Abstract 1207: Reversing lactate-driven immunosuppression using the novel, potent and selective MCT4 inhibitor AZD0095

Metabolic adaptation to a Warburg phenotype is a hallmark of cancer, where tumors rely on glucose to produce ATP and building blocks required to support rapid tumor growth. Glycolytic metabolism requires continuous export of lactate from cells by monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) resulting in accumulation of lactic acid in the tumor microenvironment. Tumor-derived lactate is immune-suppressive and has been shown to modify immune cell function. Inhibition of the MCT4 lactate transporter has the potential to reduce lactate in the tumor microenvironment and reverse immune suppression. AZD0095 is a highly selective, potent inhibitor of MCT4 with a cellular activity of 1-3 nM with a >1000-fold selectivity over MCT1. We confirm that lactic acid inhibits T cell proliferation and viability. AZD0095 does not inhibit T cell proliferation or survival (IC50 > 10 μM). Oral administration of AZD0095 (10-100 mg/kg BID) modulates lactate transport in mouse syngeneic models which do not express the MCT1 lactate transporter. AZD0095 treatment causes an increase in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and an increase in cytotoxic T cells in combination with α-PD1. AZD0095 treatment suppresses myeloid infiltration as a monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitor. Consistent with the observed changes in immune cell infiltration, the combination of AZD0095 with checkpoint inhibitors α-PD1 or α-CTLA4 (10 mg/kg 3x week) enhances the anti-tumor activity of checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy in MC-38 and EMT6 (MCT1 knock-out) mouse syngeneic models. These data demonstrate that AZD0095 can reverse lactate-driven immunosuppression and enhance response to checkpoint inhibition in pre-clinical models. Citation Format: Susan E. Critchlow, Gareth Hughes, Anna Staniszewska, Matt King, Filippos Michopoulos, Lorna Hopcroft, Martin R. Brown, Jenna Bradley, Beverley Hammond, Pablo MorentinGutierrez, Larissa Carnevalli, Elizabeth Hardaker, Frederick W. Goldberg. Reversing lactate-driven immunosuppression using the novel, potent and selective MCT4 inhibitor AZD0095 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1207.