, while continuing the CD38 antibody (57).
Development of next generation CD38 antibodies with optimized CDC or ADCC capacity, by using new antibody engineering techniques, may also lead to more effective CD38-targeting antibodies. For example, the ability of the antibody to activate complement can be enhanced by generating targeted single amino acid changes in the Fc region of the antibody, which allows for hexamer formation upon binding to antigens on a cell (25, 26, 114). In addition, Fc glycosylation (glycoengineering) improves the affinity of the antibody for FcγRs. Indeed, the glycoengineered Fc portion of obinutuzumab enhances the binding affinity to FcγRIIIA, leading to enhanced ADCC and ADCP (115). Furthermore, bispecific antibodies that simultaneously bind to two distinct targets (epitopes on two distinct proteins or two epitopes on a single protein) may offer therapeutic benefit. In this respect, a CD38xCD3 bispecific antibody has been shown to stimulate T-cell-mediated killing of MM cells (116). Moreover, a CD38xCD59 bispecific antibody may have increased CDC activity by simultaneously targeting CD38 and neutralizing CD59 (117).
In conclusion, an increased understanding of host- and tumor-related features that underlie differential therapeutic efficacy and contribute to resistance toward CD38 antibodies, may lead to further optimization and individualization of treatment and a better outcome for MM patients.
Statements
Author contributions
All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Victor Muñoz Sanz (Sanz Serif Research + Design Agency) for creating Figure 1.
Conflict of interest
NvdD has received research support from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, AMGEN, Celgene, Novartis, and BMS, and serves in advisory boards for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, AMGEN, Celgene, BMS, Novartis, Bayer, Takeda, and Servier. SU reports consulting for Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, Takeda, Sanofi, and SkylineDx; speaker's fees for Amgen, Celgene, Janssen, and Takeda; and research funding from Amgen, Array Biopharma, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, Pharmacyclics, Sanofi, and Takeda. The Handling Editor declared a past co-authorship with one of the authors, NvdD.
References
1.
DeaglioSMehtaKMalavasiF. Human CD38: a (r)evolutionary story of enzymes and receptors. Leuk Res. (2001) 25:1–12. 10.1016/S0145-2126(00)00093-X
2.
DeaglioSVaisittiTBillingtonRBerguiLOmede'PGenazzaniAAet al. CD38/CD19: a lipid raft-dependent signaling complex in human B cells. Blood (2007) 109:5390–8. 10.1182/blood-2006-12-061812
3.
MalavasiFDeaglioSFunaroAFerreroEHorensteinALOrtolanEet al. Evolution and function of the ADP ribosyl cyclase/CD38 gene family in physiology and pathology. Physiol Rev. (2008) 88:841–86. 10.1152/physrev.00035.2007
4.
vande Donk NWJanmaatMLMutisTLammertsvan Bueren JJAhmadiTSasserAKet al. Monoclonal antibodies targeting CD38 in hematological malignancies and beyond. Immunol Rev. (2016) 270:95–112. 10.1111/imr.12389
5.
vande Donk NRichardsonPGMalavasiF. CD38 antibodies in multiple myeloma: back to the future. Blood (2018) 131:13–29. 10.1182/blood-2017-06-740944
6.
MateosMVDimopoulosMACavoMSuzukiKJakubowiakAKnopSet al. Daratumumab plus Bortezomib, Melphalan, and Prednisone for Untreated Myeloma. N Engl J Med. (2018) 378:518–28. 10.1056/NEJMoa1714678
7.
MustafaNNeeHLeeXJinWYuYChenY. Daratumumab efficiently targets NK/T cell lymphoma with high CD38 expression. Blood (2017)130:2814.
8.
BrideKLVincentTLImSYAplencRBarrettDMCarrollWLet al. Preclinical efficacy of daratumumab in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood (2018) 131:995–9. 10.1182/blood-2017-07-794214
9.
KaufmanGPSchrierSLLafayetteRAAraiSWittelesRMLiedtkeM. Daratumumab yields rapid and deep hematologic responses in patients with heavily pretreated AL amyloidosis. Blood (2017) 130:900–902. 10.1182/blood-2017-01-763599
10.
