Novocure to Present New Preclinical Data Showing Additive Efficacy of Tumor Treating Fields and PD-1 Inhibitors at the American Association of Immunologists’ Annual Meeting 2016

On May 13, 2016 Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) reported that it will present new data at the American Association of Immunologists’ Annual Meeting on May 13-17, 2016, in Seattle showing that Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in combination with PD-1 inhibitors led to additive efficacy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vivo (Press release, NovoCure Ltd, MAY 13, 2016, View Source [SID:1234512369]). The results presented demonstrate that:
TTFields exhibit treatment duration-dependent intrinsic cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Longer periods of exposure to TTFields result in significant decreases in cancer cell counts and increases apoptotic events.

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The cellular response to TTFields is characterized by exposure of calreticulin on the cell surface, release of high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), and secretion of adenosine triphosphate – all of which are hallmark features of immunogenic cell death that can potentially generate a systemic anticancer immune response.

The combined treatment of TTFields and anti-PD-1 (αPD-1) in an NSCLC in vivo model led to a significant decrease in tumor volume compared to sham controls and to anti-PD-1 alone.

PD-L1, the ligand which binds PD-1 on immune cells, was maximized on the immune cells themselves in the combination treatment.
"Our research indicates that TTFields in combination with PD-1 immunotherapies may be another possible treatment paradigm for solid tumors that should be investigated clinically, particularly for those solid tumors whose standard of care currently includes – or is evolving to include – PD-1 immunotherapies," said Dr. Eilon Kirson, Chief Science Officer and Head of Research and Development at Novocure. "We are excited to learn more about the potential benefits of combining TTFields with PD-1 immunotherapies in a variety of solid tumors."