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Xia X, Yang Z, Lu Q, Liu Z, Wang L, Du J, Li Y, Yang DH, Wu S. Reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment to improve CAR-T cell-based cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:175. [PMID: 39187850 PMCID: PMC11346058 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02079-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In many hematologic malignancies, the adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has demonstrated notable success; nevertheless, further improvements are necessary to optimize treatment efficacy. Current CAR-T therapies are particularly discouraging for solid tumor treatment. The immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumors affects CAR-T cells, limiting the treatment's effectiveness and safety. Therefore, enhancing CAR-T cell infiltration capacity and resolving the immunosuppressive responses within the tumor microenvironment could boost the anti-tumor effect. Specific strategies include structurally altering CAR-T cells combined with targeted therapy, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Overall, monitoring the tumor microenvironment and the status of CAR-T cells is beneficial in further investigating the viability of such strategies and advancing CAR-T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Xia
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Zongxin Yang
- The Second Clinical Medical School, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Qisi Lu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
- Foresea Life Insurance Guangzhou General Hospital, Guangzhou, 511300, China
| | - Zhenyun Liu
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Jinwen Du
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Yuhua Li
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China.
| | - Dong-Hua Yang
- New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mineola, NY, 11501, USA.
| | - Shaojie Wu
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China.
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2
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Cortese M, Torchiaro E, D'Andrea A, Petti C, Invrea F, Franco L, Donini C, Leuci V, Leto SM, Vurchio V, Cottino F, Isella C, Arena S, Vigna E, Bertotti A, Trusolino L, Sangiolo D, Medico E. Preclinical efficacy of a HER2 synNotch/CEA-CAR combinatorial immunotherapy against colorectal cancer with HER2 amplification. Mol Ther 2024; 32:2741-2761. [PMID: 38894542 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
HER2 amplification occurs in approximately 5% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and is associated only partially with clinical response to combined human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted treatment. An alternative approach based on adoptive cell therapy using T cells engineered with anti-HER2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) proved to be toxic due to on-target/off-tumor activity. Here we describe a combinatorial strategy to safely target HER2 amplification and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression in CRC using a synNotch-CAR-based artificial regulatory network. The natural killer (NK) cell line NK-92 was engineered with an anti-HER2 synNotch receptor driving the expression of a CAR against CEA only when engaged. After being transduced and sorted for HER2-driven CAR expression, cells were cloned. The clone with optimal performances in terms of specificity and amplitude of CAR induction demonstrated significant activity in vitro and in vivo specifically against HER2-amplified (HER2amp)/CEA+ CRC models, with no effects on cells with physiological HER2 levels. The HER2-synNotch/CEA-CAR-NK system provides an innovative, scalable, and safe off-the-shelf cell therapy approach with potential against HER2amp CRC resistant or partially responsive to HER2/EGFR blockade.
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MESH Headings
- Colorectal Neoplasms/therapy
- Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics
- Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology
- Humans
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics
- Animals
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- Mice
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Carcinoembryonic Antigen/immunology
- Carcinoembryonic Antigen/genetics
- Gene Amplification
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Immunotherapy/methods
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cortese
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy.
| | - Erica Torchiaro
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Alice D'Andrea
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Consalvo Petti
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Federica Invrea
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Letizia Franco
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Chiara Donini
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Valeria Leuci
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | | | | | | | - Claudio Isella
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Sabrina Arena
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Elisa Vigna
- University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Andrea Bertotti
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Livio Trusolino
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Enzo Medico
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; University of Turin, Department of Oncology, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy.
