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This file contains Supplementary Figure S1 (Correlation between downregulation of EGFR transcriptional target genes, and sensitivity to erlotinib at the high concentration after 6 hours); Supplementary Figure S2 (EGFR inhibitor and DNA damaging agents induce directionally opposing changes in EGR1 expression that are differentially associated with drug sensitivity); Supplementary Figure S3 (Representative 3D response surface plots for the gemcitabine-erlotinib combination in the indicated cell lines); Supplementary Figure S4 (Representative 3D response surface plots for the vorinostat-talazoparib combination in the indicated cell lines); Supplementary Table S1 (Validation of array-based measurements by qRT-PCR); Supplementary Table S2 (Genes with concerted changes in the same direction [upregulation or downregulation] 24 hours after treatment with each of the 15 drugs); and Supplementary Table S4 (Selected genes potentially mediating drug insensitivity to agents in the NCI TPW dataset).

The intracellular effects and overall efficacies of anticancer therapies can vary significantly by tumor type. To identify patterns of drug-induced gene modulation that occur in different cancer cell types, we measured gene-expression changes across the NCI-60 cell line panel after exposure to 15 anticancer agents. The results were integrated into a combined database and set of interactive analysis tools, designated the NCI Transcriptional Pharmacodynamics Workbench (NCI TPW), that allows exploration of gene-expression modulation by molecular pathway, drug target, and association with drug sensitivity. We identified common transcriptional responses across agents and cell types and uncovered gene-expression changes associated with drug sensitivity. We also demonstrated the value of this tool for investigating clinically relevant molecular hypotheses and identifying candidate biomarkers of drug activity. The NCI TPW, publicly available at https://tpwb.nci.nih.gov, provides a comprehensive resource to facilitate understanding of tumor cell characteristics that define sensitivity to commonly used anticancer drugs.Significance:The NCI Transcriptional Pharmacodynamics Workbench represents the most extensive compilation to date of directly measured longitudinal transcriptional responses to anticancer agents across a thoroughly characterized ensemble of cancer cell lines.

Aims The histone deacetylase inhibitor belinostat has activity in various cancers. Because belinostat is metabolized by the liver, reduced hepatic clearance could lead to excessive drug accumulation and increased toxicity. Safety data in patients with liver dysfunction are needed for this drug to reach its full potential in the clinic. Methods We performed a phase 1 trial to determine the safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and pharmacokinetics of belinostat in patients with advanced cancer and varying degrees of liver dysfunction. Results Seventy-two patients were enrolled and divided into cohorts based on liver function. In patients with mild dysfunction, the MTD was the same as the recommended phase 2 dose (1000 mg/m2 /day). Belinostat was well tolerated in patients with moderate and severe liver dysfunction, although the trial was closed before the MTD in these cohorts could be determined. The mean clearance of belinostat was 661 mL/min/m2 in patients with normal liver function, compared to 542, 505 and 444 mL/min/m2 in patients with mild, moderate and severe hepatic dysfunction. Although this trial was not designed to assess clinical activity, of the 47 patients evaluable for response, 13 patients (28%) experienced stable disease. Conclusion While a statistically significant difference in clearance indicates increased belinostat exposure with worsening liver function, no relationship was observed between belinostat exposure and toxicity. An assessment of belinostat metabolites revealed significant differences in metabolic pathway capability in patients with differing levels of liver dysfunction. Further studies are needed to establish formal dosing guidelines in this patient population.

