SITC 2021 | Treating viral-induced malignancies and COVID-19 using a CD73 inhibitor

Jason Luke, MD, FACP, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, discusses the treatment of viral-induced malignancies and COVID-19 using the CD73 inhibitor CPI-006. Following administration of CPI-006, immune cells in the peripheral circulation disappear. Once the immune cells reappear approximately one week later, it is apparent that the phenotype of B-cells have changed, suggesting they have been educated against an antigen, presumably the dominant antigen present in the cancer or virus. Dr. Luke describes a Phase III trial investigating CPI-006 in patients with COVID-19 that demonstrated a reduction in the number of patients hospitalized, potentially due to the inducement of a humoral adaptive immune response. Similarly, disease shrinkage has been noted in patients with refractory HPV-associated head and neck cancer following treatment with an anti-PD1. Both CPI-006 and anti-PD1 work by blocking the adenosine pathway, thereby enhancing the production of antibodies. This interview took place during the 36th Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.