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3
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Bakhtiyaridovvombaygi M, Yazdanparast S, Kheyrandish S, Safdari SM, Amiri Samani F, Sohani M, Jaafarian AS, Damirchiloo F, Izadpanah A, Parkhideh S, Mikanik F, Roshandel E, Hajifathali A, Gharehbaghian A. Harnessing natural killer cells for refractory/relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma: biological roles, clinical trials, and future prospective. Biomark Res 2024; 12:66. [PMID: 39020411 PMCID: PMC11253502 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00610-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) are heterogeneous and are among the most common hematological malignancies worldwide. Despite the advances in the treatment of patients with NHLs, relapse or resistance to treatment is anticipated in several patients. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are needed. Recently, natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy alone or in combination with monoclonal antibodies, chimeric antigen receptors, or bispecific killer engagers have been applied in many investigations for NHL treatment. The functional defects of NK cells and the ability of cancerous cells to escape NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity within the tumor microenvironment of NHLs, as well as the beneficial results from previous studies in the context of NK cell-based immunotherapy in NHLs, direct our attention to this therapeutic strategy. This review aims to summarize clinical studies focusing on the applications of NK cells in the immunotherapy of patients with NHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Bakhtiyaridovvombaygi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Somayeh Yazdanparast
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Setare Kheyrandish
- Student Research Committee, Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mehrab Safdari
- Departments of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, School of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fateme Amiri Samani
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Sohani
- Student Research Committee, Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram Sadat Jaafarian
- Departments of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, School of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fateme Damirchiloo
- Departments of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, School of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Izadpanah
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Parkhideh
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mikanik
- Laboratory Hematology and Blood Bank Department, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Roshandel
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Abbas Hajifathali
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ahmad Gharehbaghian
- Laboratory Hematology and Blood Bank Department, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Pediatric Congenital Hematologic Disorders Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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4
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Wang H, Huang Y, Wang R. Tonic-ing emissions and compatibility to turbocharge CAR-T. Nat Metab 2024; 6:990-992. [PMID: 38658804 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01022-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Haopeng Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yuwei Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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5
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Kouro T, Higashijima N, Horaguchi S, Mano Y, Kasajima R, Xiang H, Fujimoto Y, Kishi H, Hamana H, Hoshino D, Himuro H, Matsuura R, Tsuji S, Imai K, Sasada T. Novel chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells targeting the malignant mesothelioma-specific antigen sialylated HEG1. Int J Cancer 2024; 154:1828-1841. [PMID: 38212893 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
The selection of highly specific target antigens is critical for the development of clinically efficient and safe chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). In search of diagnostic marker for malignant mesothelioma (MM), we have established SKM9-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) which recognizes a MM-specific molecule, sialylated Protein HEG homolog 1 (HEG1), with high specificity and sensitivity. In this study, to develop a novel therapeutic approach against MM, we generated SKM9-2 mAb-derived CARs that included the CD28 (SKM-28z) or 4-1BB (SKM-BBz) costimulatory domain. SKM-28z CAR-T cells showed continuous growth and enhanced Tim-3, LAG-3, and PD-1 expression in vitro, which might be induced by tonic signaling caused by self-activation; however, these phenotypes were not observed in SKM-BBz CAR-T cells. In addition, SKM-BBz CAR-T cells exhibited slightly stronger in vitro killing activity against MM cell lines than SKM-28z CAR-T cells. More importantly, only SKM-BBz CAR-T cells, but not SKM-28z CAR-T cells, significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo in a MM cell line xenograft mouse model. Gene expression profiling and reporter assays revealed differential signaling pathway activation; in particular, SKM-BBz CAR-T cells exhibited enhanced NF-kB signaling and reduced NFAT activation. In addition, SKM-BBz CAR-T cells showed upregulation of early memory markers, such as TCF7 and CCR7, as well as downregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins, such as BAK1 and BID, which may be associated with phenotypical and functional differences between SKM-BBz and SKM-28z CAR-T cells. In conclusion, we developed novel SKM9-2-derived CAR-T cells with the 4-1BB costimulatory domain, which could provide a promising therapeutic approach against refractory MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taku Kouro
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
- Cancer Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Naoko Higashijima
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Shun Horaguchi
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
- Cancer Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Japan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasunobu Mano
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
- Cancer Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Rika Kasajima
- Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Huihui Xiang
- Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuki Fujimoto
