Nivolumab and Ipilimumab +/- UV1 Vaccination as Second Line Treatment in Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma

The mode of action of UV1 is to activate the immune system to induce T cells directed against telomerase (hTERT). UV1 vaccination amplifies the pool of hTERT specific tumor-reactive T cells from the naive repertoire and has the potential to increase the breadth and diversity of the tumor-reactive T cell response (epitope spreading). Vaccination with UV1 can thus provide the basis for increased efficacy of checkpoint inhibition therapy, by augmenting the pool of tumor specific T cells in patients with limited or insufficient numbers of T cell clones spontaneously primed by tumor antigens. Reciprocally, the efficacy of UV1 vaccination may be enhanced in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, since the clonal expansion and effector activity of UV1 induced T cells will otherwise be restricted by intrinsic immune regulatory and tumor induced suppressor mechanisms.

The responses to ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy seen in MPM is encouraging.

The responses to ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy seen in MPM is encouraging.