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The demonstration that antibodies can be used to treat cancers has revolutionized the field of cancer immunotherapy and gave hope to many patients. Originally targeting tumor-specific antigen, new therapeutic antibodies target now immune checkpoint markers expressed on T cells. The advantage is to generate an active and long-lasting antitumor immunity with the achievement of a broad and polyclonal antitumor immunity, addressing better the heterogeneity of cancers and reducing the chances of immune escape. The development of such highly specific molecules is particularly challenging however when it comes to preclinical safety assessment and efficacy studies. An ideal animal model needs to possess the target so that the drug product is pharmacologically active. Moreover, such model should ideally provide further insight in determining the pharmacological action of the product and the determination of safety to maximize the usefulness in animal studies. Intriguingly, no equivalent of the traditional T-cell-dependent antibody response (TDAR) assay, which evaluates mainly the CD4+ T cells response, is currently available for the CD8+ T cell response. The goal of this study is to fill this gap with a Non-Human Primate (NHP) challenge model that will elicit a potent CD8+ T cell response. MHC I-genotyped Mauritian cynomolgus macaques (MCMs) were immunized with 3 replication incompetent recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vectors encoding Gag, Nef or Pol SIV proteins. MCMs were distributed into 3 groups and received two intramuscular injections of adenoviruses 4 weeks apart. One group received the anti-PD-L1 Atezolizumab and a second received a molecule in early development targeting another immune checkpoint molecule. T cell activation was monitored with blood samples taken on a weekly basis for 8 weeks. Blood samples were used to characterize the T cell immunophenotypes and to correlate them with some functional assays. Vaccination was well tolerated and could be conducted on standard safety toxicology studies without compromising other endpoints. Adv5-SIVs modulated total T cells 2 weeks after a single vaccination, induced T-cell activation, T-cell proliferation and the expression of several checkpoint molecules. Moreover, functional assays confirmed that T-cell activation profile correlated with an antigen-specific CD8 T-cell response. Compounds administered differently enhanced the profile of T-cell activation, the upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules and antigen specific responses of their T cells. Moreover, both compounds extended the cytolytic activity of the antigen-specific CD8+ T cell up to 8 weeks. Taken together, the vaccination model we developed seems appropriate to study the pharmacology of new protein-based therapeutics targeting CD8+ T cells. Citation Format: Richard Graveline, Morad Haida, Carolyne Dumont, Dominic Poulin, Florence Poitout-Belissent, Rana Samadfan, Sven Kronenberg, Franziska Regenass-Lechner, Rodney Prell, Marie-Soleil Piche. A simian challenge model to evaluate the CD8-positive T cell response with cancer therapeutics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr LB097.

Introduction Manipulating the immune system to achieve therapeutic efficacy in cancer treatment has led to a new class of drugs that brought lasting remissions to many patients who had run out of options. The development of new immunotherapy aimed at targeting cancer cells requires the ability to monitor specifically the immune response. Although CD8 T cells play a crucial role in this process, no equivalent of the traditional T-cell-dependent antibody response (TDAR) assay, which evaluates the T-helper immune response, is currently available. Since cancer immunotherapy agents are often tested in non-tumor bearing NHP for safety assessment, the animal models currently available do not allow monitoring of potential exaggerated pharmacology and efficacy of these new drug candidates. Objectives The goal of this study was to develop an NHP vaccination model that specifically elicits a CTL response, in order to evaluate the efficacy in exacerbating the Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) response. Experimental Procedures To reach this goal, MHC-genotyped Mauritian cynomolgus macaques (MCMs) were immunized with 3 replication incompetent recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vectors, each containing the coding sequence for Gag, Nef or Pol SIV proteins. Such model allowed monitoring of the CD8 T cell activation in lieu of a tumor or live virus model. MCMs were distributed into 3 groups: one control group and 2 groups which received two intramuscular injection of the adenovirusrs spaced by 4 or 8 weeks. The immune response was monitored with blood samples taken on a weekly basis for up to 12 weeks. Blood samples were used to 1) characterize the different CD8-positive sub-populations by Tetramer staining and Immunophenotyping; 2) to correlate the immunophenotyping profile obtained with functional assays such as ex vivo recall response and IFNγ ELIspot. Results Of the three groups tested, MCM monkeys receiving 2 injections 8 weeks apart showed the more robust CD8 T cell response. This response was mainly characterized by a proliferation profile (Ki67-positive cells), the expression of activation markers at the surface of CD8 T cells and antigen specific responses of the CD8 T cells. Of the three Gag, Pol and Nef proteins, immunization with Nef gave the most robust response, as observed by the IFNγ ELIspot results and by the presence of a Nef-specific CD8-specific subpopulation observed by tetramer staining. No changes in the distribution of T, B, NK, Treg or Memory T cells was observed between the 3 groups. Conclusion The results obtained during the course of this study suggests that the described CD8-specific vaccination model using Mauritius cynomolgus macaques is a promising model to evaluate the efficacy and potential exaggerated pharmacology of new drug candidates targeting CD8 T cells. Citation Format: Richard Graveline, Morad Haida, Carolyne Dumont, Rana Samadfam, Dominic Poulin, Marie-Soleil Piche. Development of a vaccine model to track the CD8-specific response in Mauritius cynomolgus monkey [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-269.