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kishi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hamana
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Daisuke Hoshino
- Cancer Biology Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Himuro
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
- Cancer Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Rieko Matsuura
- Division of Cancer Therapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Shoutaro Tsuji
- Division of Cancer Therapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
- Department of Medical Technology & Clinical Engineering, Gunma University of Health and Welfare, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kohzoh Imai
- Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Sasada
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, Japan
- Cancer Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Japan
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6
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Stock S, Fertig L, Gottschlich A, Dörr J, Märkl F, Majed L, Menkhoff VD, Grünmeier R, Rejeski K, Cordas Dos Santos DM, Theurich S, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Endres S, Subklewe M, Kobold S. Comparative performance of scFv-based anti-BCMA CAR formats for improved T cell therapy in multiple myeloma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:100. [PMID: 38630291 PMCID: PMC11024081 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03688-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
In multiple myeloma (MM), B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CAR T cells have emerged as a novel therapy with potential for long-term disease control. Anti-BCMA CAR T cells with a CD8-based transmembrane (TM) and CD137 (41BB) as intracellular costimulatory domain are in routine clinical use. As the CAR construct architecture can differentially impact performance and efficacy, the optimal construction of a BCMA-targeting CAR remains to be elucidated. Here, we hypothesized that varying the constituents of the CAR structure known to impact performance could shed light on how to improve established anti-BCMA CAR constructs. CD8TM.41BBIC-based anti-BCMA CAR vectors with either a long linker or a short linker between the light and heavy scFv chain, CD28TM.41BBIC-based and CD28TM.CD28IC-based anti-BCMA CAR vector systems were used in primary human T cells. MM cell lines were used as target cells. The short linker anti-BCMA CAR demonstrated higher cytokine production, whereas in vitro cytotoxicity, T cell differentiation upon activation and proliferation were superior for the CD28TM.CD28IC-based CAR. While CD28TM.CD28IC-based CAR T cells killed MM cells faster, the persistence of 41BBIC-based constructs was superior in vivo. While CD28 and 41BB costimulation come with different in vitro and in vivo advantages, this did not translate into a superior outcome for either tested model. In conclusion, this study showcases the need to study the influence of different CAR architectures based on an identical scFv individually. It indicates that current scFv-based anti-BCMA CAR with clinical utility may already be at their functional optimum regarding the known structural variations of the scFv linker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Stock
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
| | - Luisa Fertig
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Adrian Gottschlich
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Janina Dörr
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Märkl
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lina Majed
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Vivien D Menkhoff
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ruth Grünmeier
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kai Rejeski
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- Laboratory of Translational Cancer Immunology, LMU Gene Center, Munich, Germany
| | - David M Cordas Dos Santos
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- Cancer- and Immunometabolism Research Group, LMU Gene Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Theurich
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- Cancer- and Immunometabolism Research Group, LMU Gene Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Endres
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Marion Subklewe
- Department of Medicine III, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- Laboratory of Translational Cancer Immunology, LMU Gene Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, a partnership between the DKFZ Heidelberg and the LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
- Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany.
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7
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Fang J, Zhou F. BCMA-targeting chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy for relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma. Ann Hematol 2024; 103:1069-1083. [PMID: 37704875 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-023-05444-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Recently, many new therapies have improved the outcomes of patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Nevertheless, recurrence is still unavoidable, and better treatment choices for RRMM are urgently needed. The clinical success of Chimera antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in many hematological diseases, including leukemia and lymphoma, has drawn considerable attention to RRMM. As CAR T cell therapy continues to mature and challenge traditional therapies, it is gradually changing the treatment paradigm for MM patients. The B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), expressed in malignant plasma cells but not normal ones, is an ideal target for MM treatment, due to its high expression. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved two BCMA-targeting CAR T cell products, idecabtagene vicleucel (Ide-cel) and ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Cilta-cel), for use in RRMM. In this review, we focus on data from RRMM patients involved in clinical trials of Ide-cel and Cilta-cel and discuss the present situation and future direction of CAR T cell therapy for this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamin Fang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No.169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Fuling Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No.169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430072, China.
