1
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Poon AYC, Sugimura R. The prospect of genetically engineering natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy. Biol Open 2022; 11:bio059396. [PMID: 36445164 PMCID: PMC9729658 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of natural killer (NK) cells in cancer immunotherapy demonstrates promising potential, yet its efficacy is often limited due to the loss of tumor-killing capacity and lack of specificity in vivo. Here, we review current approaches to confer enhanced tumor-killing capacity and specificity by genetic engineering. Increasing sensitivity to cytokines and protecting NK cells from the immune checkpoint endowed sustainability of NK cells in the tumor microenvironment. Transducing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) in NK cells successfully targeted both hematologic and solid tumors in preclinical models. The use of human pluripotent stem cells as an expandable and genetically amenable platform offers a stable source of engineered NK cells for cancer immunotherapy. We highlight that CAR-NK cells from human pluripotent stem cells are a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie Yu Ching Poon
- School of Biomedical Science, University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Rd, Hong Kong999077
| | - Ryohichi Sugimura
- School of Biomedical Science, University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Rd, Hong Kong999077
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2
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Lamers-Kok N, Panella D, Georgoudaki AM, Liu H, Özkazanc D, Kučerová L, Duru AD, Spanholtz J, Raimo M. Natural killer cells in clinical development as non-engineered, engineered, and combination therapies. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:164. [DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01382-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractNatural killer (NK) cells are unique immune effectors able to kill cancer cells by direct recognition of surface ligands, without prior sensitization. Allogeneic NK transfer is a highly valuable treatment option for cancer and has recently emerged with hundreds of clinical trials paving the way to finally achieve market authorization. Advantages of NK cell therapies include the use of allogenic cell sources, off-the-shelf availability, and no risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Allogeneic NK cell therapies have reached the clinical stage as ex vivo expanded and differentiated non-engineered cells, as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered or CD16-engineered products, or as combination therapies with antibodies, priming agents, and other drugs. This review summarizes the recent clinical status of allogeneic NK cell-based therapies for the treatment of hematological and solid tumors, discussing the main characteristics of the different cell sources used for NK product development, their use in cell manufacturing processes, the engineering methods and strategies adopted for genetically modified products, and the chosen approaches for combination therapies. A comparative analysis between NK-based non-engineered, engineered, and combination therapies is presented, examining the choices made by product developers regarding the NK cell source and the targeted tumor indications, for both solid and hematological cancers. Clinical trial outcomes are discussed and, when available, assessed in comparison with preclinical data. Regulatory challenges for product approval are reviewed, highlighting the lack of specificity of requirements and standardization between products. Additionally, the competitive landscape and business field is presented. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the effort driven by biotech and pharmaceutical companies and by academic centers to bring NK cell therapies to pivotal clinical trial stages and to market authorization.
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3
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Epperly R, Talleur AC, Li Y, Schell S, Tuggle M, Métais JY, Huang S, Pei D, Cheng C, Madden R, Mamcarz E, Naik S, Qudeimat A, Sharma A, Srinivasan A, Suliman A, Gottschalk S, Triplett BM. Sub-myeloablative Second Transplantations with Haploidentical Donors and Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide have limited Anti-Leukemic Effects in Pediatric Patients. Transplant Cell Ther 2022; 28:262.e1-262.e10. [PMID: 35151936 PMCID: PMC9081211 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies who experience relapse after a prior allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) have an exceedingly poor prognosis. A second allogeneic HCT offers the potential for long-term cure but carries high risks of both subsequent relapse and HCT-related morbidity and mortality. Using haploidentical donors for HCT (haploHCT) can expand the donor pool and potentially enhance the graft-versus-leukemia effect but is accompanied by a risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The goal of this protocol was to intensify the antileukemia effect of haploHCT for pediatric patients with hematologic malignancies that relapsed after prior allogeneic HCT, while limiting regimen-associated toxicities. This phase II clinical trial evaluated a sub-myeloablative preparative regimen consisting of anti-thymocyte globulin, clofarabine, cytarabine, busulfan, and cyclophosphamide, in combination with plerixafor to sensitize leukemic blasts. Participants received a mobilized peripheral blood unmanipulated haploidentical donor graft with one dose of post-transplant cyclophosphamide as GVHD prophylaxis, followed by natural killer (NK) cell addback. Here we report the clinical outcomes and immune reconstitution of 17 participants treated on the study and 5 additional patients treated on similar single-patient treatment plans. Of the 22 participants analyzed, 12 (55%) had active disease at the time of HCT. The regimen provided robust immune reconstitution, with 21 participants (95%) experiencing neutrophil engraftment at a median of 14 days after HCT. In this high-risk population, the overall survival was 45% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24%-64%), with a 12-month event-free survival of 31% (95% CI, 14%-51%) and cumulative incidence of relapse at 12 months of 50% (95% CI, 27%-69%). Four participants (18%) remain in remission at >5 years follow-up. Expected HCT-related organ-specific toxicities were observed, and 13 participants (59%) experienced acute or chronic GVHD. This intensified but sub-myeloablative regimen, followed by a high-dose unmanipulated haploidentical graft, post-transplantation cyclophosphamide, and NK cell infusion, resulted in adequate immune reconstitution but failed to overcome the elevated risks of relapse and treatment-related morbidity in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Epperly
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Aimee C Talleur
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Sarah Schell
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - MaCal Tuggle
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jean-Yves Métais
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Sujuan Huang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Deqing Pei
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Cheng Cheng
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Renee Madden
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Ewelina Mamcarz
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Swati Naik
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Amr Qudeimat
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Akshay Sharma
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Ashok Srinivasan
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Ali Suliman
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Brandon M Triplett
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
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4
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Ramos-Mejia V, Arellano-Galindo J, Mejía-Arangure JM, Cruz-Munoz ME. A NK Cell Odyssey: From Bench to Therapeutics Against Hematological Malignancies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:803995. [PMID: 35493522 PMCID: PMC9046543 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.803995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In 1975 two independent groups noticed the presence of immune cells with a unique ability to recognize and eliminate transformed hematopoietic cells without any prior sensitization or expansion of specific clones. Since then, NK cells have been the axis of thousands of studies that have resulted until June 2021, in more than 70 000 publications indexed in PubMed. As result of this work, which include approaches in vitro, in vivo, and in natura, it has been possible to appreciate the role played by the NK cells, not only as effectors against specific pathogens, but also as regulators of the immune response. Recent advances have revealed previous unidentified attributes of NK cells including the ability to adapt to new conditions under the context of chronic infections, or their ability to develop some memory-like characteristics. In this review, we will discuss significant findings that have rule our understanding of the NK cell biology, the developing of these findings into new concepts in immunology, and how these conceptual platforms are being used in the design of strategies for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Ramos-Mejia
- GENYO: Centro Pfizer, Universidad de Granada, Junta de Andalucía de Genómica e Investigación Oncológica, Granada, Spain
| | - Jose Arellano-Galindo
- Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Infantil de México “Dr. Federico Gomez”, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Juan Manuel Mejía-Arangure
- Genómica del Cancer, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica (INMEGEN) & Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Mario Ernesto Cruz-Muñoz, ; Juan Manuel Mejía-Arangure,
| | - Mario Ernesto Cruz-Munoz
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Mario Ernesto Cruz-Muñoz, ; Juan Manuel Mejía-Arangure,
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Zhu N, Zhang Y, Cheng J, Mao Y, Kang K, Li G, Yi Q, Wu Y. Immuno-affinitive supramolecular magnetic nanoparticles incorporating cucurbit[8]uril-mediated ternary host-guest complexation structures for high-efficient small extracellular vesicle enrichment. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 611:462-471. [PMID: 34968965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.12.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Enriching small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) with undamaged structure and function is a pivotal step for further applications in biological and clinical fields. It has prompted researchers to explore a carrier material that can efficiently capture sEVs while also gently release the captured sEVs. Here, 1-adamantylamine (1-ADA) responsive immuno-affinitive supramolecular magnetic nanoparticles (ISM-NPs) incorporating ternary host-guest complexation structures mediated by CB[8] were proposed to achieved the goal. In particular, the ternary host-guest complexation was constructed by the host molecule (cucurbit[8]uril, CB[8]) mediated assembly of two guest molecules (naphthol and bipyridine), and served as a cleavable bridge to connect the magnetic core and peripheral antibody. These constructed ISM-NPs performed well in the applications of capturing sEVs with a high capture efficiency of 85.5%. Further, the CB[8]-mediated ternary host-guest complexation structures can be disassembled with addition of the 1-ADA. Thus, the sEVs recognized by the anti-CD63 were released competitively, with a decent release efficiency more than 82%. The released sEVs kept intact morphology and exhibited appropriate size distribution and concentration. This supramolecular magnetic system, with 1-ADA responsive ternary host-guest complexation structures, may contribute to efficient enrichment of any other biomarkers, likely cells, proteins, peptides, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanhang Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Yujia Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Jia Cheng
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Yanchao Mao
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Ke Kang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Guohao Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Qiangying Yi
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China.
| | - Yao Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China.