SherTFentonBAkhtarAGertzMA. First report of safety and efficacy of daratumumab in 2 cases of advanced immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis. Blood (2016) 128:1987–9. 10.1182/blood-2016-06-722496
11.
HariPRajRVOlteanuH. Targeting CD38 in refractory extranodal natural killer cell-T-cell lymphoma. N Engl J Med. (2016) 375:1501–2. 10.1056/NEJMc1605684
12.
vande Donk NWMoreauPPlesnerTPalumboAGayFLaubachJPet al. Clinical efficacy and management of monoclonal antibodies targeting CD38 and SLAMF7 in multiple myeloma. Blood (2016) 127:681–95. 10.1182/blood-2015-10-646810
13.
PlesnerTKrejcikJ. Daratumumab for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Front Immunol. (2018) 9:1228. 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01228
14.
ZamagniETacchettiPPantaniLCavoM. Anti-CD38 and anti-SLAMF7: the future of myeloma immunotherapy. Exp Rev Hematol. (2018) 11:423–35. 10.1080/17474086.2018.1456331
15.
OverdijkMBJansenJHNederendMLammertsvan Bueren JJGroenRWParrenPWet al. The Therapeutic CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab induces programmed cell death via fcgamma receptor-mediated cross-linking. J Immunol. (2016) 197:807–13. 10.4049/jimmunol.1501351
16.
Lammertsvan Bueren JJakobsDKaldenhovenNRozaMHiddinghSMeestersJet al. Direct in vitro comparison of daratumumab with surrogate analogs of CD38 antibodies MOR03087, SAR650984 and Ab79. Blood (2014) 124:3474.
17.
NijhofISGroenRWNoortWAvanKBdeJong-Korlaar RBakkerJet al. Preclinical evidence for the therapeutic potential of CD38-targeted immuno-chemotherapy in multiple myeloma patients refractory to Lenalidomide and Bortezomib. Clin Cancer Res. (2015) 21:2802–10. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-14-1813
18.
MellorJDBrownMPIrvingHRZalcbergJRDobrovicA. A critical review of the role of Fc gamma receptor polymorphisms in the response to monoclonal antibodies in cancer. J Hematol Oncol. (2013) 6:1. 10.1186/1756-8722-6-1
19.
BrazaMSKleinBFiolGRossiJF. Gammadelta T-cell killing of primary follicular lymphoma cells is dramatically potentiated by GA101, a type II glycoengineered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. Haematologica (2011) 96:400–7. 10.3324/haematol.2010.029520
20.
YeapWHWongKLShimasakiNTeoECQuekJKYongHXet al. CD16 is indispensable for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by human monocytes. Sci Rep. (2016) 6:34310. 10.1038/srep34310
21.
OverdijkMBVerploegenSBogelsMvanEgmond MLammertsvan Bueren JJMutisTet al. Antibody-mediated phagocytosis contributes to the anti-tumor activity of the therapeutic antibody daratumumab in lymphoma and multiple myeloma. MAbs (2015) 7:311–21. 10.1080/19420862.2015.1007813
22.
vande Donk NWKampsSMutisTLokhorstHM. Monoclonal antibody-based therapy as a new treatment strategy in multiple myeloma. Leukemia (2012) 26:199–213. 10.1038/leu.2011.214
23.
RafiqKBergtoldAClynesR. Immune complex-mediated antigen presentation induces tumor immunity. J Clin Invest. (2002) 110:71–9. 10.1172/JCI0215640
24.
ParkSJiangZMortensonEDDengLRadkevich-BrownOYangXet al. The therapeutic effect of anti-HER2/neu antibody depends on both innate and adaptive immunity. Cancer Cell (2010) 18:160–70. 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.06.014
25.
TaylorRPLindorferMA. Cytotoxic mechanisms of immunotherapy: harnessing complement in the action of anti-tumor monoclonal antibodies. Semin Immunol. (2016) 28:309–16. 10.1016/j.smim.2016.03.003
26.
MelisJPStrumaneKRuulsSRBeurskensFJSchuurmanJParrenPW. Complement in therapy and disease: regulating the complement system with antibody-based therapeutics. Mol Immunol. (2015) 67:117–30. 10.1016/j.molimm.2015.01.028
27.
