Session: 621. Lymphomas: Translational—Molecular and Genetic: Poster III
Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways:
Hodgkin lymphoma, Fundamental Science, Research, Lymphomas, Translational Research, B Cell lymphoma, Diseases, immune mechanism, aggressive lymphoma, Lymphoid Malignancies, Biological Processes, molecular biology
Siglec-15 (Sig-15), a member of the sialic acid binding immunoglobulin-like lectin family of proteins, has recently been identified as a critical immune suppressor that is highly expressed in human cancers and intra-tumoral myeloid cells. Importantly, recent reports have demonstrated inhibition of Sig-15, has a restorative effect on local anti-tumor immune responses and abrogated tumor progression. While reported in solid malignancies and acute leukemias, a role for Siglec-15 in promoting disease progression in aggressive B-cell lymphomas has not yet been described.
We have found higher expression of SIGLEC15 in DLBCL cell lines compared to normal B cells at the RNA level, through analyses of the publicly available ONCOMINE database. This was confirmed at the protein level by western blot demonstrating higher Sig-15 expression in various lymphoma cell lines (RAJI, SUDHL6, OCI-LY10, HBL-1) compared to healthy donor PBMCs. Further, immunohistochemistry evaluating Sig-15 expression was performed on a tumor microarray consisting of 139 cases of DLBCL from adult patients along with validation samples from 15 primary pediatric lymphoma cases (DLBCL, BL and Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL)). Sig-15 was found to be highly expressed, with histologic scores ranging from weak (1+) to strong (3+) in 124 out of the 139 adult cases (Figure 1A) and in all pediatric lymphoma samples but with distinct staining patterns observed in the aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Specifically, Sig-15 appears to be highly expressed and associated with the cell membrane in most DLBCL and Burkitt’s lymphoma. Expression is more variable in ALCL, primarily elevated in the cytoplasm at low levels and/or in macrophages (Figure 1A). There is heterogeneity in Sig-15 expression with preliminary analysis of RNA-seq data from a cohort of 693 DLBCL patient samples demonstrates higher levels in the germinal center B-cell (GCB) versus activated B-cell molecular (ABC) subtype of DLBCL when compared to healthy controls (Kruskal-Wallis, *p = 0.041).
Finally, using a well-established murine lymphoma model, A20 cells were stably transduced with control, non-silencing shRNA (shNS) or shRNA against Sig-15 and injected into un-irradiated immune competent (wild type, WT) or immune deficient (Rag1-/-) BALB/C mice and monitored for signs of lymphoma development. Knockdown of Sig-15 in A20 cells abrogates disease progression in WT but not immune deficient mice (Log-rank, **p <0.0001, n=10 mice/group), consistent with a role for Sig-15 in immune evasion in lymphoma (Figure 1B).
Together, these data implicate Sig-15 as an immune checkpoint that may be inhibited therapeutically to promote an immune response to lymphoma cells.
Disclosures: Langermann: NextCure: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Koff: BeiGene: Consultancy; Viracta Therapeutics: Research Funding. Flowers: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group: Research Funding; Burroghs Wellcome Fund: Research Funding; Ziopharm: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Nektar: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; Kite: Research Funding; Jannsen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Iovance: Research Funding; Guardant: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Allogene: Research Funding; Adaptimmune: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; 4D: Research Funding; Spectrum: Consultancy; SeaGen: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics Jansen: Consultancy; N-Power Medicine: Consultancy, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genmab: Consultancy; Genentech Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Foresight Diagnostics: Consultancy, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company; Denovo Biopharma: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; National Cancer Institute: Research Funding; V Foundation: Research Funding; Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas: Research Funding; CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research: Research Funding.
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