Clinical value of monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Molecular heterogeneity in HNSCC significantly lowers the chance of identifying a single therapeutic agent that is effective for all HNSCC tumour types. However, sequencing analysis of HNSCC tumours has provided data to help identify numerous new potential therapeutic targets that are overexpressed in these carcinomas and believed to contribute to tumourigenesis [17, 18]. Such targets include the following: EGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), programmed cell death protein (PD-1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K), c-Met pathway elements, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), and CD137.

Cetuximab is a monoclonal chimeric antibody with the ability to bind to EGFR, a cell surface receptor of the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) family. The four other members of this family include EGFR1, HER2, HER3, and HER4 [4, 19]. Activated EGFR homo- or heterodimerizes along with other receptors result in phosphorylation of tyrosine and subsequent activation of signalling pathways such as MAPK, PI3K/Akt, or STAT. Induction of these pathways may result in dysregulation of apoptosis, proliferation, and transcription [11, 20].

Apart from targeting EGFR, cetuximab also stimulates the induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Recent studies have found that ADCC can be further enhanced by activating CD137, a co-stimulatory molecule overexpressed by NK and T cells after stimulation. CD137 expression in NK cells is triggered by exposure to cetuximab, thus increasing ADCC [21]. Based on this effect, it has been postulated that an additional application of CD137 agonists after cetuximab-based therapy might improve treatment response [22].

Kohrt et al. reported that cetuximab response is highly dependent on CD8⁺ cells. Enhancement of cetuximab response is mediated by dendritic cell maturation, induced by NK cells [23]. Furthermore, stimulation of peripheral blood cells through TLR 8⁺ (Toll-like receptor 8) further augments cetuximab-induced ADCC and promotes dendritic cell maturation in HNSCC [24].

However, HNSCC tumours can develop resistance to cetuximab. The mechanism behind this resistance process is signalling based, leading to activation of the other members of the EGFR family: HER2, HER3, as well as c-Met and insulin growth factor receptor (IGFR) [4, 19]. Another aim of therapeutic inhibition is activation of the c-Met/HGF signalling pathway, which is recognized as a major contributing factor to HNSCC resistance to EGFR, cisplatin, and radiation [25]. Antibodies targeting those pathways are under clinical evaluation and currently include transtuzumab, pertuzumab, onartuzumab, and cixutumumab [26, 27]. HGF also contributes to the inhibition of dendritic cell (DC) maturation. Anti-HGF mAb (AMG-102, rilotumumab) has been developed to eliminate this effect, and AMG-102 is currently undergoing evaluation in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) [28], advanced solid tumours, and metastatic gastric esophagogastric adenocarcinoma [29]. Activation of c-Met can be blocked by ficlatuzumab, a humanized anti-HGF mAb currently being tested in combination with cetuximab in HNSCC [30]. Increased expression of c-Met correlates with resistance to platinum-based agents, radiation, and to EGFR-targeting agents; given that most HNSCC samples overexpress c-Met, this may be a novel therapeutic target [31].

Hayakawa et al. [32] found that IL-6 levels were upregulated in HNSCC, and elevated levels of IL-6 are associated with STAT3 signalling and blockage of DC maturation, which makes them a potential target for therapeutic inhibition. Siltuximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against IL-6, was designed to restore physiological STAT3 signalling and DC maturation. The efficacy of siltuximab in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer is under evaluation [33].

Another EGFR-targeting antibody is zalutumumab [34]. This human IgG1 mAb is characterized by high affinity to EGFR and low immunogenicity. The main advantage of zalutumumab is its immunogenicity, which, while improving overall tolerance, does not impair ADCC induction [35]. The efficacy of zalutumumab has been evaluated in incurable HNSCC, where it increased overall survival by 1.5 months versus healthy controls [36]. Panitumumab, another anti-EGFR molecule, is a human IgG2 mAb with less capacity to enhance ADCC compared to cetuximab. Panitumumab, which has a reduced affinity for the CD16 receptor, has been shown to present fewer hypersensitivity reactions. Panitumumab has been evaluated in combination with cisplatin and 5-FU in HNSCC, yielding a greater than threefold decrease in disease progression when compared to CT alone; however, this combined treatment was also associated with a significant increase in serious adverse effects [37]. The efficacy of panitumumab in monotherapy [38] is currently being evaluated [20]. Nimotuzumab is a recombinant humanized murine antibody targeting EGFR. The activity of nimotuzumab as a complement to standard chemotherapy has been evaluated in locally advanced HNSCC [39]; assessment of its efficacy combined with CRT is ongoing [40].

MEHD7945A is another anticancer mAb whose main advantage is an affinity for both EGFR and HER3 [41]. MEHD7945A may act as a radiation sensitizer in both lung cancer and HNSCC. Studies conducted to date have shown that this drug can effectively enhance radiation response in those neoplasms, both in vitro and in vivo [41].