SchmidtREGessnerJE. Fc receptors and their interaction with complement in autoimmunity. Immunol Lett. (2005) 100:56–67. 10.1016/j.imlet.2005.06.022
28.
ShushakovaNSkokowaJSchulmanJBaumannUZwirnerJSchmidtREet al. C5a anaphylatoxin is a major regulator of activating versus inhibitory FcgammaRs in immune complex-induced lung disease. J Clin Invest. (2002) 110:1823–30. 10.1172/JCI16577
29.
deWeers MTaiYTvander Veer MSBakkerJMVinkTJacobsDCet al. Daratumumab, a novel therapeutic human CD38 monoclonal antibody, induces killing of multiple myeloma and other hematological tumors. J. Immunol. (2011) 186:1840–8. 10.4049/jimmunol.1003032
30.
JiangHAcharyaCAnGZhongMFengXWangLet al. SAR650984 directly induces multiple myeloma cell death via lysosomal-associated and apoptotic pathways, which is further enhanced by pomalidomide. Leukemia (2016) 30:399–408. 10.1038/leu.2015.240
31.
DeckertJWetzelMCBartleLMSkaletskayaAGoldmacherVSValleeFet al. SAR650984, a novel humanized CD38-targeting antibody, demonstrates potent antitumor activity in models of multiple myeloma and other CD38+ hematologic malignancies. Clin Cancer Res. (2014) 20:4574–83. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-14-0695
32.
JazirehiARHuerta-YepezSChengGBonavidaB. Rituximab (chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) inhibits the constitutive nuclear factor-{kappa}B signaling pathway in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma B-cell lines: role in sensitization to chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis. Cancer Res. (2005) 65:264–76.
33.
KrejcikJCasneufTNijhofISVerbistBBaldJPlesnerTet al. Daratumumab depletes CD38+ immune regulatory cells, promotes T-cell expansion, and skews T-cell repertoire in multiple myeloma. Blood (2016) 128:384–94. 10.1182/blood-2015-12-687749
34.
vande Donk N. Immunomodulatory effects of CD38-targeting antibodies. Immunol Lett. (2018). 199:16–22. 10.1016/j.imlet.2018.04.005
35.
ChiuCCasneufTAxelALysaghtABaldJKhokarNet al. Daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone induces clonality increase and t-cell expansion: results from a phase 3 randomized study (POLLUX). Blood (2016) 128:4531.
36.
Vande Donk NWAdamsHVanhoofGKrejcikJVander Borcht KCasneufT. Daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone results in persistent Natural Killer (NK) Cells with a distinct phenotype and expansion of effector memory T-cells in pollux, a phase 3 randomized study. Blood (2017) 130:3124.
37.
AdamsHStevenaertFKrejcikJvander Borcht KCasneufTSmetsTet al. High-Parameter Mass Cytometry (CyTOF) Evaluation of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM) Pts (Pts) treated with daratumumab supports immune modulation as a novel mechanism of action. Blood (2016) 128:4521.
38.
FengXZhangLAcharyaCAnGWenKQiuLet al. Targeting CD38 suppresses induction and function of t regulatory cells to mitigate immunosuppression in multiple myeloma. Clin Cancer Res. (2017) 23:4290–300. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-3192
39.
BengschBOhtaniTKhanOSettyMManneSO'BrienSet al. Epigenomic-guided mass cytometry profiling reveals disease-specific features of exhausted CD8 T cells. Immunity (2018) 48:1029–45.e5. 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.026
40.
ChatterjeeSDaenthanasanmakAChakrabortyPWyattMWDharPSelvamSPet al. CD38-NAD(+)axis regulates immunotherapeutic anti-tumor t cell response. Cell Metab. (2018) 27:85–100.e8. 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.10.006
41.
LokhorstHMPlesnerTLaubachJPNahiHGimsingPHanssonMet al. Targeting CD38 with Daratumumab monotherapy in multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. (2015) 373:1207–19. 10.1056/NEJMoa1506348
42.
LonialSWeissBMUsmaniSZSinghalSChariABahlisNJet al. Daratumumab monotherapy in patients with treatment-refractory multiple myeloma (SIRIUS): an open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial. Lancet (2016) 387:1551–60. 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01120-4
43.