11519 Background: ASPS constitutes < 1% of soft tissue sarcomas and frequently presents in adolescents and young adults. There are no approved therapies for ASPS. We are currently evaluating the clinical activity of atezolizumab (atezo), an anti-PD-L1 antibody, in patients (pts) with advanced ASPS. Methods: This is a multicenter, open-label, single-arm phase II study where atezo is administered at a fixed dose of 1200 mg in adults or 15 mg/kg (1200 mg max) in pediatric pts age ≥2 once Q21 days. The primary objective is to determine the objective response rate (ORR) of atezo using RECIST 1.1. Secondary objectives include duration of response and correlating response with the immune effects of atezo in blood and paired tumor biopsies (pre- and post-treatment). Tumor specimens were analyzed with multiplex immunofluorescence immuno-oncology panels to quantify CD8+, PD-1+, and PD-L1+ cells/mm2 in the tumor microenvironment. CD8+ density was calculated as the total number of CD8+ cells divided by the entire area (mm2) of the tumor and invasive margins of the biopsy. Results: As of February 4, 2021, 44 pts have been enrolled. The median age in the study was 31 years (range, 12–70) with equal male: female distribution. 54.5% of pts were Caucasian. Baseline ECOG ≤1 was present in 97.7%. The median time on study was 11.5 months (range, 0.8–40.3 months). At data cutoff, response evaluation was available for 43 pts with an ORR of 37.2% (16/43). One pt experienced a complete response and 15 pts experienced a partial response (PR), of which 14 were confirmed. The median time to confirmed response was 3.5 months (range, 2.1–14.9 months). The median duration of confirmed response was 16.5 months (range, 4.9–38.1 months). Stable disease (SD) was present in 58.1% (25/43). One or more grade 3 adverse events potentially related to atezo were identified in 16.3% (7/43) pts. These include diarrhea, hypothyroidism, transaminitis, anemia, vertigo, extremity pain, myalgia, pneumonitis, rash, and stroke (n = 1 each). No grade 4 or 5 events have been reported. Among 8 cases with evaluable biopsy pairs, both baseline and C3D1 specimens in all cases demonstrated CD8+ T cell infiltration and PD-L1 expression. PD-1 expression was detected at baseline in 5 cases and at C3D1 in 7 cases. In 6 cases (3 SDs and 3 PRs), treatment did not change CD8+ cell density. In the other 2 cases (both PRs), CD8+ density increased > 3x above baseline by C3D1. Analysis of T cell activation using pharmacodynamic response biomarkers, along with whole exome and RNA-seq to evaluate the genomic and transcriptomic landscape of ASPS, are ongoing. Conclusions: Atezo is well tolerated and demonstrates promising single agent activity with durable responses in advanced ASPS. Preliminary tumor biomarker analysis confirms the presence of multiple PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint (IC) components, indicating that advanced ASPS is an ideal candidate for therapeutic IC inhibition. Funded by NCI Contract No HHSN261200800001E. Clinical trial information: NCT03141684.

Objective To introduce a novel preclinical animal model of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in R26Stat3Cstopfl/fl CD4Cre mice, and to investigate the role of Th17 cytokines in the disease pathogenesis. Methods We characterized a novel murine model of Th17-driven cutaneous and synovio-entheseal disease directed by T cell-specific expression of a hyperactive Stat3 allele. By crossing R26Stat3Cstopfl/fl CD4Cre mice onto an interleukin-22 (IL-22)-knockout background or treating the mice with a neutralizing antibody against IL-17, we interrogated how these Th17 cytokines could contribute to the pathogenesis of PsA. Results R26Stat3Cstopfl/fl CD4Cre mice developed acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, and parakeratosis of the skin, as well as enthesitis/tendinitis and periarticular bone erosion in different joints, accompanied by osteopenia. T cell-specific expression of a hyperactive Stat3C allele was found to drive the augmented Th17 response in these animals. Careful characterization of the mouse bone marrow revealed an increase in osteoclast progenitor (OCP) and RANKL-producing cells, which contributed to the osteopenia phenotype observed in the mutant animals. Abrogation of the Th17 cytokines IL-17 or IL-22 improved both the skin and bone phenotype in R26Stat3Cstopfl/fl CD4Cre mice, revealing a central role of Th17 cells in the regulation of OCP and RANKL expression on stromal cells. Conclusion Perturbation of the IL-23/Th17 axis instigates Th17-mediated inflammation in R26Stat3Cstopfl/fl CD4Cre mice, leading to cutaneous and synovio-entheseal inflammation and bone pathologic features highly reminiscent of human PsA. Both IL-17A and IL-22 produced by Th17 cells appear to play critical roles in promoting the cutaneous and musculoskeletal inflammation that characterizes PsA.

