Omar Elaskalani

Omar Elaskalani


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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28 September 2024 in Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NPNicola Principe
Nicola Principe
APAmber-Lee Phung
Amber-Lee Phung
KSKofi L P Stevens
Kofi L P Stevens
OEOmar Elaskalani
Omar Elaskalani
BWBen Wylie
Ben Wylie
JCJonathan Chee
Jonathan Chee
Background: Antibodies that target immune checkpoints such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) are approved for treatment of multiple cancer types. Chemotherapy is often administered with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies that target CTLA-4 and/or PD-(L)1. ICB targeting other immune checkpoints such as lymphocyte activating gene-3 (LAG-3) has the potential to improve antitumor responses when combined with chemotherapy. Response to anti-PD-1 ICB is dependent on progenitor exhausted CD8+ T cells (TPEX) in the tumor, but it is unclear how chemotherapy alters TPEX proportions and phenotype. Methods: Here we investigated whether sequential chemotherapy altered TPEX frequency and immune checkpoint expression in multiple murine tumor models. Results: Two doses of two different anti-metabolite chemotherapies increased tumor infiltrating CD4+, and CD8+ TPEX expressing LAG-3 in multiple mouse models, which was not restricted to tumor antigen specific CD8+ T cells. To determine if LAG-3+tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) could be targeted to improve tumor control, we administered anti-LAG-3 and anti-PD-1 ICB after two doses of chemotherapy and found combination therapy generated robust antitumor responses compared with each agent alone. Both anti-LAG-3 and anti-PD-1 ICB with chemotherapy were required for the complete tumor regression observed. Conclusions: Changes in immune checkpoint expression on TILs during chemotherapy administration informs selection of ICB therapies to combine with.