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8
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Kalim M, Jing R, Li X, Jiang Z, Zheng N, Wang Z, Wei G, Lu Y. Essentials of CAR-T Therapy and Associated Microbial Challenges in Long Run Immunotherapy. JOURNAL OF CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 6:22-50. [PMID: 38883270 PMCID: PMC11172397 DOI: 10.33696/immunology.6.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has shown potential in improving outcomes for individuals with hematological malignancies. However, achieving long-term full remission for blood cancer remains challenging due to severe life-threatening toxicities such as limited anti-tumor efficacy, antigen escape, trafficking restrictions, and limited tumor invasion. Furthermore, the interactions between CAR-T cells and their host tumor microenvironments have a significant impact on CAR-T function. To overcome these considerable hurdles, fresh methodologies and approaches are needed to produce more powerful CAR-T cells with greater anti-tumor activity and less toxicity. Despite advances in CAR-T research, microbial resistance remains a significant obstacle. In this review, we discuss and describe the basics of CAR-T structures, generations, challenges, and potential risks of infections in CAR-T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Kalim
- Houston Methodist Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rui Jing
- Houston Methodist Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Houston Methodist Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhiwu Jiang
- Houston Methodist Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ningbo Zheng
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Ziyu Wang
- Houston Methodist Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Guo Wei
- Houston Methodist Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yong Lu
- Houston Methodist Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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9
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Chu GJ, Bailey CG, Nagarajah R, Sagnella SM, Adelstein S, Rasko JEJ. The 4-1BBζ costimulatory domain in chimeric antigen receptors enhances CD8+ T-cell functionality following T-cell receptor stimulation. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:327. [PMID: 38105188 PMCID: PMC10726568 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03171-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells have revolutionized the treatment of CD19- and B-cell maturation antigen-positive haematological malignancies. However, the effect of a CAR construct on the function of T-cells stimulated via their endogenous T-cell receptors (TCRs) has yet to be comprehensively investigated. METHODS Experiments were performed to systematically assess TCR signalling and function in CAR T-cells using anti-mesothelin human CAR T-cells as a model system. CAR T-cells expressing the CD28 or 4-1BB costimulatory endodomains were manufactured and compared to both untransduced T-cells and CAR T-cells with a non-functional endodomain. These cell products were treated with staphylococcal enterotoxin B to stimulate the TCR, and in vitro functional assays were performed by flow cytometry. RESULTS Increased proliferation, CD69 expression and IFNγ production were identified in CD8+ 4-1BBζ CAR T-cells compared to control untransduced CD8+ T-cells. These functional differences were associated with higher levels of phosphorylated ZAP70 after stimulation. In addition, these functional differences were associated with a differing immunophenotype, with a more than two-fold increase in central memory cells in CD8+ 4-1BBζ CAR T-cell products. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that the 4-1BBζ CAR enhances CD8+ TCR-mediated function. This could be beneficial if the TCR targets epitopes on malignant tissues or infectious agents, but detrimental if the TCR targets autoantigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard J Chu
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Charles G Bailey
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Cancer & Gene Regulation Laboratory Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Rajini Nagarajah
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Sharon M Sagnella
- Cell & Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen Adelstein
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John E J Rasko
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Cell & Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
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10
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Sayadmanesh A, Yekehfallah V, Valizadeh A, Abedelahi A, Shafaei H, Shanehbandi D, Basiri M, Baradaran B. Strategies for modifying the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to improve safety and reduce toxicity in CAR T cell therapy for cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111093. [PMID: 37897950 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Immune cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, which has shown promising efficacy in patients with some hematologic malignancies, has introduced several successfully approved CAR T cell therapy products. Nevertheless, despite significant advances, treatment with these products has major challenges regarding potential toxicity and sometimes fatal adverse effects for patients. These toxicities can result from cytokine release or on-target off-tumor toxicity that targets healthy host tissue following CAR T cell therapy. The present study focuses on the unexpected side effects of targeting normal host tissues with off-target toxicity. Also, recent safety strategies such as replacing or adding different components to CARs and redesigning CAR structures to eliminate the toxic impact of CAR T cells, including T cell antigen coupler (TAC), switch molecules, suicide genes, and humanized monoclonal antibodies in the design of CARs, are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Sayadmanesh