The intracellular effects and overall efficacies of anticancer therapies can vary significantly by tumor type. To identify patterns of drug-induced gene modulation that occur in different cancer cell types, we measured gene-expression changes across the NCI-60 cell line panel after exposure to 15 anticancer agents. The results were integrated into a combined database and set of interactive analysis tools, designated the NCI Transcriptional Pharmacodynamics Workbench (NCI TPW), that allows exploration of gene-expression modulation by molecular pathway, drug target, and association with drug sensitivity. We identified common transcriptional responses across agents and cell types and uncovered gene-expression changes associated with drug sensitivity. We also demonstrated the value of this tool for investigating clinically relevant molecular hypotheses and identifying candidate biomarkers of drug activity. The NCI TPW, publicly available at https://tpwb.nci.nih.gov, provides a comprehensive resource to facilitate understanding of tumor cell characteristics that define sensitivity to commonly used anticancer drugs. Significance: The NCI Transcriptional Pharmacodynamics Workbench represents the most extensive compilation to date of directly measured longitudinal transcriptional responses to anticancer agents across a thoroughly characterized ensemble of cancer cell lines.

Summary T-cell lymphomas (TCL) are aggressive lymphomas usually treated with CHOP (cyclophsophamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone)-like regimens upfront. Recent data suggest that TCL are driven by epigenetic defects, potentially rendering them sensitive to epigenetic therapies. We explored the therapeutic merits of a combined epigenetic platform using histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMT) in in vitro and in vivo models of TCL. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values revealed romidepsin was the most potent HDACI, with an IC50 in the low nanomolar range. The combination with a hypomethylating agent produced synergy across all cell lines, which was confirmed in cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays. An in vivo xenograft study demonstrated inhibition of tumour growth in the combination cohort compared to the single agent. Gene expression array and global methylation profiling revealed differentially expressed genes and modulated pathways for each of the single treatment conditions and the combination. Most of the effects induced by the single agent treatment were maintained in the combination group. In total, 944 unique genes were modulated by the combination treatment, supporting the hypothesis of molecular synergism. These data suggest combinations of hypomethylating agents and HDACIs are synergistic in models of TCL, which is supported at the molecular level.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of lymphomas characterized by the accumulation of malignant T cells in the skin. The molecular and cellular etiology of this malignancy remains enigmatic, and what role antigenic stimulation plays in the initiation and/or progression of the disease remains to be elucidated. Deep sequencing of the tumor genome showed a highly heterogeneous landscape of genetic perturbations, and transcriptome analysis of transformed T cells further highlighted the heterogeneity of this disease. Nonetheless, using data harvested from high-throughput transcriptional profiling allowed us to develop a reliable signature of this malignancy. Focusing on a key cytokine signaling pathway previously implicated in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma pathogenesis, JAK/STAT signaling, we used conditional gene targeting to develop a fully penetrant small animal model of this disease that recapitulates many key features of mycosis fungoides, a common variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Using this mouse model, we show that T-cell receptor engagement is critical for malignant transformation of the T lymphocytes and that progression of the disease is dependent on microbiota.

Phosphorylated H2AX (γ-H2AX) is a sensitive marker for DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), but the variability of H2AX expression in different cell and tissue types makes it difficult to interpret the meaning of the γ-H2AX level. Furthermore, the assays commonly used for γ-H2AX detection utilize laborious and low-throughput microscopy-based methods. We describe here an ELISA assay that measures both phosphorylated H2AX and total H2AX absolute amounts to determine the percentage of γ-H2AX, providing a normalized value representative of the amount of DNA damage. We demonstrate the utility of the assay to measure DSBs introduced by either ionizing radiation or DNA-damaging agents in cultured cells and in xenograft models. Furthermore, utilizing the NCI-60 cancer cell line panel, we show a correlation between the basal fraction of γ-H2AX and cellular mutation levels. This additional application highlights the ability of the assay to measure γ-H2AX levels in many extracts at once, making it possible to correlate findings with other cellular characteristics. Overall, the γ-H2AX ELISA represents a novel approach to quantifying DNA damage, which may lead to a better understanding of mutagenic pathways in cancer and provide a useful biomarker for monitoring the effectiveness of DNA-damaging anticancer agents.