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6
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Lamb MG, Rangarajan HG, Tullius BP, Lee DA. Natural killer cell therapy for hematologic malignancies: successes, challenges, and the future. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:211. [PMID: 33766099 PMCID: PMC7992329 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02277-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of natural killer (NK) cells is an emerging therapy in the field of immuno-oncology. In the last 3 decades, NK cells have been utilized to harness the anti-tumor immune response in a wide range of malignancies, most notably with early evidence of efficacy in hematologic malignancies. NK cells are dysfunctional in patients with hematologic malignancies, and their number and function are further impaired by chemotherapy, radiation, and immunosuppressants used in initial therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Restoring this innate immune deficit may lead to improved therapeutic outcomes. NK cell adoptive transfer has proven to be a safe in these settings, even in the setting of HLA mismatch, and a deeper understanding of NK cell biology and optimized expansion techniques have improved scalability and therapeutic efficacy. Here, we review the use of NK cell therapy in hematologic malignancies and discuss strategies to further improve the efficacy of NK cells against these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret G Lamb
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Hemalatha G Rangarajan
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Brian P Tullius
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dean A Lee
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Suite 5A.1, Columbus, OH, 43205-2664, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
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7
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Fleischer LC, Spencer HT, Raikar SS. Targeting T cell malignancies using CAR-based immunotherapy: challenges and potential solutions. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:141. [PMID: 31884955 PMCID: PMC6936092 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0801-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has been successful in treating B cell malignancies in clinical trials; however, fewer studies have evaluated CAR T cell therapy for the treatment of T cell malignancies. There are many challenges in translating this therapy for T cell disease, including fratricide, T cell aplasia, and product contamination. To the best of our knowledge, no tumor-specific antigen has been identified with universal expression on cancerous T cells, hindering CAR T cell therapy for these malignancies. Numerous approaches have been assessed to address each of these challenges, such as (i) disrupting target antigen expression on CAR-modified T cells, (ii) targeting antigens with limited expression on T cells, and (iii) using third party donor cells that are either non-alloreactive or have been genome edited at the T cell receptor α constant (TRAC) locus. In this review, we discuss CAR approaches that have been explored both in preclinical and clinical studies targeting T cell antigens, as well as examine other potential strategies that can be used to successfully translate this therapy for T cell disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C Fleischer
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H Trent Spencer
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sunil S Raikar
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Torabi-Rahvar M, Aghayan HR, Ahmadbeigi N. Antigen-independent killer cells prepared for adoptive immunotherapy: One source, divergent protocols, diverse nomenclature. J Immunol Methods 2019; 477:112690. [PMID: 31678265 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2019.112690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using tumor antigen-independent killer cells has been widely used in clinical trials of cancer treatment. Circumventing the need for identification of a particular tumor-associated antigen on tumor cells, the approach has opened possibilities for the extension of ACT immunotherapy to patients with a wide variety of cancer types. Namely, Natural Killer (NK), Lymphokine-activated Killer (LAK) cells and Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are the most commonly used cell types in antigen-independent adoptive immunotherapy of cancer. They all originate from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and share several common features in their killing mechanisms. However, despite broad application in clinical settings, the boundaries between these cell types are not very clearly defined. The current study aims to review different aspects of these cell populations in terms of phenotypical characteristic and preparation media, to clarify how the boundaries are set.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hamid-Reza Aghayan
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Naser Ahmadbeigi
- Cell-Based Therapies Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute,Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, North Kargar Ave, 14117 Tehran, Iran.
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Sivori S, Meazza R, Quintarelli C, Carlomagno S, Della Chiesa M, Falco M, Moretta L, Locatelli F, Pende D. NK Cell-Based Immunotherapy for Hematological Malignancies. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E1702. [PMID: 31623224 PMCID: PMC6832127 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes are an integral component of the innate immune system and represent important effector cells in cancer immunotherapy, particularly in the control of hematological malignancies. Refined knowledge of NK cellular and molecular biology has fueled the interest in NK cell-based antitumor therapies, and recent efforts have been made to exploit the high potential of these cells in clinical practice. Infusion of high numbers of mature NK cells through the novel graft manipulation based on the selective depletion of T cells and CD19+ B cells has resulted into an improved outcome in children with acute leukemia given human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical hematopoietic transplantation. Likewise, adoptive transfer of purified third-party NK cells showed promising results in patients with myeloid malignancies. Strategies based on the use of cytokines or monoclonal antibodies able to induce and optimize NK cell activation, persistence, and expansion also represent a novel field of investigation with remarkable perspectives of favorably impacting on outcome of patients with hematological neoplasia. In addition, preliminary results suggest that engineering of mature NK cells through chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) constructs deserve further investigation, with the goal of obtaining an "off-the-shelf" NK cell bank that may serve many different recipients for granting an efficient antileukemia activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy (S.C.); (M.D.C.)
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Raffaella Meazza
- Department of Integrated Oncological Therapies, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, 00165 Rome, Italy; (C.Q.); (F.L.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Simona Carlomagno
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy (S.C.); (M.D.C.)
| | - Mariella Della Chiesa
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy (S.C.); (M.D.C.)
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Michela Falco
- Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, 00146 Rome, Italy;
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, 00165 Rome, Italy; (C.Q.); (F.L.)
- Department of Gynecology/Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Pende
- Department of Integrated Oncological Therapies, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
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Di Vito C, Mikulak J, Zaghi E, Pesce S, Marcenaro E, Mavilio D. NK cells to cure cancer. Semin Immunol 2019; 41:101272. [PMID: 31085114 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes able to mediate immune-surveillance and clearance of viral infected and tumor-transformed cells. Growing experimental and clinical evidence highlighted a dual role of NK cells either in the control of cancer development/progression or in promoting the onset of immune-suppressant tumor microenvironments. Indeed, several mechanisms of NK cell-mediated tumor escape have been described and these includes cancer-induced aberrant expression of activating and inhibitory receptors (i.e. NK cell immune checkpoints), impairments of NK cell migration to tumor sites and altered NK cell effector-functions. These phenomena highly contribute to tumor progression and metastasis formation. In this review, we discuss the latest insights on those NK cell receptors and related molecules that are currently being implemented in clinics either as possible prognostic factors or therapeutic targets to unleash NK cell anti-tumor effector-functions in vivo. Moreover, we address here the major recent advances in regard to the genetic modification and ex vivo expansion of anti-tumor specific NK cells used in innovative adoptive cellular transfer approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Di Vito
- Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Joanna Mikulak
- Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine (BioMeTra), University of Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Zaghi
- Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Pesce
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Emanuela Marcenaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Domenico Mavilio
- Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine (BioMeTra), University of Milan, Italy.
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11
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Lin SL, Su YT, Feng SW, Chang WJ, Fan KH, Huang HM. Enhancement of natural killer cell cytotoxicity by using static magnetic field to increase their viability. Electromagn Biol Med 2019; 38:131-142. [DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2019.1591439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Li Lin
- Dental Department, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Tsai Su
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Wei Feng
- School of Oral Hygiene, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jen Chang
- School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kan-Hsin Fan
- Dental Department, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Haw-Ming Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Oral Hygiene, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Optomechatronics, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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12
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NK cell therapy after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: can we improve anti-tumor effect? Int J Hematol 2017; 107:151-156. [PMID: 29196968 DOI: 10.1007/s12185-017-2379-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
After decades since the discovery of natural killer (NK) cells as potential effector cells fighting malignantly transformed and virally infected cells, little progress has been made in their clinical application. This yet unrealized therapeutic effect is presumably, at least in part, due to low numbers of functional NK cells that could be obtained from the peripheral blood relative to tumor burden. Our group hypothesized that a relatively small NK cell number to targeted malignant cells is the cause of a lack of clinical effect. We pursued obtaining large numbers of NK cells via ex vivo expansion using feeder cells that express membrane-bound IL-21. Early clinical studies demonstrate safety of administration of ex vivo expanded NK cells after transplantation using this method and suggest a therapeutic benefit in terms on decreasing relapse rate and possible control of viral infections post-transplant can be achieved. Successful application of NK cells after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation opens the possibility to effectively enhance the anti-tumor effect and decrease relapse rate post-transplant. Moreover, high doses of NK cells could prove more efficacious in enhancing anti-tumor effects, not only in hematological malignancies, with our without transplantation, but also in solid tumor oncology.