UsmaniSZWeissBMPlesnerTBahlisNJBelchALonialSet al. Clinical efficacy of daratumumab monotherapy in patients with heavily pretreated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Blood (2016) 128:37–44. 10.1182/blood-2016-03-705210
44.
RaabMChatterjeeMGoldschmidtHAgisHBlauIEinseleHet al. A Phase I/IIa study of the CD38 antibody MOR202 alone and in combination with pomalidomide or lenalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Blood (2016) 128:1152.
45.
MartinTG IIIRichterJVijRColeCAtanackovicDZonderJ. A dose finding phase II trial of isatuximab (SAR650984, Anti-CD38 mAb) as a single agent in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Blood (2015) 126:509.
46.
RichterJMartinTGIIIVijRColeCAtanackovicDZonderJet al. Updated data from a phase II dose finding trial of single agent isatuximab (SAR650984, anti-CD38 mAb) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). J Clin Oncol. (2016) 34:abstract 8005. 10.1200/JCO.2016.34.15_suppl.8005
47.
dvan VdeWMvanKBBakkerJMWittebolSParrenPWet al. The therapeutic human CD38 antibody daratumumab improves the anti-myeloma effect of newly emerging multi-drug therapies. Blood Cancer J. (2011) 1:e41. 10.1038/bcj.2011.42
48.
BrunsHJitschinRMougiakakosDBittenbringJNoltingJButtnerMet al. Lenalidomide enhances MOR202 dependent macrophage-mediated effector functions via the vitamin d pathway. Blood (2015) 2203:abstract 2203.
49.
deHaart SJvande Donk NWMinnemaMCHuangJHAarts-RiemensTBovenschenNet al. Accessory cells of the microenvironment protect multiple myeloma from T-cell cytotoxicity through cell adhesion-mediated immune resistance. Clin Cancer Res. (2013) 19:5591–601. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-12-3676
50.
PalumboAChanan-KhanAWeiselKNookaAKMassziTBeksacMet al. Daratumumab, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone for Multiple Myeloma. N Engl J Med. (2016) 375:754–66. 10.1056/NEJMoa1606038
51.
DimopoulosMAOriolANahiHSan-MiguelJBahlisNJUsmaniSZet al. Daratumumab, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone for multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. (2016) 375:1319–31. 10.1056/NEJMoa1607751
52.
MartinTBazRBensonDMLendvaiNWolfJMunsterPet al. A phase 1b study of isatuximab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Blood (2017) 129:3294–303. 10.1182/blood-2016-09-740787
53.
ChatterjeeMRaabMGoldschmidtHAgisHBlauIEinseleHet al. A phase I/IIa study of the CD38 antibody MOR202 in combination with pomalidomide or lenalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Blood (2016) 128:1152
54.
MartinTG IIIMannisGChariAMunsterPCampanaFHuiA. Phase Ib study of isatuximab and carfilzomib in relapse and refractory multiple myeloma. Blood (2016) 128:2111.
55.
NijhofISGroenRWLokhorstHMvanKessel BBloemACvanVelzen Jet al. Upregulation of CD38 expression on multiple myeloma cells by all-trans retinoic acid improves the efficacy of daratumumab. Leukemia (2015) 29:2039–49. 10.1038/leu.2015.123
56.
HofmeisterCCChariACohenYSpencerAVoorheesPMEstellJet al. Daratumumab monotherapy for patients with intermediate or high-risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM): centaurus, a randomized, open-label, multicenter phase 2 study. Blood (2017) 130:510.
57.
GavriatopoulouMKastritisENtanasis-StathopoulosIFotiouDRoussouMMigkouMet al.The addition of IMiDs for patients with daratumumab-refractory multiple myeloma can overcome refractoriness to both agents. Blood (2018) 131:464–7. 10.1182/blood-2017-10-809293
58.
NookaAJosephNBoiseLGleasonCKaufmanJLonialS. Clinical efficacy of daratumumab, pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed, refractory myeloma patients: utility of retreatment with daratumumab among refractory patients. Blood (2016) 128:492.
59.
