Our Approach

Leading Edge of Cancer Biology

Our focus is to identify translational-stage molecules in the areas of cell signaling and immuno-oncology. We will continue to add to our pipeline by identifying, acquiring, and developing innovative preclinical and clinical drug candidates.

DKK1 Biology

Dickkopf-related protein 1, or DKK1, is a protein that regulates the canonical and non-canonical Wnt cell signaling pathways. Aberrant Wnt signaling is often implicated in cancer, enabling cancer cells to grow and divide and to suppress the immune system. Published data indicates that DKK1, a regulator of Wnt signaling, is often overexpressed in many cancers and is associated with worse outcomes, more aggressive tumor growth, and suppression of immune anti-tumor responses.

Recent publications have demonstrated a role for DKK1 in maintaining an environment around a tumor that suppresses the immune system's ability to clear the tumor and to prevent metastasis. DKK1 has been shown to activate the suppressive effects of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, or MDSC, a type of white blood cell that can potently block other immune system cells. Other published data has shown that metastatic tumor cells with stem cell-like features avoid the immune system by overexpressing DKK1 and secreting it out of the cell. Secreted DKK1 can then down-regulate certain molecules on tumor cells known as natural killer cell activating ligands, or NK ligands, that would activate the immune system, causing these cancer cells to remain invisible to and evade the immune system. Through these multiple activities, research has shown that DKK1 helps protect the cancer cells from being targeted by the immune system.

Inhibition of DKK1 has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in preclinical models. Our hypothesis is that inhibiting DKK1 can generate both a direct anti-tumor effect, as well as generate an immune anti-tumor response.

GITR Biology

Immune modulation has proven to be an effective strategy in treating numerous cancers with therapies known as checkpoint inhibitors. Checkpoint inhibitors prevent cancer cells from suppressing the body’s innate immune system resulting in an immune anti-tumor response (“releasing the brakes”).  However, there is a consensus that improvements in response rate and efficacy are needed, often due to an insufficient anti-tumor immune response.

A new class of therapies, immune checkpoint agonists, has been identified that amplify the immune system to attack cancer (“hitting the gas”). GITR (glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein) is an important receptor expressed on a variety of lymphocytes that plays a critical role in this process. We have developed an anti-GITR agonist, TRX518, which selectively amplifies an antigen-specific immune response for use in cancer. Activation of GITR results in larger expression of anti-tumor inflammatory response, increased inflammatory cytokines, and increased resistance to immunosuppression. We believe that anti-GITR therapies will synergize with existing cancer therapies as well as with checkpoint inhibitors and cancer vaccines.

Publications

DKN-01/DKK1

Wnt Pathway and DKK1 Biology Overview:

Rationale for targeting the Wnt signaling modulator Dickkopf-1 for oncology, British Journal of Pharmacology. 2017. View Article

Wnt Inhibitor Dickkopf-1 as a Target for Passive Cancer Immunotherapy, Cancer Res. 2010;70(13); 5326-533 View Article

Secreted antagonists of the Wnt signaling pathway, Cell Sci. 2003;116(Pt 13):2627-34. View Article

DKK1 EFFECTS on IMMUNOSUPPRESSION:

Malladi, S. et al. Metastatic Latency and Immune Evasion through Autocrine Inhibition of WNT. Cell 165, 45-60, doi:10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.025 (2016). View Article

D'Amico, L. et al. Dickkopf-related protein 1 (Dkk1) regulates the accumulation and function of myeloid derived suppressor cells in cancer. J Exp Med 213, 827-840, doi:10.1084/jem.20150950 (2016). View Article

Chae, WJ. et al. The Wnt Antagonist Dickkopf-1 Promotes Pathological Type 2 Cell-Mediated Inflammation. Immunity Volume 44, Issue 2, p246–258, 2016, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2016.01.008 (2016)

Disease-Specific Publications:

Esophagus and Lung:

Dikkopf-1 as a novel serologic and prognostic biomarker for lung and esophageal carcinomas, Cancer Res. 2007;67:2517-2525 View Article

Clinical Significance and Prognostic Value of Serum Dickkopf-1 Concentrations in Patients with Lung Cancer. Clin Chem. 2009;55:1656-1664. View Article

Evaluation of Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) Expression in Non-small Cell Lung, Esophageal and Gastric Cancer. J Clin Oncol 31, 2013 (suppl; abstr e22203). View Article

Cholangiocarcinoma:

High expression of dickkopf-related protein 1 is related to lymphatic metastasis and indicates poor prognosis in intrahepatic cholangicarcinoma patients after surgery. Cancer 2013;119:993-1003. View Article

Multiple Myeloma and Bone Disease:

In vivo and in vitro effects of a novel anti-Dkk1 neutralizing antibody in multiple myeloma, Bone. Volume 53, Issue 2, April 2013, Pages 487–496 View Article

The role of Wnt signaling antagonist Dkk-1 in the development of osteolytic lesions in multiple myeloma,  N Engl J Med. 2003;349:2483-2494. View Article

DKN-01 Data:

Phase 1 study evaluating safety and efficacy of DKN-01 in patients with advances NSCLC: View Article

ASCO 2014 Poster: View Poster

TRX518/GITR

GITR Overview:

Modulation of GITR for Cancer Immunotherapy, Opin Immunology. 2012;24(2): 217-224. View Article

Mouse glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor ligand is costimulatory for T cells, Natl Acad Sci. 2003;100(25):15059-64. View Article

Biology and Animal Studies:

Agonist anti- GITR monoclonal antibody induces melanoma tumor immunity in mice by altering regulatory T cell stability and intra-tumor accumulation. PLoS ONE 2010;5(5):e10436. View Article

Agonist anti- GITR antibody enhances vaccine-induced CD8(+) T-cell responses and tumor immunity. Cancer Res 2006;66:4904-4912. View Article

Treatment of advanced tumors with agonistic anti-GITR mAb and its effects on tumor-infiltrating Foxp3+CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells. J Exp Med 2005; 202:885-91. View Article

Glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor family related gene activation overcomes tolerance/ignorance to melanoma differentiation antigens and enhances antitumor immunity. J Immunol 2006;176:6434-42. View Article

Pivotal roles of CD4+ effector T cells in mediating agonistic anti-GITR mAb-induced-immune activation and tumor immunity in CT26 tumors. J Immunol 2007;179:7365-75. View Article

TRX518 Publication:

Enhancement of humoral and cellular immunity with an anti-glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor monoclonal antibody. Immunology 2010;(130) 231-242. View Article

Characteristics and Development of TRX518, an Aglycosyl Humanized Monoclonal Antibody (Mab) Agonist of huGITR. Clinical Immunology 2010; 135:S96. View Article

GITR Keystone Poster presentation View Poster