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13
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Federico SM, McCarville MB, Shulkin BL, Sondel PM, Hank JA, Hutson P, Meagher M, Shafer A, Ng CY, Leung W, Janssen WE, Wu J, Mao S, Brennan RC, Santana VM, Pappo AS, Furman WL. A Pilot Trial of Humanized Anti-GD2 Monoclonal Antibody (hu14.18K322A) with Chemotherapy and Natural Killer Cells in Children with Recurrent/Refractory Neuroblastoma. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:6441-6449. [PMID: 28939747 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-0379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Anti-GD2 mAbs, acting via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, may enhance the effects of chemotherapy. This pilot trial investigated a fixed dose of a unique anti-GD2 mAb, hu14.18K322A, combined with chemotherapy, cytokines, and haploidentical natural killer (NK) cells.Experimental Design: Children with recurrent/refractory neuroblastoma received up to six courses of hu14.18K322A (40 mg/m2/dose, days 2-5), GM-CSF, and IL2 with chemotherapy: cyclophosphamide/topotecan (courses 1,2), irinotecan/temozolomide (courses 3,4), and ifosfamide/carboplatin/etoposide (courses 5,6). Parentally derived NK cells were administered with courses 2, 4, and 6. Serum for pharmacokinetic studies of hu14.18K322A, soluble IL2 receptor alpha (sIL2Rα) levels, and human antihuman antibodies (HAHA) were obtained.Results: Thirteen heavily pretreated patients (9 with prior anti-GD2 therapy) completed 65 courses. One patient developed an unacceptable toxicity (grade 4 thrombocytopenia >35 days). Four patients discontinued treatment for adverse events (hu14.18K322A allergic reaction, viral infection, surgical death, second malignancy). Common toxicities included grade 3/4 myelosuppression (13/13 patients) and grade 1/2 pain (13/13 patients). Eleven patients received 29 NK-cell infusions. The response rate was 61.5% (4 complete responses, 1 very good partial response, 3 partial responses) and five had stable disease. The median time to progression was 274 days (range, 239-568 days); 10 of 13 patients (77%) survived 1 year. Hu14.18K322A pharmacokinetics was not affected by chemotherapy or HAHA. All patients had increased sIL2Rα levels, indicating immune activation.Conclusions: Chemotherapy plus hu14.18K322A, cytokines, and NK cells is feasible and resulted in clinically meaningful responses in patients with refractory/recurrent neuroblastoma. Further studies of this approach are warranted in patients with relapsed and newly diagnosed neuroblastoma. Clin Cancer Res; 23(21); 6441-9. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Federico
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. .,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - M Beth McCarville
- Department of Radiological Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Barry L Shulkin
- Department of Radiological Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Paul M Sondel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jacquelyn A Hank
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Paul Hutson
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Michael Meagher
- Department of Therapeutics Production and Quality, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Aaron Shafer
- Department of Therapeutics Production and Quality, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Catherine Y Ng
- Department of Therapeutics Production and Quality, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Wing Leung
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - William E Janssen
- Human Applications Lab, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jianrong Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Shenghua Mao
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Rachel C Brennan
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Victor M Santana
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Alberto S Pappo
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Wayne L Furman
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
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14
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Bollino D, Webb TJ. Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer and natural killer T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Transl Res 2017; 187. [PMID: 28651074 PMCID: PMC5604792 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells of the innate immune system and natural killer T (NKT) cells, which have roles in both the innate and adaptive responses, are unique lymphocyte subsets that have similarities in their functions and phenotypes. Both cell types can rapidly respond to the presence of tumor cells and participate in immune surveillance and antitumor immune responses. This has incited interest in the development of novel cancer therapeutics based on NK and NKT cell manipulation. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), generated through the fusion of an antigen-binding region of a monoclonal antibody or other ligand to intracellular signaling domains, can enhance lymphocyte targeting and activation toward diverse malignancies. Most of the CAR studies have focused on their expression in T cells; however, the functional heterogeneity of CAR T cells limits their therapeutic potential and is associated with toxicity. CAR-modified NK and NKT cells are becoming more prevalent because they provide a method to direct these cells more specifically to target cancer cells, with less risk of adverse effects. This review will outline current NK and NKT cell CAR constructs and how they compare to conventional CAR T cells, and discuss future modifications that can be explored to advance adoptive cell transfer of NK and NKT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Bollino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, Baltimore, Md
| | - Tonya J Webb
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, Baltimore, Md.
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15
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Talleur AC, Triplett BM, Federico S, Mamcarz E, Janssen W, Wu J, Shook D, Leung W, Furman WL. Consolidation Therapy for Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Patients with High-Risk Neuroblastoma Using Busulfan/Melphalan, Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Anti-GD2 Antibody, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor, Interleukin-2, and Haploidentical Natural Killer Cells. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2017; 23:1910-1917. [PMID: 28733263 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2017.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The treatment of pediatric high-risk neuroblastoma is intensive and multimodal. Despite the introduction of immunotherapy for minimal residual disease, survival rates remain suboptimal and new therapies are needed. As part of a phase 2 trial, we are using a consolidation therapy regimen that combines a busulfan/melphalan conditioning schema, autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT), and experimental immunotherapy with hu14.18K322A (a humanized anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-2, with or without the adoptive transfer of haploidentical natural killer cells (NKs). Here we report on 30 patients who have undergone AHCT with this experimental immunotherapy regimen, 21 of whom received haploidentical NKs. The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 13 days (range, 10 to 28 days) and to platelet engraftment of at least 20 × 103/mm3 was 36.5 days (range, 0 to 102 days); no clinical difference was seen in those who did or did not receive NKs. Eight patients developed veno-occlusive disease, with 3 having multiorgan dysfunction. Toxicities were similar for patients who did or did not receive NKs. We conclude that this consolidation regimen is feasible and has an acceptable acute toxicity profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee C Talleur
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Brandon M Triplett
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Sara Federico
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Ewelina Mamcarz
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - William Janssen
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jianrong Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - David Shook
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Wing Leung
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Wayne L Furman
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
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16
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Preethy S, Dedeepiya VD, Senthilkumar R, Rajmohan M, Karthick R, Terunuma H, Abraham SJK. Natural killer cells as a promising tool to tackle cancer-A review of sources, methodologies, and potentials. Int Rev Immunol 2017; 36:220-232. [PMID: 28471248 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2017.1284209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Immune cell-based therapies are emerging as a promising tool to tackle malignancies, both solid tumors and selected hematological tumors. Vast experiences in literature have documented their safety and added survival benefits when such cell-based therapies are combined with the existing treatment options. Numerous methodologies of processing and in vitro expansion protocols of immune cells, such as the dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, NKT cells, αβ T cells, so-called activated T lymphocytes, γδ T cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and lymphokine-activated killer cells, have been reported for use in cell-based therapies. Among this handful of immune cells of significance, the NK cells stand apart from the rest for not only their direct cytotoxic ability against cancer cells but also their added advantage, which includes their capability of (i) action through both innate and adaptive immune mechanism, (ii) tackling viruses too, giving benefits in conditions where viral infections culminate in cancer, and (iii) destroying cancer stem cells, thereby preventing resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This review thoroughly analyses the sources of such NK cells, methods for expansion, and the future potentials of taking the in vitro expanded allogeneic NK cells with good cytotoxic ability as a drug for treating cancer and/or viral infection and even as a prophylactic tool for prevention of cancer after initial remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senthilkumar Preethy
- a The Fujio-Eiji Academic Terrain (FEAT) , Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) , Chennai , Tamil Nadu , India.,b Hope Foundation (Trust) , Chennai , Tamil Nadu , India
| | - Vidyasagar Devaprasad Dedeepiya
- d The Mary-Yoshio Translational Hexagon (MYTH) , Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) , Chennai , Tamil Nadu , India
| | - Rajappa Senthilkumar
- a The Fujio-Eiji Academic Terrain (FEAT) , Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) , Chennai , Tamil Nadu , India
| | - Mathaiyan Rajmohan
- a The Fujio-Eiji Academic Terrain (FEAT) , Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) , Chennai , Tamil Nadu , India
| | - Ramalingam Karthick
- a The Fujio-Eiji Academic Terrain (FEAT) , Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) , Chennai , Tamil Nadu , India
| | | | - Samuel J K Abraham
- a The Fujio-Eiji Academic Terrain (FEAT) , Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) , Chennai , Tamil Nadu , India.,e II Department of Surgery, School of Medicine , Yamanashi University , Chuo , Japan
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17
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Granzin M, Wagner J, Köhl U, Cerwenka A, Huppert V, Ullrich E. Shaping of Natural Killer Cell Antitumor Activity by Ex Vivo Cultivation. Front Immunol 2017; 8:458. [PMID: 28491060 PMCID: PMC5405078 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a promising tool for the use in adoptive immunotherapy, since they efficiently recognize and kill tumor cells. In this context, ex vivo cultivation is an attractive option to increase NK cells in numbers and to improve their antitumor potential prior to clinical applications. Consequently, various strategies to generate NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy have been developed. Here, we give an overview of different NK cell cultivation approaches and their impact on shaping the NK cell antitumor activity. So far, the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, and IL-21 are used to culture and expand NK cells. The selection of the respective cytokine combination is an important factor that directly affects NK cell maturation, proliferation, survival, distribution of NK cell subpopulations, activation, and function in terms of cytokine production and cytotoxic potential. Importantly, cytokines can upregulate the expression of certain activating receptors on NK cells, thereby increasing their responsiveness against tumor cells that express the corresponding ligands. Apart from using cytokines, cocultivation with autologous accessory non-NK cells or addition of growth-inactivated feeder cells are approaches for NK cell cultivation with pronounced effects on NK cell activation and expansion. Furthermore, ex vivo cultivation was reported to prime NK cells for the killing of tumor cells that were previously resistant to NK cell attack. In general, NK cells become frequently dysfunctional in cancer patients, for instance, by downregulation of NK cell activating receptors, disabling them in their antitumor response. In such scenario, ex vivo cultivation can be helpful to arm NK cells with enhanced antitumor properties to overcome immunosuppression. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on NK cell modulation by different ex vivo cultivation strategies focused on increasing NK cytotoxicity for clinical application in malignant diseases. Moreover, we critically discuss the technical and regulatory aspects and challenges underlying NK cell based therapeutic approaches in the clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Granzin
