INO-1400

Plasmid DNA-encoded hTERT/IL-12 DNA immunotherapy was well-tolerated, immune responses were noted across all tumor types, and a specific CD8+ phenotype increased by the immunotherapy was significantly correlated with survival in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Although, commonly used treatments like trastuzumab/pertuzumab for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) positive and hormone therapy for estrogen receptor (ER) positive and/or progesterone receptor (PR) positive BC are specific but triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cases remain a great challenge for treatment measures. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-1/ anti-CTLA-4) and anti-cancer vaccines (NeuVax, Muc-1, AVX901, INO-1400 and CEA), either alone or in combination with other therapies have created new paradigm in therapeutic world. In this review, we highlighted the current immunotherapeutic aspects and their ongoing trials towards the better treatment regimen for BC.

In this phase 1 dose-escalation study, synthetic optimized DNA plasmids that target hTERT (INO-1400, or mutant hTERT; and INO-1401, or SynCon® TERT) were delivered intramuscularly followed by EP with the CELLECTRA® device, to assess safety, tolerability and immune effects of immunotherapy with INO- 1400 or INO-1401, alone or co-administered with a plasma encoding for human IL-12 (INO-9012) in adult patients with cancer. Conclusions INO-1400/01 with or without INO-9012 given IM with EP is well-tolerated in adults with solid tumors, and can generate active hTERT-specific T cells, suggesting an ability to break immune tolerance. Dosing is complete, and follow-up is ongoing.