Angiogenesis is crucial to tumour proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. The process is enhanced by low oxygen levels and VEGF overexpression [42]. Considering the importance of VEGF in inducing vascularization, elevated levels of VEGF (both the growth factor and its receptors) correlate with poor prognosis [24], which explains the interest in bevacizumab, a VEGF-targeted mAb. The main advantage of bevacizumab is its affinity for all five VEGF isophorms [43]. However, studies that have investigated bevacizumab as monotherapy have found no significant change in response or overall survival [44]. By contrast, when it is added as a complementary treatment to standard, platinum-based CT, it substantially improves the outcomes of patients with advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) [43]. This raises the possibility that bevacizumab could have a similar effect in HNSCC [44]. A trial of bevacizumab with CT in locally advanced HNSCC is currently ongoing [45].

The clinical use of mAbs such as cetuximab and trastuzumab (which targets EGFR and HER2), designed to inhibit signalling promoting cell proliferation and evasion of apoptosis, yields a better overall response than TKIs targeting the same molecules [11]. Those findings suggest that some other immune mechanisms, apart from blockage of downstream signalling, must contribute to the clinical success of these agents [11]. In xenograft models expressing HER2, trastuzumab and pertuzumab induced ADCC [46], leading the authors to suggest that co-targeting tumour antigens (TA) with mAbs might further enhance immune response.

The loss of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) and transforming growth factor β receptor 1 (TGF-βR1) are associated with PD-L1 activation, possibly through the Akt signalling pathway [47, 48]. Studies have found PD-1 overexpression in 68–70% of HNSCC malignancies [26], regardless of HPV infection status [49, 50]. PD-1 is a receptor present on the surface of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), B and NK cells, and macrophages. PD-1 is expected to be superior to CTLA-4 in negative signalling. PD-L1 and PD-L2 are ligands of PD-1. After prolonged exposure to antigens, macrophages and dendritic cells start to overexpress PD-L1, which, in the HNSCC setting, leads to decreased CTL and NK cell activity [51]. If antigen stimulation continues, CTLA-4 and PD-1 receptors downregulate CTL response, thus resolving post-infectious inflammation and thwarting the autoimmune response. Those “immune checkpoints” serve a useful purpose in cancers; however, they may lead to pathologic tolerance and thus contribute to tumour immune escape [48]. A humanized IgG4 anti-PD-1 mAb (nivolumab) has been developed to release CTLs and NK cells from anergy, and this drug has been evaluated in renal carcinoma, melanoma, and NSCLC. The evaluation of nivolumab in HNSCC is ongoing [52]. Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD1 mAb, is currently in phase 2 clinical trial in patients with metastatic HNSCC after standard platinum-based therapy [53]. Durvalumab also targets PD-L1, however is less effective than pembrolizumab, and evokes approximately 11% response [54].

The development of agents to reduce co-inhibitory signalling and activate CTLs is a recent aim of HNSCC treatment and ipilimumab is one of the agents that is potentially capable of achieving this effect. This anti-CTLA-4 IgG1 mAb is currently used to treat melanoma [55]. A decrease in co-inhibitory CTLA-4 signalling leads to amplification of tumour-specific CTLs, thus having a therapeutic effect [56]. However, such agents should be administered with caution since they have been reported to cause severe adverse effects such as hypopituitarism or colitis [57]. Another agent with a similar mechanism in current trials is tremelimumab [58].

mAbs targeting PD-1 and PDL-1 have shown a significant response in solid tumours such as melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and NSCLC [11]. Recent studies indicate that application of anti-PD-1 mAb in HNSCC significantly inhibits proliferation and decreases levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), while elevating CD8⁺ cell population levels [49]. Nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 mAb, has been shown to have lower toxicity than CTLA-4-targeted antibodies; moreover, the adverse effects associated with therapy tend to be less severe and include fatigue and pyrexia [46]. Currently, nivolumab is in phase III trial in metastatic HNSCC [59].

OX40 (a tumour necrosis factor receptor) is a component of the co-stimulatory pathway, which can strengthen T cell memory and anti-tumour activity, thus reducing cancer immune escape mechanisms [60]. Main reason to use OX40 is that it has a proven co-expression with PD-1 and CTLA-4 [48]. Antibodies targeting OX40 might increase T cell signalling and enhance the proliferation of these T cells, memory, and cytotoxicity. Several studies have found that OX40-targeting mAbs may have synergistic effects when administered with other immunotherapeutics [61]. Guo et al. have shown that the combination of anti-OX40 mAb and anti-PD-1 improves overall survival compared to any of these agents alone [62, 63].