- Clinical Research, Miltenyi Biotec Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Juliane Wagner
- Division for Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, Hospital of the Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Cellular Immunology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ulrike Köhl
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Adelheid Cerwenka
- Innate Immunity Group, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Immunbiochemistry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Huppert
- R&D Reagents, Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Evelyn Ullrich
- Division for Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, Hospital of the Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Cellular Immunology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
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18
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Baggio L, Laureano ÁM, Silla LMDR, Lee DA. Natural killer cell adoptive immunotherapy: Coming of age. Clin Immunol 2017; 177:3-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 02/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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19
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Chabannon C, Mfarrej B, Guia S, Ugolini S, Devillier R, Blaise D, Vivier E, Calmels B. Manufacturing Natural Killer Cells as Medicinal Products. Front Immunol 2016; 7:504. [PMID: 27895646 PMCID: PMC5108783 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells (ILC) with cytotoxic and regulatory properties. Their functions are tightly regulated by an array of inhibitory and activating receptors, and their mechanisms of activation strongly differ from antigen recognition in the context of human leukocyte antigen presentation as needed for T-cell activation. NK cells thus offer unique opportunities for new and improved therapeutic manipulation, either in vivo or in vitro, in a variety of human diseases, including cancers. NK cell activity can possibly be modulated in vivo through direct or indirect actions exerted by small molecules or monoclonal antibodies. NK cells can also be adoptively transferred following more or less substantial modifications through cell and gene manufacturing, in order to empower them with new or improved functions and ensure their controlled persistence and activity in the recipient. In the present review, we will focus on the technological and regulatory challenges of NK cell manufacturing and discuss conditions in which these innovative cellular therapies can be brought to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Chabannon
- CBT-1409: INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, AP-HM, Marseille, France; CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Bechara Mfarrej
- CBT-1409: INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, AP-HM, Marseille, France; CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Sophie Guia
- UM2, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille University , Marseille , France
| | - Sophie Ugolini
- UM2, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille University , Marseille , France
| | - Raynier Devillier
- CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM , Marseille , France
| | - Didier Blaise
- CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM , Marseille , France
| | - Eric Vivier
- UM2, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Boris Calmels
- CBT-1409: INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, AP-HM, Marseille, France; CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
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20
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Shimasaki N, Coustan-Smith E, Kamiya T, Campana D. Expanded and armed natural killer cells for cancer treatment. Cytotherapy 2016; 18:1422-1434. [PMID: 27497701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2016.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The capacity of natural killer (NK) cells to recognize and kill transformed cells suggests that their infusion could be used to treat cancer. It is difficult to obtain large numbers of NK cells ex vivo by exposure to cytokines alone but the addition of stimulatory cells to the cultures can induce NK cell proliferation and long-term expansion. Some of these methods have been validated for clinical-grade application and support clinical trials testing feasibility and safety of NK cell administration. Early data indicate that ex vivo expansion of NK cells from healthy donors or from patients with cancer is robust, allowing multiple infusions from a single apheresis. NK cells can transiently expand in vivo after infusion. Allogeneic NK cells are not direct effectors of graft-versus-host disease but this may occur if donor NK cells are infused after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, which may activate T cell alloreactivity. NK cells can be directed with antibodies, or engineered using either transient modification by electroporation of mRNA or prolonged gene expression by viral transduction. Thus, expanded NK cells can be armed with activating receptors that enhance their natural anti-tumor capacity or with chimeric antigen receptors that can redirect them towards specific tumor targets. They can also be induced to express cytokines that promote their autonomous growth, further supporting their in vivo expansion. With the implementation of these approaches, expanded and armed NK cells should ultimately become a powerful component of immunotherapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Shimasaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Elaine Coustan-Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Takahiro Kamiya
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dario Campana
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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21
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Granzin M, Soltenborn S, Müller S, Kollet J, Berg M, Cerwenka A, Childs RW, Huppert V. Fully automated expansion and activation of clinical-grade natural killer cells for adoptive immunotherapy. Cytotherapy 2016; 17:621-32. [PMID: 25881519 PMCID: PMC8725994 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2015.03.611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Revised: 02/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Ex vivo expansion of natural killer (NK) cells is a strategy to produce large numbers of these effector cells for immunotherapy. However, the transfer of bench-top expansion protocols to clinically applicable methods is challenging for NK cell-based therapy because of regulatory aspects and scale-up issues. Therefore, we developed an automated, large-scale NK cell expansion process. METHODS Enriched NK cells were expanded with interleukin-2 and irradiated clinical-grade Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid feeder cells with the use of an automated system in comparison to manual expansion, and the cells were investigated for their functionality, phenotype and gene expression. RESULTS Automated expansion resulted in a mean 850-fold expansion of NK cells by day 14, yielding 1.3 (± 0.9) × 10(9) activated NK cells. Automatically and manually produced NK cells were comparable in target cell lysis, degranulation and production of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α and had similar high levels of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against rituximab-treated leukemic cells. NK cells after automated or manual expansion showed similar gene expression and marker profiles. However, expanded NK cells differed significantly from primary NK cells including upregulation of the functional relevant molecules TRAIL and FasL and NK cell-activating receptors NKp30, NKG2D and DNAM-1. Neither automatically nor manually expanded NK cells showed reduced telomere length indicative of a conserved proliferative potential. CONCLUSIONS We established an automated method to expand high numbers of clinical-grade NK cells with properties similar to their manually produced counterparts. This automated process represents a highly efficient tool to standardize NK cell processing for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Granzin
- Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany; Innate Immunity Group, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | | | | | - Jutta Kollet
- Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Maria Berg
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Hematology Branch, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Adelheid Cerwenka
- Innate Immunity Group, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard W Childs
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Hematology Branch, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Koehl U, Kalberer C, Spanholtz J, Lee DA, Miller JS, Cooley S, Lowdell M, Uharek L, Klingemann H, Curti A, Leung W, Alici E. Advances in clinical NK cell studies: Donor selection, manufacturing and quality control. Oncoimmunology 2015; 5:e1115178. [PMID: 27141397 PMCID: PMC4839369 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1115178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 10/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are increasingly used in clinical studies in order to treat patients with various malignancies. The following review summarizes platform lectures and 2013–2015 consortium meetings on manufacturing and clinical use of NK cells in Europe and United States. A broad overview of recent pre-clinical and clinical results in NK cell therapies is provided based on unstimulated, cytokine-activated, as well as genetically engineered NK cells using chimeric antigen receptors (CAR). Differences in donor selection, manufacturing and quality control of NK cells for cancer immunotherapies are described and basic recommendations are outlined for harmonization in future NK cell studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Koehl
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School , Hannover, Germany
| | - C Kalberer
- Diagnostic Hematology, University Hospital Basel , Basel, Switzerland
| | - J Spanholtz
- Glycostem Therapeutics , Oss, the Netherlands
| | - D A Lee
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Pediatrics , Houston, TX, USA
| | - J S Miller
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - S Cooley
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - M Lowdell
- Department of Hematology, Royal Free Hospital, UCL Medical School , London, UK
| | - L Uharek
- Hematology and Oncology, Benjamin Franklin faculty of Charité , Berlin, Germany
| | - H Klingemann
- NantKwest Inc., Research & Development , Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - A Curti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology "L. and A. Seràgnoli", Berlin, University of Bologna , Italy
| | - W Leung
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , Memphis, TN, USA
| | - E Alici
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm Sweden; Cell therapies institute, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Hematology Center, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
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Pérez-Martínez A, Fernández L, Valentín J, Martínez-Romera I, Corral MD, Ramírez M, Abad L, Santamaría S, González-Vicent M, Sirvent S, Sevilla J, Vicario JL, de Prada I, Diaz MÁ. A phase I/II trial of interleukin-15--stimulated natural killer cell infusion after haplo-identical stem cell transplantation for pediatric refractory solid tumors. Cytotherapy 2015; 17:1594-603. [PMID: 26341478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2015.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Preliminary data suggest that T-cell-depleted haplo-identical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) has a clinically beneficial allograft-versus-tumor effect associated with natural killer (NK) cell immune reconstitution. METHODS This phase I/II trial descriptively evaluates the feasibility of interleukin (IL)-15-stimulated NK cell infusion after haplo-SCT in pediatric patients with refractory solid tumors. RESULTS Six patients received an IL-15-stimulated NK cell infusion at 30 days after haplo-SCT. The mean number of infused NK cells per product was 11.3 × 10(6)/kg (range, 3-27 × 10(6)/kg). The T-cell count was <1 × 10(3)/kg in all patients (range, 0-0.75 × 10(3)/kg). No toxic effects related to IL-15--stimulated NK cell infusion were observed. Four of the six patients showed a clinical response (one achieved very good partial remission, two achieved partial remission and one had stable disease). One patient had progressive disease, and the response was not evaluated in the remaining patient. After a median follow-up period of 310 days, all patients had died: four of cancer relapse, one of cancer-associated thrombotic micro-angiopathy and one of acute graft-versus-host disease. CONCLUSIONS The adoptive transfer of allogeneic IL-15--stimulated NK cells might be feasible and safe in heavily pretreated pediatric patients with refractory solid tumors, though the advanced stage of disease and toxic effects of haplo-SCT may limit the efficacy of NK cell infusion in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Pérez-Martínez