UsmaniSZKhanIChiuCFoureauDDruhanLJRigbyKet al. Deep sustained response to daratumumab monotherapy associated with T-cell expansion in triple refractory myeloma. Exp Hematol Oncol. (2018) 7:3. 10.1186/s40164-018-0096-7
60.
WeiselKSan-MiguelJCookGLeibaMSuzukiKKumarSet al. Efficacy of daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (DRd) or bortezomib plus dexamethasone (DVd) in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) based on cytogenetic risk status. J Clin Oncol. (2017) 35:abstract 8006. 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.8006
61.
ChariASuvannasankhaAFayJWArnulfBKaufmanJLIfthikharuddinJJet al. Daratumumab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma. Blood (2017) 130:974–81. 10.1182/blood-2017-05-785246
62.
MikhaelJKaranesCDubinFAndersonKRajeNVitseO. Final results of a phase 1B study of isatuximab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. EHA (2018) S850.
63.
NijhofISCasneufTvanKessel BvanVelzen JAxelAESyedKet al. CD38 expression and complement inhibitors affect response and resistance to daratumumab therapy in myeloma. Blood (2016) 128:959–70. 10.1182/blood-2016-03-703439
64.
MalavasiF. Editorial: CD38 and retinoids: a step toward a cure. J Leukoc Biol. (2011) 90:217–9. 10.1189/jlb.0211069
65.
DrachJMcQueenTEngelHAndreeffMRobertsonKACollinsSJet al. Retinoic acid-induced expression of CD38 antigen in myeloid cells is mediated through retinoic acid receptor-alpha. Cancer Res. (1994) 54:1746–52.
66.
KishimotoHHoshinoSOhoriMKontaniKNishinaHSuzawaMet al. Molecular mechanism of human CD38 gene expression by retinoic acid. Identification of retinoic acid response element in the first intron. J Biol Chem. (1998) 273:15429–34. 10.1074/jbc.273.25.15429
67.
Garcia-GuerreroEGogishviliTDanhofSSchrederMPallaudCPerez-SimonJAet al. Panobinostat induces CD38 upregulation and augments the antimyeloma efficacy of daratumumab. Blood (2017) 129:3386–8. 10.1182/blood-2017-03-770776
68.
KrejcikJFrerichsKANijhofISvanKessel BvanVelzen JFBloemACet al. Monocytes and granulocytes reduce CD38 expression levels on myeloma cells in patients treated with daratumumab. Clin Cancer Res. (2017) 23:7498–511. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-2027
69.
HorensteinALChillemiAQuaronaVZitoARoatoIMorandiFet al. NAD(+)-Metabolizing ectoenzymes in remodeling tumor-host interactions: the human myeloma model. Cells (2015) 4:520–37. 10.3390/cells4030520
70.
AnGJiangHAcharyaCZhongMYCaiTYangGet al. SAR 650984, a Therapeutic Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, blocks CD38-CD31 interaction in multiple myeloma. Blood (2014) 124:4729.
71.
VijayanDYoungATengMWLSmythMJ. Targeting immunosuppressive adenosine in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer (2017) 17:709–24. 10.1038/nrc.2017.86
72.
ChillemiAZaccarelloGQuaronaVFerracinMGhimentiCMassaiaMet al. Anti-CD38 antibody therapy: windows of opportunity yielded by the functional characteristics of the target molecule. Mol Med. (2018) 19:99–108. 10.2119/molmed.2013.00009
73.
MorandiFHorensteinALChillemiAQuaronaVChiesaSImperatoriAet al. CD56brightCD16- NK cells produce adenosine through a CD38-mediated pathway and act as regulatory cells inhibiting autologous CD4+ T cell proliferation. J Immunol. (2015) 195:965–72. 10.4049/jimmunol.1500591
74.
HorensteinALQuaronaVToscaniDCostaFChillemiAPistoiaVet al. Adenosine generated in the bone marrow niche through a CD38-mediated pathway correlates with progression of human myeloma. Mol Med. (2016) 22–694–704. 10.2119/molmed.2016.00198
75.
MartinTStricklandSGlennMZhengWDaskalakisNMikhaelJ. SAR650984, a CD38 monoclonal antibody in patients with selected CD38+ hematological malignancies–data from a dose-escalation phase I study. Blood (2013) 122:284.
