Pharmacodynamic biomarkers and differential effects of TNF- and GM-CSF-targeting biologics in rheumatoid arthritis

Int J Rheum Dis. 2019 Apr;22(4):646-653. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.13395. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of our study was to identify pharmacodynamic biomarkers and assess differential effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- and non-TNF-targeting agents on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with an inadequate response to anti-TNF agents (anti-TNF-IR) in comparison with biologic-naïve patients.

Methods: EARTH EXPLORER 2, a phase IIb trial, evaluated golimumab, an anti-TNF antibody, and mavrilimumab, an granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor antibody, in disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-IR and anti-TNF-IR patients. Our current study assessed peripheral protein markers and gene expression levels in association with clinical response post-treatment in two disease strata.

Results: Serum proteomics results indicated the existence of specific pharmacodynamic markers for golimumab and mavrilimumab, regardless of prior anti-TNF treatment. In contrast, both antibodies induced early and sustained suppression of RA disease markers, including interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein, IL2RA, and matrix metalloproteinase 1, in DMARD-IR patients. Golimumab-induced early changes rapidly returned toward baseline concentrations in anti-TNF-IR patients, whereas mavrilimumab-induced changes were maintained through to day 169. RNA sequencing demonstrated gene expression changes at day 169 after administration of mavrilimumab but not golimumab in anti-TNF-IR patients. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic curve and regression analysis showed the association of early IL-6 change and subsequent clinical responses to golimumab in anti-TNF-IR patients.

Conclusion: Our results revealed golimumab- and mavrilimumab-specific pharmacodynamic biomarkers, and demonstrated differential biomarker-treatment relationships in anti-TNF-IR and DMARD-IR patients, respectively. Early IL-6 change after anti-TNF antibody treatment may be a potential predictive biomarker for selection of different treatment regimens in anti-TNF-IR patients.

Keywords: GM-CSF; TNF; biological therapies; biomarkers; rheumatoid arthritis.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / blood
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / genetics
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology
  • Biomarkers, Pharmacological / blood*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Monitoring / methods*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genetic Markers
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / immunology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proteomics*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Pharmacological
  • CSF2 protein, human
  • Genetic Markers
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • mavrilimumab
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • golimumab