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hospital Infantil Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lucía Fernández
- Clinical Research Program, Cancer Research National Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Manuel Ramírez
- GMP Facility, Department of Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain; Department of Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorea Abad
- Department of Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Santamaría
- GMP Facility, Department of Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta González-Vicent
- Department of Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Sirvent
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julián Sevilla
- Department of Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Inmaculada de Prada
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Diaz
- Department of Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
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Rubnitz JE, Inaba H, Kang G, Gan K, Hartford C, Triplett BM, Dallas M, Shook D, Gruber T, Pui CH, Leung W. Natural killer cell therapy in children with relapsed leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015; 62:1468-72. [PMID: 25925135 PMCID: PMC4634362 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Novel therapies are needed for children with relapsed or refractory leukemia. We therefore tested the safety and feasibility of haploidentical natural killer cell therapy in this patient population. PROCEDURE Twenty-nine children who had relapsed or refractory leukemia were treated with chemotherapy followed by the infusion of haploidentical NK cells. Cohort 1 included 14 children who had not undergone prior allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), whereas Cohort 2 included 15 children with leukemia that had relapsed after HCT. RESULTS Twenty-six (90%) NK donors were KIR mismatched (14 with one KIR and 12 with 2 KIRs). The peak NK chimerism levels were >10% donor in 87% of the evaluable recipients. In Cohort 1, 10 had responsive disease and 12 proceeded to HCT thereafter. Currently, 5 (36%) are alive without leukemia. In Cohort 2, 10 had responsive disease after NK therapy and successfully proceeded to second HCT. At present, 4 (27%) are alive and leukemia-free. The NK cell infusions and the IL-2 injections were well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS NK cell therapy is safe, feasible, and should be further investigated in patients with chemotherapy-resistant leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey E. Rubnitz
- Department of Oncology; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics; University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of; Medicine; Memphis Tennessee
| | - Hiroto Inaba
- Department of Oncology; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics; University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of; Medicine; Memphis Tennessee
| | - Guolian Kang
- Department of Biostatistics; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
| | - Kwan Gan
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
| | - Christine Hartford
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics; University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of; Medicine; Memphis Tennessee
| | - Brandon M. Triplett
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics; University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of; Medicine; Memphis Tennessee
| | - Mari Dallas
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics; University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of; Medicine; Memphis Tennessee
| | - David Shook
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics; University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of; Medicine; Memphis Tennessee
| | - Tanja Gruber
- Department of Oncology; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics; University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of; Medicine; Memphis Tennessee
| | - Ching-Hon Pui
- Department of Oncology; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pathology; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics; University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of; Medicine; Memphis Tennessee
| | - Wing Leung
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics; University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of; Medicine; Memphis Tennessee
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Pittari G, Filippini P, Gentilcore G, Grivel JC, Rutella S. Revving up Natural Killer Cells and Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells Against Hematological Malignancies. Front Immunol 2015; 6:230. [PMID: 26029215 PMCID: PMC4429635 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells belong to innate immunity and exhibit cytolytic activity against infectious pathogens and tumor cells. NK-cell function is finely tuned by receptors that transduce inhibitory or activating signals, such as killer immunoglobulin-like receptors, NK Group 2 member D (NKG2D), NKG2A/CD94, NKp46, and others, and recognize both foreign and self-antigens expressed by NK-susceptible targets. Recent insights into NK-cell developmental intermediates have translated into a more accurate definition of culture conditions for the in vitro generation and propagation of human NK cells. In this respect, interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-21 are instrumental in driving NK-cell differentiation and maturation, and hold great promise for the design of optimal NK-cell culture protocols. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells possess phenotypic and functional hallmarks of both T cells and NK cells. Similar to T cells, they express CD3 and are expandable in culture, while not requiring functional priming for in vivo activity, like NK cells. CIK cells may offer some advantages over other cell therapy products, including ease of in vitro propagation and no need for exogenous administration of IL-2 for in vivo priming. NK cells and CIK cells can be expanded using a variety of clinical-grade approaches, before their infusion into patients with cancer. Herein, we discuss GMP-compliant strategies to isolate and expand human NK and CIK cells for immunotherapy purposes, focusing on clinical trials of adoptive transfer to patients with hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Pittari
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation , Doha , Qatar
| | - Perla Filippini
- Deep Immunophenotyping Core, Division of Translational Medicine, Sidra Medical and Research Center , Doha , Qatar
| | - Giusy Gentilcore
- Deep Immunophenotyping Core, Division of Translational Medicine, Sidra Medical and Research Center , Doha , Qatar
| | - Jean-Charles Grivel
- Deep Immunophenotyping Core, Division of Translational Medicine, Sidra Medical and Research Center , Doha , Qatar
| | - Sergio Rutella
- Clinical Research Center, Division of Translational Medicine, Sidra Medical and Research Center , Doha , Qatar
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are normal white blood cells capable of killing malignant cells without prior sensitization. Allogeneic NK cell infusions are attractive for cancer therapy because of non-cross-resistant mechanisms of action and minimal overlapping toxicities with standard cancer treatments. Although NK therapy is promising, many obstacles will need to be overcome, including insufficient cell numbers, failure of homing to tumor sites, effector dysfunction, exhaustion, and tumor cell evasion. Capitalizing on the wealth of knowledge generated by recent NK cell biology studies and the advancements in biotechnology, substantial progress has been made recently in improving therapeutic efficiency and reducing side effects. A multipronged strategy is essential, including immunogenetic-based donor selection, refined NK cell bioprocessing, and novel augmentation techniques, to improve NK function and to reduce tumor resistance. Although data from clinical trials are currently limited primarily to hematologic malignancies, broader applications to a wide spectrum of adult and pediatric cancers are under way. The unique properties of human NK cells open up a new arena of novel cell-based immunotherapy against cancers that are resistant to contemporary therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing Leung
- Author's Affiliations: Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; and Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee
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Glienke W, Esser R, Priesner C, Suerth JD, Schambach A, Wels WS, Grez M, Kloess S, Arseniev L, Koehl U. Advantages and applications of CAR-expressing natural killer cells. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:21. [PMID: 25729364 PMCID: PMC4325659 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to donor T cells, natural killer (NK) cells are known to mediate anti-cancer effects without the risk of inducing graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). In order to improve cytotoxicity against resistant cancer cells, auspicious efforts have been made with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressing T- and NK cells. These CAR-modified cells express antigen receptors against tumor-associated surface antigens, thus redirecting the effector cells and enhancing tumor-specific immunosurveillance. However, many cancer antigens are also expressed on healthy tissues, potentially leading to off tumor/on target toxicity by CAR-engineered cells. In order to control such potentially severe side effects, the insertion of suicide genes into CAR-modified effectors can provide a means for efficient depletion of these cells. While CAR-expressing T cells have entered successfully clinical trials, experience with CAR-engineered NK cells is mainly restricted to pre-clinical investigations and predominantly to NK cell lines. In this review we summarize the data on CAR expressing NK cells focusing on the possible advantage using these short-lived effector cells and discuss the necessity of suicide switches. Furthermore, we address the compliance of such modified NK cells with regulatory requirements as a new field in cellular immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Glienke
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany
| | - Ruth Esser
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany
| | - Christoph Priesner
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany
| | - Julia D Suerth
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany
| | - Winfried S Wels
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Manuel Grez
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stephan Kloess
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany
| | - Lubomir Arseniev
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany
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Rapid memory T-cell reconstitution recapitulating CD45RA-depleted haploidentical transplant graft content in patients with hematologic malignancies. Bone Marrow Transplant 2015; 50:968-77. [PMID: 25665048 PMCID: PMC4636007 DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2014.324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
T-cell depletion of an HLA-haploidentical graft is often used to prevent graft-vs.-host disease (GvHD), but the procedure may lead to increased graft failure, relapse, and infections due to delayed immune recovery. We hypothesized that selective depletion of the CD45RA+ subset can effectively reduce GvHD through removal of naïve T cells, while providing improved donor immune reconstitution through adoptive transfer of CD45RA– memory T cells. Herein, we present results from the first 17 patients with poor-prognosis hematologic malignancy who received haploidentical donor transplantation with CD45RA-depleted progenitor cell grafts following a novel reduced intensity conditioning regimen without total body irradiation or serotherapy. Extensive depletion of CD45RA+ T cells and B cells, with preservation of abundant memory T cells, was consistently achieved in all 17 products. Neutrophil engraftment (median day +10) and full donor chimerism (median day +11) was rapidly achieved post-transplantation. Early T-cell reconstitution directly correlated with the CD45RA-depleted graft content. T-cell function recovered rapidly with broad TCR Vβ spectra. There was no infection-related mortality in this heavily pretreated population, and no patient developed acute GvHD despite infusion of a median of >100 million per kilogram haploidentical T cells.