76.
RaabMGoldschmidtHAgisHBlauIEinseleHEngelhardtM. A phase I/IIa study of the human anti-CD38 antibody MOR202 (MOR03087) in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (rrMM). J Clin Oncol. (2015) 33:abstract 8574. 10.1200/jco.2015.33.15_suppl.8574
77.
MeyerSLeusenJHBorossP. Regulation of complement and modulation of its activity in monoclonal antibody therapy of cancer. MAbs (2014) 6:1133–44. 10.4161/mabs.29670
78.
TsaiPCHernandez-IlizaliturriFJBangiaNOlejniczakSHCzuczmanMS. Regulation of CD20 in rituximab-resistant cell lines and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Clin Cancer Res. (2012) 18:1039–50. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-1429
79.
CzuczmanMSOlejniczakSGowdaAKotowskiABinderAKaurHet al. Acquirement of rituximab resistance in lymphoma cell lines is associated with both global CD20 gene and protein down-regulation regulated at the pretranscriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Clin Cancer Res. (2008) 14:1561–70. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-07-1254
80.
GeXWuLHuWFernandesSWangCLiXet al. rILYd4, a human CD59 inhibitor, enhances complement-dependent cytotoxicity of ofatumumab against rituximab-resistant B-cell lymphoma cells and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clin Cancer Res. (2011) 17:6702–11. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-0647
81.
GolayJLazzariMFacchinettiVBernasconiSBorleriGBarbuiTet al. CD20 levels determine the in vitro susceptibility to rituximab and complement of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: further regulation by CD55 and CD59. Blood (2001) 98:3383–9. 10.1182/blood.V98.12.3383
82.
GolayJZaffaroniLVaccariTLazzariMBorleriGMBernasconiSet al. Biologic response of B lymphoma cells to anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab in vitro: CD55 and CD59 regulate complement-mediated cell lysis. Blood (2000) 95:3900–08.
83.
HuWGeXYouTXuTZhangJWuGet al. Human CD59 inhibitor sensitizes rituximab-resistant lymphoma cells to complement-mediated cytolysis. Cancer Res. (2011) 71:2298–307. 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-3016
84.
vander Veer MSdeWeers MvanKessel BBakkerJMWittebolSParrenPWet al. Towards effective immunotherapy of myeloma: enhanced elimination of myeloma cells by combination of lenalidomide with the human CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab. Haematologica (2011) 96:284–90. 10.3324/haematol.2010.030759
85.
RomagneFAndrePSpeePZahnSAnfossiNGauthierLet al. Preclinical characterization of 1-7F9, a novel human anti-KIR receptor therapeutic antibody that augments natural killer-mediated killing of tumor cells. Blood (2009) 114:2667–77. 10.1182/blood-2009-02-206532
86.
BensonDBakanCZhangSAlghothaniLLiangJHofmeisterCet al. IPH2101, a novel anti-inhibitory kir monoclonal antibody, and lenalidomide combine to enhance the Natural Killer (NK) Cell Versus Multiple Myeloma (MM) Effect. ASH Annu Meet Abstr. (2009) 114:3870.
87.
NijhofISLammertsvan Bueren JJvanKessel BAndrePMorelYLokhorstHMet al. Daratumumab-mediated lysis of primary multiple myeloma cells is enhanced in combination with the human anti-KIR antibody IPH2102 and lenalidomide. Haematologica (2015) 100:263–8. 10.3324/haematol.2014.117531
88.
MarraJDuJHwangJWolfJMartinTG IIIVenstromJ. KIR and HLA genotypes influence clinical outcome in multiple myeloma patients treated with SAR650984 (Anti-CD38) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone. Blood (2014) 124:2126.
89.
CartronGDacheuxLSallesGSolal-CelignyPBardosPColombatPet al. Therapeutic activity of humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and polymorphism in IgG Fc receptor FcgammaRIIIa gene. Blood (2002) 99:754–8. 10.1182/blood.V99.3.754
90.