Th17 cells are a proinflammatory subset of effector T cells that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. Their production of the cytokine IL-17 is known to induce local recruitment of neutrophils, but the direct impact of IL-17 on the lung epithelium is poorly understood. In this study, we describe a novel mouse model of spontaneous IL-17–driven lung inflammation that exhibits many similarities to asthma in humans. We have found that STAT3 hyperactivity in T lymphocytes causes an expansion of Th17 cells, which home preferentially to the lungs. IL-17 secretion then leads to neutrophil infiltration and lung epithelial changes, in turn leading to a chronic inflammatory state with increased mucus production and decreased lung function. We used this model to investigate the effects of IL-17 activity on airway epithelium and identified CXCL5 and MIP-2 as important factors in neutrophil recruitment. The neutralization of IL-17 greatly reduces pulmonary neutrophilia, underscoring a key role for IL-17 in promoting chronic airway inflammation. These findings emphasize the role of IL-17 in mediating neutrophil-driven pulmonary inflammation and highlight a new mouse model that may be used for the development of novel therapies targeting Th17 cells in asthma and other chronic pulmonary diseases.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare B-cell malignancy that carries a relatively poor prognosis compared to other forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Standardized preclinical tools are desperately required to hasten the discovery and translation of promising new treatments for MCL. Via an initiative organized through the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium and the Lymphoma Research Foundation, we gathered MCL cell lines from laboratories around the world to create a characterized MCL Cell Bank at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Initiated in 2006, this collection now contains eight cell lines, all of which have been rigorously characterized and are now stored and available for distribution to the general scientific community. We believe the awareness and use of these standardized cell lines will decrease variability between investigators, harmonize international research efforts, improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and hasten the development of novel treatment strategies.

The intestinal epithelium is maintained by a population of rapidly cycling ( Lgr5 + ) intestinal stem cells (ISCs). It has been postulated, however, that slowly cycling ISCs must also be present in the intestine to protect the genome from accumulating deleterious mutations and to allow for a response to tissue injury. Here, we identify a subpopulation of slowly cycling ISCs marked by mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase ( mTert ) expression that can give rise to Lgr5 + cells. mTert -expressing cells distribute in a pattern along the crypt–villus axis similar to long-term label-retaining cells (LRCs) and are resistant to tissue injury. Lineage-tracing studies demonstrate that mTert + cells give rise to all differentiated intestinal cell types, persist long term, and contribute to the regenerative response following injury. Consistent with other highly regenerative tissues, our results demonstrate that a slowly cycling stem cell population exists within the intestine.

Fogli, L. K., M. S. Sundrud, S. Goel, S. Bajwa, K. Jensen, E. Derudder, A. Sun, M. Coffre, C. Uyttenhove, J. Van Snick, M. Schmidt-Supprian, A. Rao, G. Grunig, J. Durbin, S. S. Casola, K. Rajewsky, and S. B. Koralov. 2013. T cell–derived IL-17 mediates epithelial changes in the airway and drives

Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is essential for cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. STAT3 phosphorylation results from signaling by cytokines and growth factors, and constitutive STAT3 activity is characteristic of a number of human malignancies, including Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL). Furthermore, we now know that STAT3 is also required for the initiation and maintenance of the Th17 differentiation program. Th17 cells are a subset of CD4 T helper cells that have been implicated in chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Mycosis fungoides (MF) and the leukemic variant of this disease, Sezary syndrome (SS), are the most frequently encountered forms of CTCL and in both of these diseases, the cell of origin – as far as the type of Teffector cell involved, has not been defined. Recent results from our laboratory and that of our colleagues have lead us to believe that Th17 cells may either be the cells of origin in CTCL or may act as critical mediators of chronic inflammation that creates a favorable environment for tumor growth in the context of this malignancy. In an effort to elucidate the role of STAT3 as a transforming factor in T cell malignancies, we generated a mouse model wherein T cell specific expression of a hyper-active STAT3 mutant protein (STAT3C) leads to the development of a lymphoproliferative disease that is highly reminiscent of CTCL. We are now taking advantage of this unique mouse model, patient biospecimens and carefully characterized CTCL cell lines to dissect the role of STAT3 signaling cascade in the malignant transformation and maintenance of CTCL. Most recently, our attention has been focused on understanding the mechanism of action of epigenetic therapy in the form of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), which is highly effective in the treatment of CTCL. We hypothesize that HDAC inhibitors affect the STAT3 mediated Th17 differentiation and thus have clinical efficacy in this disease. In addition to the regulation of chromatin accessibility through the regulation of histone modifications, HDACi have also been implicated in a less conventional mode of protein regulation directly influencing STAT3 serine phosphorylation. To dissect the action of HDACi on malignant cells, we took advantage of CTCL cell lines and cultured these with and without Romidepsin, which is an effective HDAC inhibitor used in clinic. MyLa2059 and PB2B are MF cell lines with skin only phenotype whereas SeAx and SeZ4 are SS cell lines. The cells were cultured for 48 hours with no Romidepsin, 5nm and 50 nm Romidepsin. After 48 hours, cells were fixed and permeabilized using BD fix-perm protocol. Cells were then stained to assess Serine 727 STAT3 and Tyrosine Y705 STAT3 phosphorylation and analyzed using flowcytometry. We found that Romidepsin affected serine phosphorylation exclusively in CTCL cell lines (Figure 1). This leads us to believe that STAT3 serine phosphorylation might play an important role in lymphomagenesis and can act as a potential therapeutic target. The role of serine phosphorylation in the context of STAT3 signaling is hotly debated and we are now attempting to characterize the role of Serine STAT3 phosphorylation in the context of CTCL. We are also hoping to recapitulate these observations in patients' biospecimens collected before and after treatment with HDAC inhibitors. We will also study the role of serine phosphorylation in STAT3 activity in carcinogenesis using our mouse model with phenotypic and pathological characteristics similar to CTCL. We hope that these studies will advance our knowledge about the role that Stat 3 signaling plays in MF/SS malignant transformation and cancer progression and help us develop target specific treatment options for the clinical practice. Disclosures: Hymes: Celgene: Consultancy.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a disease characterized by gross cell cycle dysregulation driven by the constitutive overexpression of cyclin D1. The identification of a “proliferation signature” in MCL, underscores the necessity of new therapeutic approaches aimed at lowering the proliferative signature of the disease, theoretically shifting the prognostic features of the disease. Romidepsin, an HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) approved for the treatment of relapsed T-cell lymphoma, is thought to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Central to the block of cell proliferation is the up-regulation of the cdk inhibitor p21Cip1/Waf1. However up-regulation of p21Cip1/Waf1 has also been shown to reduce sensitivity to romidepsin. HDACi activates p21Cip1/Waf1 expression via ATM and KU60019, a specific ATM inhibitor, has been shown to decrease the p21Cip1/Waf1 protein levels in a concentration dependent manner. We sought to explore the effect of the combination of romidepsin and KU60019 in inducing cell death in MCL. Analysis of romidepsin treated Jeko-1 cell extracts showed a marked effect on the expression of proteins involved in cell cycle regulation. Decrease expression of Emi1, a mitotic regulator required for the accumulation of the APC/C substrates was observed. Emi1 is also responsible for the stability of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Skp2 that specifically recognizes and promotes the degradation of phosphorylated cdk inhibitor p27. However, decrease in Emi1 protein levels, upon addition of romidepsin, was not followed by an increased expression of the cdk inhibitor p27. On the other end, increased expression of the cdk inhibitor p21Cip1/Waf1, was a common feature of all romidepsin treated MCL lines analyzed. Cell cycle analysis via Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) of romidepsin treated Jeko-1 cells showed an accumulation of romidepsin treated cells in the G2/M phase when compared to the control suggesting a p21Cip1/Waf1 induced cell cycle arrest. For all cytotoxicity assays, luminescent cell viability was performed using CellTiter-GloTM followed by acquisition on a Biotek Synergy HT and IC50s calculated using the Calcusyn software. Drug: drug interactions were analyzed using the calculation of the relative risk ratios (RRR). Synergy analyses were performed using Jeko-1, Maver-1 and Z-138 cells treated with different concentrations of romidepsin corresponding to IC10-20 in combination with KU60019 at a concentration of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 15 umol/L for 24, 48 and 72 hours. A synergistic cytotoxic effect was observed in all MCL cell lines when the HDACi was combined with KU60019 throughout the range of all concentrations. The RRR analysis showed a strong synergism at 48 and 72 hours in virtually all combinations of HDACi and KU60019 in all three cell lines. The results of drug:drug combination in two of the three cell lines are shown below. Protein expression analysis of Jeko-1 and Maver-1cells treated with single agents or combinations for 48 hours revealed changes in a host of proteins known to be involved in cell cycle control and apoptosis. The increased p21 protein expression upon addition of romidepsin, was not observed when the romidepsin treatment was combined with the KU60019. Increased activation of the programmed cell death proteins Caspase 8, induced by Fas, and Caspase 3 was observed upon combinations of the single agents in all three cell lines, resulting in an increased cleavage of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1). Finally, the abundance of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-XL and BCL-2 showed a significant decrease after treatment with romidepsin plus increase concentrations of KU60019 when compared with their abundance in the presence of the single agents. Cell cycle analysis of Jeko-1 cells treated for 24 hours with single agents and combination suggests that the increased apoptosis is the result of inhibition of the p21Cip1/Waf1 induced G2/M cell cycle arrest by KU60019. Overall, these data demonstrated that the combination of romidepsin and KU60019 was synergistically effective in inhibiting the in vitro growth of the mantle cell lymphoma lines. Jeko-1 Maver-1 Disclosures: O'Connor: Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Abstract 66 Background Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma (CTCL) is a heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas characterized by skin-homing malignant T cells. The etiology of CTCL remains enigmatic, but constitutive Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) activity is characteristic of this malignancy. CTCL cell lines undergo growth arrest and apoptosis following inhibition of STAT3 signaling, suggesting that STAT3 may be a pro-survival factor in these cells. STAT3 phosphorylation is also required for the initiation and maintenance of the Th17 differentiation program, a recently identified subset of CD4+ T helper cells, implicated in a number of chronic inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Furthermore, we know that Histone Deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) namely Vorinostat and Romidepsin are very active agents for treatment of CTCL but their mechanism of action is still to be elucidated. Our goal is to probe the contribution of Th17 mediated inflammation in CTCL and to examine whether HDAC inhibitors work by modulating Th17 inflammation in the context of this malignancy. Methods Using conditional gene targeting approach we have generated a transgenic 100% penetrant mouse model of CTCL wherein expression of a hyper-active STAT3 mutant protein (STAT3C) selectively in T lymphocytes results in skin pathology highly reminiscent of this human malignancy. To have a better understanding of the contribution of STAT3 in CD4 T cell differentiation program and CTCL, we used lymphocytes and splenocytes from 8 weeks old STAT3Cstopfl/fl (without CD4Cre, thus no pathology) and control YFPstopfl/fl (Yellow Fluorescent Protein floxed) mice (Figure 1a). We isolated naïve CD4 cells using Dynabeads and treated these CD4 cells with a transducible Cre enzyme (Tat-Cre) to delete the upstream stop cassette ex-vivo. These cells were then plated with stimulating α CD3/CD28 antibodies in various cytokine cocktails as shown in Figure 1b. These cells were harvested after 84 hours and stimulated with PMA/Inomycin for 4 hours for flowcytometric analysis. We are now using this in-vitro approach as well as our mouse model and primary tissue samples from CTCL patients to explore the impact of HDAC inhibitors on Th17/Treg balance. Results Upon Tat-Cre treatment we were able to analyze GFP+ (and therefore STAT3C expressing) vs. GFP- (control) T cells in the same differentiation conditions. Hyperactive STAT3C mutant protein favored TH17 differentiation as GFP Positive cells had significantly augmented IL17A production (Figure 1b). On the other hand, STAT3C expressing GFP positive cells in Th0 and Th1 differentiation conditions had less IFN-γ production compared to the GFP negative cells and control YFP fractions. Even the GFP negative fraction of STAT3C had less IFN-γ and more IL17A production than the control YFP fractions due to the cytokine milieu created by STAT3C expressing cells present in the same well. Conclusions: These results highlight an intriguing possibility that STAT3 dependent Th17 cells play a role in CTCL pathogenesis. Using our newly developed mouse model and CTCL patients' blood and skin samples (IRB approved), we are trying to distinguish whether Th17 cells are instigators of chronic inflammation that contributes to the malignant transformation of T cells or that Th17 cells may actually be the cells of origin in this malignancy. Our ongoing experiments also include the effects of HDACi on this ex-vivo CD4 T cell differentiation. In addition, we are studying the hallmarks of Th17 differentiation namely IL-17A, IL-22 and pSTAT3 positivity in the skin biopsy and blood samples of CTCL patients before and after treatment with HDACi. These experiments will help us determine the impact of HDAC inhibition on STAT3 activity and Th17 differentiation and have a better understanding of their mechanism of action in CTCL. Our hope is that our study will guide us to comprehend the contribution of chronic inflammation in carcinogenesis and potentially identify novel treatment targets and strategies in the field of hematological malignancies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