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Abstract
Survival rates for children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) exceed 60 % when modern, intensified chemotherapeutic regimens and enhanced supportive care measures are employed. Despite well-recognized improvements in outcomes, primary refractory or relapsed pediatric AML yields significant morbidity and mortality, and improved understanding of this obstinate population along with refined treatment protocols are urgently needed. Although a significant number of patients with refractory or relapsed disease will achieve remission, long-term survival rates remain poor, and efforts to identify therapies which will improve OS are under continuous investigation. The current fundamental goal of such investigation is the achievement of as complete a remission as possible without dose-limiting toxicities, and the progression to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation thereafter. In this review the scope of the problem of relapsed and refractory AML as well as current and emerging chemotherapy options will be discussed.
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30
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Tonn T, Schwabe D, Klingemann HG, Becker S, Esser R, Koehl U, Suttorp M, Seifried E, Ottmann OG, Bug G. Treatment of patients with advanced cancer with the natural killer cell line NK-92. Cytotherapy 2013; 15:1563-70. [PMID: 24094496 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2013.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 331] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2013] [Revised: 06/09/2013] [Accepted: 06/29/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Natural killer (NK) cells, either naive or genetically engineered, are increasingly considered for cellular therapy of patients with malignancies. When using NK cells from peripheral blood, the number of expanded NK cells can be highly variable and the need for NK cell enrichment can make the process expensive. The NK-92 cell line (CD56+/CD3-) that was isolated from a patient with lymphoma has predictable high cytotoxic activity and can be expanded under good manufacturing practice conditions in recombinant interleukin-2. METHODS Fifteen patients (age, 9-71 years) with advanced, treatment-resistant malignancies, either solid tumors/sarcomas (n = 13) or leukemia/lymphoma (n = 2), received two infusions of NK-92 cells, given 48 h apart. Three cohorts of patients were treated with escalating doses of NK-92 cells (n = 7 at 1 × 10(9), n = 6 at 3 × 10(9) and n = 2 at 1 × 10(10) cells/m(2)). RESULTS No infusion-related or long-term side effects were observed. The dose of 10(10) cells/m(2) was considered the maximum expandable cell dose with the use of an established culture bag system. Three fourths of patients with lung cancer had some anti-tumor response. Only one patient of seven had development of human leukocyte antigen antibodies. The persistence of NK-92 cells (male origin) in the circulation was confirmed by Y chromosome-specific polymerase chain reaction in two female patients. CONCLUSIONS Infusions of NK-92 cells up to 10(10) cells/m(2) were well tolerated. Despite the allogeneic nature of NK-92, development of human leukocyte antigen antibodies in these patients with cancer appears to be rare. The cells can persist in the recipient's circulation for at least 48 h. Some encouraging responses were seen in patients with advanced lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Tonn
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; German Red Cross Blood Donation Service, Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Germany.
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31
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Cellular therapy of cancer with natural killer cells-where do we stand? Cytotherapy 2013; 15:1185-94. [PMID: 23768925 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2013.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2013] [Revised: 03/02/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Although T-lymphocytes have received most of the attention in immunotherapy trials, new discoveries around natural killer (NK) cells suggest that they also should be suitable effector cells for cellular therapy of cancer. In addition to direct cytotoxicity, NK cells produce an array of immune-active cytokines, among them interferons and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, which places them at the crossroads of innate and adaptive immunity. They also augment monoclonal antibody activity through antibody-mediated cellular cytotoxicity and can be transfected with chimeric antigen receptors. One of the stumbling blocks for NK cell-based therapies has been the inability to predictably obtain and expand larger numbers from donors, but also to achieve sufficiently high transfection efficiency of target genes. The first clinical trials with NK cells suggest some benefit, but more definite evidence is needed to justify this relatively expensive treatment.
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32
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Koehl U, Brehm C, Huenecke S, Zimmermann SY, Kloess S, Bremm M, Ullrich E, Soerensen J, Quaiser A, Erben S, Wunram C, Gardlowski T, Auth E, Tonn T, Seidl C, Meyer-Monard S, Stern M, Passweg J, Klingebiel T, Bader P, Schwabe D, Esser R. Clinical grade purification and expansion of NK cell products for an optimized manufacturing protocol. Front Oncol 2013; 3:118. [PMID: 23730623 PMCID: PMC3656406 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 04/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells are used for adoptive immunotherapy after stem cell transplantation. In order to overcome technical limitations in NK cell purification and activation, the following study investigates the impact of different variables on NK cell recovery, cytotoxicity, and T-cell depletion during good manufacturing practice (GMP)-grade NK cell selection. Forty NK cell products were derived from 54 unstimulated donor leukaphereses using immunomagnetic CD3 T-cell depletion, followed by a CD56 cell enrichment step. For T-cell depletion, either the depletion 2.1 program in single or double procedure (D2.11depl, n = 18; D2.12depl, n = 13) or the faster depletion 3.1 (D3.1, n = 9) was used on the CliniMACS instrument. Seventeen purified NK cell products were activated in vitro by IL-2 for 12 days. The whole process resulted in a median number of 7.59 × 108 CD56+CD3− cells with both purity and viability of 94%, respectively. The T-cell depletion was significantly better using D2.11depl/2depl compared to D3.1 (log 4.6/log 4.9 vs. log 3.7; p < 0.01) and double procedure in two stages led always to residual T cells below 0.1%. In contrast D3.1 was superior to D2.11depl/2depl with regard to recovery of CD56+CD3− NK cells (68% vs. 41%/38%). Concomitant monocytes and especially IL-2 activation led to increased NK cell activity against malignant target cells compared to unstimulated NK cells, which correlated with both up-regulation of natural cytotoxicity receptors and intracellular signaling. Overall, wide variations in the NK cell expansion rate and the distribution of NK cell subpopulations were found. In conclusion, our results indicate that GMP-grade purification of NK cells might be improved by a sequential processing of T-cell depletion program D2.1 and D3.1. In addition NK cell expansion protocols need to be further optimized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Koehl
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany
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Abstract
Haploidentical transplantation opens the possibility to offer this treatment to a large number of patients with an otherwise incurable disease, such as some hematologic or oncologic malignancies, inborn or acquired bone marrow failure syndromes, hemoglobinopathies, immunodeficiencies, or other genetic diseases. Initial attempts at haploidentical transplantation using unmanipulated bone marrow were associated with a high transplant-related mortality. However, recent insights into the biology of haploidentical transplantation, the availability of effective in vivo large-scale graft-manipulation technology, and improved supportive care strategies have led to and are still leading to significantly better outcomes compared to previous decades. Methods for the in vitro depletion of T lymphocytes from mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) have facilitated the wider use and acceptance of haploidentical transplantation in children and adult patients. Besides in vitro T-cell depletion techniques, other methods, such as the isolation of alloreactive natural killer (NK) cells, virus-specific T lymphocytes, and other effector or regulatory cells are nowadays available to rapidly rebuild the immune system after haploidentical transplantation for the prevention of severe infections or relapses of the underlying diseases.