DornanDSpleissOYehRFDuchateau-NguyenGDufourAZhiJet al. Effect of FCGR2A and FCGR3A variants on CLL outcome. Blood (2010) 116:4212–22. 10.1182/blood-2010-03-272765
91.
ZhangWGordonMSchultheisAMYangDYNagashimaFAzumaMet al. FCGR2A and FCGR3A polymorphisms associated with clinical outcome of epidermal growth factor receptor expressing metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with single-agent cetuximab. J Clin Oncol. (2007) 25:3712–8. 10.1200/JCO.2006.08.8021
92.
KoeneHRKleijerMAlgraJRoosDvondem Borne AEdeHaas M. Fc gammaRIIIa-158V/F polymorphism influences the binding of IgG by natural killer cell Fc gammaRIIIa, independently of the Fc gammaRIIIa-48L/R/H phenotype. Blood (1997) 90:1109–14.
93.
NimmerjahnFRavetchJV. Fcgamma receptors as regulators of immune responses. Nat Rev Immunol. (2008) 8:34–47. 10.1038/nri2206
94.
vande Donk NWCJCasneufTDiCara AParrenPWZweegmanSvanKessel Bet al. Impact of Fc gamma receptor polymorphisms on efficacy and safety of daratumumab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Br J Haematol. (2018). [Epub ahead of print]. 10.1111/bjh.15122
95.
CasneufTXuXSAdamsHC IIIAxelAEChiuCKhanIet al. Effects of daratumumab on natural killer cells and impact on clinical outcomes in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Blood Adv. (2017) 1:2105–14. 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017006866
96.
WangYZhangYHughesTZhangJCaligiuriMABensonDMet al. Fratricide of NK cells in daratumumab therapy for multiple myeloma overcome by ex vivo expanded autologous NK cells. Clin Cancer Res. (2018) 24:4006–17. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-3117
97.
BjorklundCCBaladandayuthapaniVLinHYJonesRJKuiatseIWangHet al. Evidence of a role for CD44 and cell adhesion in mediating resistance to lenalidomide in multiple myeloma: therapeutic implications. Leukemia (2014) 28:373–83. 10.1038/leu.2013.174
98.
DamianoJSCressAEHazlehurstLAShtilAADaltonWS. Cell adhesion mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR): role of integrins and resistance to apoptosis in human myeloma cell lines. Blood (1999) 93:1658–67.
99.
Noborio-HatanoKKikuchiJTakatokuMShimizuRWadaTUedaMet al. Bortezomib overcomes cell-adhesion-mediated drug resistance through downregulation of VLA-4 expression in multiple myeloma. Oncogene (2009) 28:231–42. 10.1038/onc.2008.385
100.
HaoMZhangLAnGMengHHanYXieZet al. Bone marrow stromal cells protect myeloma cells from bortezomib induced apoptosis by suppressing microRNA-15a expression. Leuk Lymphoma 52 (2011) 1787–94. 10.3109/10428194.2011.576791
101.
deHaart SJHolthofLNoortWAMinnemaMCEmmelotMEAarts-RiemensTet al. Sepantronium bromide (YM155) improves daratumumab-mediated cellular lysis of multiple myeloma cells by abrogation of bone marrow stromal cell-induced resistance. Haematologica (2016) 101:e339–42. 10.3324/haematol.2015.139667
102.
vanBommel PEHeYSchepelIHendriksMWiersmaVRvanGinkel RJet al. CD20-selective inhibition of CD47-SIRPalpha “don't eat me” signaling with a bispecific antibody-derivative enhances the anticancer activity of daratumumab, alemtuzumab and obinutuzumab. Oncoimmunology (2018) 7:e1386361. 10.1080/2162402X.2017.1386361
103.
RigalouARyanANatoniAChiuCSasserAKO'DwyerM. Potentiation of anti-myeloma activity of daratumumab with combination of cyclophosphamide, lenalidomide or bortezomib via a tumor secretory response that greatly augments macrophage-induced ADCP. Blood (2016) 128:2101.
104.
NaickerSRigalouAMcEllistrimCNatoniAChiuCSasserK. Patient data supports the rationale of low dose cyclophosphamide to potentiate the anti-myeloma activity of daratumumab through augmentation of macrophage-induced ADCP. Blood (2017) 130:121.