e13569 Background: CHOP and CHOP-like chemotherapy are the most used regimens for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) despite sub-optimal results. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) have shown class activity in PTCLs. The interaction between the HDACIs (depsipeptide (R), belinostat (B), vorinostat (V) and panobinostat (P)) and a DNMT inhibitor (decitabine (D) was investigated in vitro, in vivo and at the molecular level in T-cell lymphoma and leukemia cell lines (H9, HH, P12, PF-382). Methods: For cytotoxicity assays, luminescence cell viability assay was used (CellTiter-Glo). Drug:drug interactions were analyzed with relative risk ratios (RRR) based on the GraphPad software (RRR50s for B, R, V, P, D and 5-Azacytidine alone were assessed at 24, 48 and 72 hours. In cytotoxicity assays the combination of D plus B, R, V or P at 72 hours showed synergism in all the cell lines (RRRs 0.0007-0.9). All the cell lines were treated with D, B or R for 72 hours and all the combinations showed significantly more apoptosis than the single drug exposures and controls (RRR < 1). In vivo, HH SCID beige mice were treated i.p. for 3 cycles with the vehicle solution, D or B or their combination at increasing dose. The combination cohort showed statistically significant tumor growth inhibition compared to all the other cohorts. Gene expression analysis revealed differentially expressed genes and modulated pathways for each of the single agent treatment and the combination. The effects of the two drugs were largely different (only 39 genes modified in common). Most of the effects induced by the single agent were maintained in the combination group. Interestingly, 944 genes were modulated uniquely by the combination treatment. Conclusions: The combination of a DNMTI and HDACIs is strongly synergistic in vitro, in vivo and at the molecular level in model of T-cell lymphoma and these data will constitute the basis for a phase I-II clinical trials.