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35
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Koepsell SA, Miller JS, McKenna DH. Natural killer cells: a review of manufacturing and clinical utility. Transfusion 2013; 53:404-10. [PMID: 22670662 DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2012.03724.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Koepsell
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Transfusion Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Saint Paul, USA
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36
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Abstract
Although acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has long been recognized for its morphological and cytogenetic heterogeneity, recent high-resolution genomic profiling has demonstrated a complexity even greater than previously imagined. This complexity can be seen in the number and diversity of genetic alterations, epigenetic modifications, and characteristics of the leukaemic stem cells. The broad range of abnormalities across different AML subtypes suggests that improvements in clinical outcome will require the development of targeted therapies for each subtype of disease and the design of novel clinical trials to test these strategies. It is highly unlikely that further gains in long-term survival rates will be possible by mere intensification of conventional chemotherapy. In this review, we summarize recent studies that provide new insight into the genetics and biology of AML, discuss risk stratification and therapy for this disease, and profile some of the therapeutic agents currently under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey E Rubnitz
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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37
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Pre-emptive immunotherapy with purified natural killer cells after haploidentical SCT: a prospective phase II study in two centers. Bone Marrow Transplant 2012; 48:433-8. [PMID: 22941380 DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2012.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy with allogeneic purified natural killer (NK) cell products might exert graft-versus-tumor alloreactivity with little risk of GVHD. In a prospective phase II study in two centers, we administered purified NK cell products to high-risk patients treated with haploidentical T-cell-depleted SCT. Sixteen patients received a total of 29 NK cell infusions on days +3, +40 and +100 after transplantation. Median doses (and ranges) of infused NK- and T-cells per product were 1.21 (0.3-3.8) × 10(7)/kg and 0.03 (0.004-0.72) × 10(5)/kg, respectively. With a median follow-up of 5.8 years 4/16 patients are alive. Cause of death was relapse in five, GVHD in three, graft failure in three, and transplant related neurotoxicity in one patient. Four patients developed acute GVHDgrade II, all receiving a total of 0.5 × 10(5) T cells/kg. Compared with historical controls, NK cell infusions had no apparent effect on the rates of graft failure or relapse. Adoptive transfer of allogeneic NK cells is safe and feasible, but further studies are needed to determine the optimal dose and timing of NK cell therapy. Moreover, NK cell activation/expansion may be required to attain clinical benefit, while careful consideration must be given to the number of T cells infused.
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Abstract
Analogous to T cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells may facilitate engraftment, combat infection, and control cancer in bone marrow or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); however, NK cells do not cause graft-versus-host disease. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) regulate NK cell function, and recent data suggest that KIR is as important as its ligand (human leucocyte antigen; HLA) in HSCT for both malignant and non-malignant conditions. Because there is substantial variability in KIR gene content, allelic polymorphism, and cell-surface expression among people, careful selection of donors based on HLA and KIR is essential to optimize HSCT outcomes. Furthermore, NK cells may be used for adoptive immunotherapy after HSCT in place of conventional donor lymphocyte infusion, as part of pre-transplant cytoreductive therapy, or as an independent therapeutic agent in high-risk leukaemia in place of sibling donor HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing Leung
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 26 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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Spanholtz J, Preijers F, Tordoir M, Trilsbeek C, Paardekooper J, de Witte T, Schaap N, Dolstra H. Clinical-grade generation of active NK cells from cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cells for immunotherapy using a closed-system culture process. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20740. [PMID: 21698239 PMCID: PMC3116834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2010] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell-based adoptive immunotherapy is a promising treatment approach for many cancers. However, development of protocols that provide large numbers of functional NK cells produced under GMP conditions are required to facilitate clinical studies. In this study, we translated our cytokine-based culture protocol for ex vivo expansion of NK cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB) hematopoietic stem cells into a fully closed, large-scale, cell culture bioprocess. We optimized enrichment of CD34+ cells from cryopreserved UCB units using the CliniMACS system followed by efficient expansion for 14 days in gas-permeable cell culture bags. Thereafter, expanded CD34+ UCB cells could be reproducibly amplified and differentiated into CD56+CD3− NK cell products using bioreactors with a mean expansion of more than 2,000 fold and a purity of >90%. Moreover, expansion in the bioreactor yielded a clinically relevant dose of NK cells (mean: 2×109 NK cells), which display high expression of activating NK receptors and cytolytic activity against K562. Finally, we established a versatile closed washing procedure resulting in optimal reduction of medium, serum and cytokines used in the cell culture process without changes in phenotype and cytotoxic activity. These results demonstrate that large numbers of UCB stem cell-derived NK cell products for adoptive immunotherapy can be produced in closed, large-scale bioreactors for the use in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Spanholtz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Frank Preijers
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen Tordoir
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Carel Trilsbeek
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jos Paardekooper
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Theo de Witte
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nicolaas Schaap
- Department of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Harry Dolstra
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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40
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Hanley PJ, Cruz CR, Shpall EJ, Bollard CM. Improving clinical outcomes using adoptively transferred immune cells from umbilical cord blood. Cytotherapy 2011; 12:713-20. [PMID: 20818913 DOI: 10.3109/14653249.2010.517518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Because of the necessary immunodepletion prior to cord blood transplantation as well as the immaturity of cord blood immune cells, recipients experience a high incidence of viral infection in addition to complications observed after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, such as relapse and graft-versus-host disease. We describe current immunotherapeutic approaches to treating these complications, including the generation of antigen-specific T cells from cord blood, redirecting cord blood T cells using chimeric antigen receptors, and generating cord blood-derived natural killer cells and regulatory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Hanley
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Groth A, Klöss S, von Strandmann EP, Koehl U, Koch J. Mechanisms of tumor and viral immune escape from natural killer cell-mediated surveillance. J Innate Immun 2011; 3:344-54. [PMID: 21576922 DOI: 10.1159/000327014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2010] [Accepted: 02/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human natural killer (NK) cells recognize and efficiently eliminate MHC class I low or negative malignant targets and virally infected host cells, without requirement for prior sensitization. However, viruses and various tumor cells display elaborate adaptations to evade and overcome immunosurveillance. The current review focuses on escape mechanisms of viruses and malignantly transformed 'stressed' cells to evade from NK cell cytotoxicity. A general overview of recent clinical studies using allogeneic donor NK cells is given, summarizing first data about a possible benefit for patients suffering from high-risk leukemia and solid tumors. Finally, the review discusses the future perspectives and hypotheses aiming to improve therapeutic NK cell strategies against tumor immune escape mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Groth
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Nguyen S, Béziat V, Norol F, Uzunov M, Trebeden-Negre H, Azar N, Boudifa A, Bories D, Debré P, Vernant JP, Vieillard V, Dhédin N. Infusion of allogeneic natural killer cells in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia in relapse after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Transfusion 2011; 51:1769-78. [PMID: 21332732 DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2010.03058.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allogeneic donor natural killer (NK)-cell infusion (NK-DLI) is a promising immunotherapy for patients with hematologic disorders. CASE REPORT This report describes the case of a patient who received a single haploidentical NK-DLI for a relapse of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. He underwent a cytoreductive, immunosuppressive regimen before NK-DLI and received high-dose interleukin-2 in vivo for 8 weeks afterward. RESULTS No major adverse effect was observed. Prospective phenotypic and functional studies of the NK cells showed major expansion of infused NK cells and, more importantly, of the alloreactive KIR2DL1+KIR2DL2/DL3-NKG2A- subset, which reached 117×10(6) cells/L on Day +14 after NK-DLI, the greatest expansion of infused alloreactive NK cells reported so far. Infused NK cells conserved their lytic capacities against K562 target cells and primary AML-mismatched blasts. CONCLUSION We review the literature to clarify these data and to detail the indications for allogeneic NK-DLI, the criteria for determining the most suitable donor, the types of conditioning regimens, and the procedures for selecting and activating NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Nguyen
- Service d'Hématologie Clinique, Service de Thérapie Cellulaire, and the Laboratoire d'Immunologie Cellulaire et Tissulaire, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
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Point-Counterpoint: Haploidentical Family Donors versus Cord Blood Transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2011; 17:S89-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2010.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Blood dendritic cells suppress NK cell function and increase the risk of leukemia relapse after hematopoietic cell transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2010; 17:598-607. [PMID: 20977942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2010.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2010] [Accepted: 10/14/2010] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
NK cells play an important role in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and in cross talk with dendritic cells (DCs) to induce primary T cell response against infection. Therefore, we hypothesized that blood DCs should augment NK cell function and reduce the risk of leukemia relapse after HCT. To test this hypothesis, we conducted laboratory and clinical studies in parallel. We found that although, phenotypically, NK cells could induce DC maturation and DCs could in turn increase activating marker expression on NK cells, paradoxically, both BDCA1(+) myeloid DCs and BDCA4(+) plasmacytoid DCs suppressed the function of NK cells. Patients who received an HLA-haploidentical graft containing a larger number of BDCA1(+) DCs or BDCA4(+) DCs had a higher risk of leukemia relapse and poorer survival. Further experiments indicated that the potent inhibition on NK cell cytokine production and cytotoxicity was mediated in part through the secretion of IL-10 by BDCA1(+) DCs and IL-6 by BDCA4(+) DCs. These results have significant implications for future HCT strategies.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, donor-derived natural killer (NK) cells target recipient hematopoietic cells, resulting in an antileukemia effect and a lower incidence of graft rejection. NK cells do not mediate and may diminish graft versus host disease. Here we review the determinants of NK cell alloreactivity and their implications for adoptive NK cell therapy. RECENT FINDINGS NK cell alloreactivity has been defined by the absence of recipient MHC class I ligands for donor inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) receptors, as predicted by a number of algorithms. Recently, the role of activating NK receptors and their cognate ligands has received more attention. The beneficial clinical effect of NK-cell alloreactivity has not been uniformly demonstrated, likely reflecting differences in conditioning regimens, graft components and posttransplant immune suppression. Investigations of NK cell phenotype and function after transplantation have helped demonstrate which NK cell subsets mediate the graft versus leukemia effect. These advances have proceeded in parallel with increasing facility in GMP-grade bulk purification and administration of NK cell preparations. SUMMARY NK cells are a heterogeneous population of lymphocytes with diverse patterns of target-cell recognition and effector function. Further clinical and functional correlations will help maximize their potential for clinical benefit.