105.
SwansonJAHoppeADThe coordination of signaling during Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis. J Leukoc Biol. 76 (2004) 1093-103. 10.1189/jlb.0804439
106.
PaulDAchouriSYoonYZHerreJBryantCECicutaP. Phagocytosis dynamics depends on target shape. Biophys J. (2013) 105:1143–50. 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.07.036
107.
NeriPMaityRTagougIDugganPMcCulloghSJimenez-ZepedaVH. Single cell resolution profiling defines the innate and adaptive immune repertoires modulated by daratumumab and IMiDs treatment in multiple myeloma (MM). Blood (2017) 130:123.
108.
SynNLTengMWLMokTSKSooRA. De-novo and acquired resistance to immune checkpoint targeting. Lancet Oncol. (2017) 18:e731–41. 10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30607-1
109.
KoyamaSAkbayEALiYYHerter-SprieGSBuczkowskiKARichardsWGet al. Adaptive resistance to therapeutic PD-1 blockade is associated with upregulation of alternative immune checkpoints. Nat Commun. (2016) 7:10501. 10.1038/ncomms10501
110.
BezmanNAKinderMJhatakiaAMattsonBPizuttiDThompsonEet al. Antitumor activity associated with dual targeting of CD38 and programmed death-1 pathways in preclinical models. AACR Meeting Abstracts (2018) 78:4563. 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2018-1727
111.
ChenLAverettByers LUllrichSWistubaIQinXGibbonsD. CD38 as a novel immune checkpoint and a mechanism of resistance to the blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. J Clin Oncol. (2017) 35:79.
112.
MoreauPSanMiguel JSonneveldPMateosMVZamagniEAvet-LoiseauHet al. Multiple myeloma: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. (2017) 28:iv52–iv61. 10.1093/annonc/mdx096
113.
vande Donk NWLokhorstHMDimopoulosMCavoMMorganGEinseleHet al. Treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents. Cancer Treat Rev. (2011) 37:266–83. 10.1016/j.ctrv.2010.08.008
114.
DiebolderCABeurskensFJdeJong RNKoningRIStrumaneKLindorferMAet al. Complement is activated by IgG hexamers assembled at the cell surface. Science (2014) 343:1260–3. 10.1126/science.1248943
115.
MossnerEBrunkerPMoserSPuntenerUSchmidtCHerterSet al. Increasing the efficacy of CD20 antibody therapy through the engineering of a new type II anti-CD20 antibody with enhanced direct and immune effector cell-mediated B-cell cytotoxicity. Blood (2010) 115:4393–402. 10.1182/blood-2009-06-225979
116.
ChuSYMirandaYPhungSChenHRashidREndoNet al. Immunotherapy with long-lived Anti-CD38 × Anti-CD3 bispecific antibodies stimulates potent T cell-mediated killing of human myeloma cell lines and CD38+ cells in monkeys: a potential therapy for multiple myeloma. Blood (2014) 124:4727.
117.
MacorPSeccoEMezzarobaNZorzetSDuriguttoPGaiottoTet al. Bispecific antibodies targeting tumor-associated antigens and neutralizing complement regulators increase the efficacy of antibody-based immunotherapy in mice. Leukemia (2015) 29:406–14. 10.1038/leu.2014.185
Summary
Keywords
CD38, antibody, daratumumab, isatuximab, MOR202, TAK-079, resistance, mode of action
Citation
van de Donk NWCJ and Usmani SZ (2018) CD38 Antibodies in Multiple Myeloma: Mechanisms of Action and Modes of Resistance. Front. Immunol. 9:2134. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02134
Received
09 June 2018
Accepted
29 August 2018
Published
20 September 2018
Volume
9 - 2018
Edited by
Fabio Malavasi, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy
Reviewed by
Benjamin Bonavida, University of California, Los Angeles, United States; Alessandro Poggi, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Italy; Cox Terhorst, Harvard Medical School, United States; Massimo Massaia, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy
Updates
Copyright
© 2018 van de Donk and Usmani.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Niels W.C.J. van de Donk n.vandedonk@vumc.nl
This article was submitted to Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy, a section of the journal Frontiers in Immunology
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.