Another group of agents that has emerged recently are TKIs. These are a class of chemotherapeutics that block specific tyrosine kinases involved in pathways essential for tumour growth, invasion, and metastasis. By binding to the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR, TKIs block subsequent signalling, resulting in inhibition of cell proliferation [62].

Two most commonly used TKIs are gefitinib and erlotinib. Gefitinib, which targets EGFR, causes reversible inhibition of the receptor; this TKI has been tested in conjunction with standard CT or CRT in HNSCC, and in 2015, it was approved by the FDA for monotherapy treatment of NSCLC. Erlotinib is another EGFR kinase inhibitor whose efficacy has been proven in over 80 clinical trials. It is currently approved for NSCLC and pancreatic cancer. Although trials have shown that erlotinib yields good results when added to radiotherapy, its use in combination with cisplatin is not recommended. A phase III clinical trial of erlotinib–cisplatin–radiation efficacy is ongoing [64].

Since heterodimerization of EGFR with other receptors is suspected to limit the benefits of mAbs and TKIs, it has been suggested that agents that can simultaneously inhibit several members of the EGFR family could be useful [62]. This explains the growing interest in small molecule inhibitors—such as lapatinib, afatinib, sorafenib, and sunitinib—that target multiple receptors. Lapatinib is a reversible TKI, directed against both EGFR and HER2 kinases. Afatinib, through covalent bond formation, irreversibly blocks EGFR, HER2, and HER4 kinases. One trial showed that co-administration of afatinib with cetuximab in HNSCC significantly reduced cell viability, suggesting an additive or synergistic effect [65]. The efficacy of sunitinib and sorafenib is due to inhibition of VEGFR, PDGFR, Flt3, and c-kit.

The hallmark of HNSCC tumour cells is an imbalance in STAT1/STAT3 signalling. While downregulation of the STAT1 signalling pathway decreases the concentration of CCL5 and CXCL10 (cytokines that promote T cell migration), upregulation of STAT3 increases cytokine secretion. IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β1, and VEGF contribute to impaired DC maturation and NK cell-mediated cytolysis [66]. The function of IFN-γ is to enhance HLA and antigen presentation in tumour and dendritic cells. This process is downregulated in the tumour environment due to lack of IFNγ-induced STAT1 signalling. Moreover, DC maturation is inhibited by the downregulation of the STAT3 pathway mediated by secretion of IL-6 by tumour cells. The therapeutic aim is to restore the balance between the STAT1/STAT3 pathways, either by inhibiting enhanced STAT3 or by inducing suppressed STAT1. In vitro studies have shown that downregulation of STAT3 signalling reduces the immunosuppressive characteristics of HNSCC [67]. An anti-Src TKI (dasatinib) may be useful due to STAT3 mediation execution. Two clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of dasatinib in combination with cetuximab and CT [68, 69].

The use of Janus kinases offers another approach to reverse the STAT1/STAT3 imbalance. STAT3 is activated after interaction with JAK1, and JAK2 and Src. JAK1 and JAK2 are phosphorylated through IL-6-mediated stimulation. For this reason, researchers have recently sought to develop agents to downregulate STAT3 by targeting JAK receptors. Research in this area has led to the development of the novel drug ruxolitinib. JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms [70]. A second JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor—AZD1480—has been tested both in vitro and in vivo, with findings showing that AZD1480 effectively decreases IL-6-mediated STAT3 activation, thus inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. In mice, administration of AZD1480 has been reported to increase overall survival [71].

PI3Ks (phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases) are a family of enzymes engaged in various cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and motility, which are related to tumourigenesis. The PIK3A gene is often mutated in HNSCC, making the pathway an attractive target for therapeutic inhibition. Furthermore, mutations in PIK3A elements are responsible for the subsequent activation of the Akt and mTOR pathways. To date, several small molecule inhibitors of PI3K have been developed, including GDC-0941, PX-866, NVP-BKM120, and NVPBYL719.

NK cells are one of the most important components of innate immunity, and these large cytotoxic lymphocytes are the main drivers of ADCC execution [72]. However, their activity in HNSCC may be impaired due to downregulation of the NK cell receptor (NKG2D). NKG2D depletion is promoted by increased TGF-β levels [51]. For this reason, it has been suggested that immunotherapy could improve response provided that expression of TGF-β concentrations at the tumour site can be decreased; one approach to reducing TGF-β expression is through c-Met blockage, which lowers the production of TGF-β, thus sensitizing tumour cells to immune mechanisms. Kumai et al. have shown that tivantinib, a TKI targeting c-Met, leads to a significant decrease in TGF-β production, thus resulting in better response and improved immune mechanisms. Collectively, previous studies have found a critical role for the c-Met/HGF pathway in cancer proliferation and metastasis, indicating that the c-Met/HGF may be a viable target for future therapy development [73]. Table 1 shows a compilation of the novel targeted therapy agents that may be useful in HNSCC treatment.