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Spanholtz J, Tordoir M, Eissens D, Preijers F, van der Meer A, Joosten I, Schaap N, de Witte TM, Dolstra H. High log-scale expansion of functional human natural killer cells from umbilical cord blood CD34-positive cells for adoptive cancer immunotherapy. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9221. [PMID: 20169160 PMCID: PMC2821405 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2009] [Accepted: 01/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy based on natural killer (NK) cell infusions is a potential adjuvant treatment for many cancers. Such therapeutic application in humans requires large numbers of functional NK cells that have been selected and expanded using clinical grade protocols. We established an extremely efficient cytokine-based culture system for ex vivo expansion of NK cells from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB). Systematic refinement of this two-step system using a novel clinical grade medium resulted in a therapeutically applicable cell culture protocol. CD56+CD3− NK cell products could be routinely generated from freshly selected CD34+ UCB cells with a mean expansion of >15,000 fold and a nearly 100% purity. Moreover, our protocol has the capacity to produce more than 3-log NK cell expansion from frozen CD34+ UCB cells. These ex vivo-generated cell products contain NK cell subsets differentially expressing NKG2A and killer immunoglobulin-like receptors. Furthermore, UCB-derived CD56+ NK cells generated by our protocol uniformly express high levels of activating NKG2D and natural cytotoxicity receptors. Functional analysis showed that these ex vivo-generated NK cells efficiently target myeloid leukemia and melanoma tumor cell lines, and mediate cytolysis of primary leukemia cells at low NK-target ratios. Our culture system exemplifies a major breakthrough in producing pure NK cell products from limited numbers of CD34+ cells for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Spanholtz
- Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen Tordoir
- Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Diana Eissens
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Frank Preijers
- Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Arnold van der Meer
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Irma Joosten
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nicolaas Schaap
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Hematology, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Theo M. de Witte
- Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Hematology, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Harry Dolstra
- Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Rubnitz JE, Inaba H, Ribeiro RC, Pounds S, Rooney B, Bell T, Pui CH, Leung W. NKAML: a pilot study to determine the safety and feasibility of haploidentical natural killer cell transplantation in childhood acute myeloid leukemia. J Clin Oncol 2010; 28:955-9. [PMID: 20085940 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2009.24.4590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 477] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To conduct a pilot study to determine the safety, feasibility, and engraftment of haploidentical natural killer (NK) cell infusions after an immunosuppressive regimen in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). PATIENTS AND METHODS Ten patients (0.7 to 21 years old) who had completed chemotherapy and were in first complete remission of AML were enrolled on the Pilot Study of Haploidentical Natural Killer Cell Transplantation for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (NKAML) study. They received cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg on day -7) and fludarabine (25 mg/m(2)/d on days -6 through -2), followed by killer immunoglobulin-like receptor-human leukocyte antigen (KIR-HLA) mismatched NK cells (median, 29 x 10(6)/kg NK cells) and six doses of interleukin-2 (1 million U/m(2)). NK cell chimerism, phenotyping, and functional assays were performed on days 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after transplantation. Results All patients had transient engraftment for a median of 10 days (range, 2 to 189 days) and a significant expansion of KIR-mismatched NK cells (median, 5,800/mL of blood on day 14). Nonhematologic toxicity was limited, with no graft-versus-host disease. Median length of hospitalization was 2 days. With a median follow-up time of 964 days (range, 569 to 1,162 days), all patients remain in remission. The 2-year event-free survival estimate was 100% (95% CI, 63.1% to 100%). CONCLUSION Low-dose immunosuppression followed by donor-recipient inhibitory KIR-HLA mismatched NK cells is well tolerated by patients and results in successful engraftment. We propose to further investigate the efficacy of KIR-mismatched NK cells in a phase II trial as consolidation therapy to decrease relapse without increasing mortality in children with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey E Rubnitz
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA.
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Abstract
As our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing natural killer (NK) cell activity increases, their potential in cancer immunotherapy is growing increasingly prominent. This review analyses the currently available preclinical and clinical data regarding NK cell-based immunotherapeutic approaches in cancer starting from a historical background and an overview of molecular mechanisms taking part in NK cell responses. The status of NK cells in cancer patients, currently investigated clinical applications such as in vivo modulation of NK cell activity, ex vivo purification/expansion and adoptive transfer as well as future possibilities such as genetic modifications are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Sutlu
- Division of Haematology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Meyer-Monard S, Passweg J, Siegler U, Kalberer C, Koehl U, Rovó A, Halter J, Stern M, Heim D, Alois Gratwohl JR, Tichelli A. Clinical-grade purification of natural killer cells in haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Transfusion 2009; 49:362-71. [PMID: 19389215 DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2008.01969.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because of a high risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), donor lymphocyte infusions with unmodified lymphapheresis products are not used after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Natural killer (NK) cells have antitumor activity and may consolidate engraftment without inducing GVHD. Production of NK cells under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions in a sufficient number is difficult. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-four apheresis procedures and subsequent NK-cell enrichment from 14 haploidentical donors were performed. NK-cell enrichment was performed using a GMP suitable immunomagnetic procedure. Factors influencing the NK-cell recovery, purity, and NK-cell dose were analyzed. RESULTS A median number of 4.9 x 10(8) NK cells were obtained and median NK-cell recovery was 58 percent. Median T-cell depletion was 4.32 log. The absolute NK-cell number in the final product after processing significantly correlated with the preharvest NK-cell content of the peripheral blood (p = 0.002, r = 0.867). The NK-cell recovery was inversely correlated to the absolute NK-cell number in the apheresis product (p = 0.01, r = -0.51). The NK-cell dose per kg of body weight of the patient was inversely correlated to the weight of the patient (p = 0.007, r = -0.533). CONCLUSION Donors with a high NK-cell count in peripheral blood are likely to provide NK-cell products with the highest cell number. However, maximal NK-cell dose is limited and high NK-cell doses may only be obtained for patients with a low body weight, making children and young adults the best candidates for NK-cell therapy.
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Abstract
Recent advances in immunotherapy of cancer may represent a successful example in translational research, in which progress in knowledge and technology in immunology has led to new strategies of immunotherapy, and even past failures in many clinical trials have led to a better understanding of basic cancer immunobiology. This article reviews the latest concepts in antitumor immunology and its application in the treatment of cancer, with particular focus on acute leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing Leung
- Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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