Abstract 2727 CHOP and CHOP-like chemotherapy remain the most commonly used regimens for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) despite sub-optimal results. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) are presently approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory cutaneous T- cell lymphomas (CTCL) and peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) given their marked single agent activity in these diseases. The interaction between the HDACIs (depsipeptide (R) and belinostat (B)) and a DNMT inhibitor (decitabine (D)) was investigated in vitro, in vivo and at the molecular level in different T-cell lymphoma and leukemia cell lines including CTCL (H9, HH), and T- acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) lines resistant to gamma-secretase inhibitors (P12, PF-382). For all cytotoxicity assays, a luminescence based cell viability assay was used (CellTiter-Glo™) followed by acquisition on a Biotek Synergy HT. Drug: drug interactions were analyzed using the calculation of the relative risk ratios (RRR An in vivo xenograft study in 6–8 weeks old female SCID beige mice injected subcutaneously with 2 × 107 HH cells was performed. Mice were separated into different cohorts and treated i.p. for 3 cycles with D or B or their combination according to the following schedules: D at 1.5 mg/kg on days 1, 3, 5; B at 40 mg/kg/day for 10 days (I cycle); D at 1.5mg/kg on days 15,17,19,21; B at 65 mg/kg/day for 10 days (II cycle); D at 1.5 mg/kg on days 29,31,33,35,37,39,41,43; B at 100mg/kg for 19 days (III cycle). Statistically significantly tumor growth inhibition was observed in the combination cohort compared to all the other cohorts (analysis on day 42, 45). We analyzed the molecular basis for this synergistic effect by evaluating gene expression patterns using the Illumina Human HT-12 v4 Expression BeadChip microarrays. These analyses revealed differentially expressed genes and modulated pathways for each of the single treatment conditions and the combination. As shown in Figure 1, a set of genes (A) is down-regulated by both drugs. Other genes (B) are up-regulated by D and the effect is maintained in the combination. Other genes (C+E) are slightly up-regulated by R, though not significantly modified by D, and more strongly up-regulated in the combination group. Similarly, genes to some extent up-regulated by D but not by R (D+F) appeared to be more significantly affected by the combination. As shown in Figure 2, the effects of the two drugs are largely different (only 39 genes modified in common by all the treatment groups). Most of the effects induced by the single agent treatment are maintained in the combination group (174 genes out of 191 for romidepsin and 211 genes out of 221 for decitabine). Interestingly, an additional 944 genes appeared to be modulated uniquely by the combination treatment strongly supporting the hypothesis of synergism also at the molecular level. Collectively, the data suggest that the combination of a DNMTI and HDACIs is synergistic in in vitro and in vivo model of T-cell lymphoma and is able to synergistically reverse the malignant signature at the molecular level. These data may constitute the basis for future phase I-II clinical trials. Disclosures: O'Connor: celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; merck: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; spectrum: Research Funding.