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Technology Development Center (ATMP-TDC), Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Yekehfallah
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amir Valizadeh
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Abedelahi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hajar Shafaei
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Dariush Shanehbandi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Basiri
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Technology Development Center (ATMP-TDC), Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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11
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Schett G, Mackensen A, Mougiakakos D. CAR T-cell therapy in autoimmune diseases. Lancet 2023; 402:2034-2044. [PMID: 37748491 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)01126-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Despite the tremendous progress in the clinical management of autoimmune diseases, many patients do not respond to the currently used treatments. Autoreactive B cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. B-cell-depleting monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, have poor therapeutic efficacy in autoimmune diseases, mainly due to the persistence of autoreactive B cells in lymphatic organs and inflamed tissues. The adoptive transfer of T cells engineered to target tumour cells via chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has emerged as an effective treatment modality in B-cell malignancies. In the last 2 years treatment with autologous CAR T cells directed against the CD19 antigen has been introduced in therapy of autoimmune disease. CD19 CAR T cells induced a rapid and sustained depletion of circulating B cells, as well as in a complete clinical and serological remission of refractory systemic lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis. In this paper, we discuss the evolving strategies for targeting autoreactive B cells via CAR T cells, which might be used for targeted therapy in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Andreas Mackensen
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Clinical Oncology, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Mougiakakos
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GCI(3)), Medical Center, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
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12
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Li Y, Rezvani K, Rafei H. Next-generation chimeric antigen receptors for T- and natural killer-cell therapies against cancer. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:217-235. [PMID: 37548050 PMCID: PMC10841677 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive cellular therapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of various hematologic malignancies. However, the broad application of this approach for myeloid malignancies and solid cancers has been limited by the paucity and heterogeneity of target antigen expression, and lack of bona fide tumor-specific antigens that can be targeted without cross-reactivity against normal tissues. This may lead to unwanted on-target off-tumor toxicities that could undermine the desired antitumor effect. Recent advances in synthetic biology and genetic engineering have enabled reprogramming of immune effector cells to enhance their selectivity toward tumors, thus mitigating on-target off-tumor adverse effects. In this review, we outline the current strategies being explored to improve CAR selectivity toward tumor cells with a focus on natural killer (NK) cells, and the progress made in translating these strategies to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hind Rafei
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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13
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Marchais M, Simula L, Phayanouvong M, Mami-Chouaib F, Bismuth G, Decroocq J, Bouscary D, Dutrieux J, Mangeney M. FOXO1 Inhibition Generates Potent Nonactivated CAR T Cells against Solid Tumors. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:1508-1523. [PMID: 37649096 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown promising results in the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Despite the successes, challenges remain. One of them directly involves the CAR T-cell manufacturing process and especially the ex vivo activation phase. While this is required to allow infection and expansion, ex vivo activation dampens the antitumor potential of CAR T cells. Optimizing the nature of the T cells harboring the CAR is a strategy to address this obstacle and has the potential to improve CAR T-cell therapy, including for solid tumors. Here, we describe a protocol to create CAR T cells without ex vivo preactivation by inhibiting the transcription factor FOXO1 (CAR TAS cells). This approach made T cells directly permissive to lentiviral infection, allowing CAR expression, with enhanced antitumor functions. FOXO1 inhibition in primary T cells (TAS cells) correlated with acquisition of a stem cell memory phenotype, high levels of granzyme B, and increased production of TNFα. TAS cells displayed enhanced proliferative and cytotoxic capacities as well as improved migratory properties. In vivo experiments showed that CAR TAS cells were more efficient at controlling solid tumor growth than classical CAR T cells. The production of CAR TAS from patients' cells confirmed the feasibility of the protocol in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maude Marchais
- CNRS UMR9196, Physiologie et Pathologie Moléculaires des Rétrovirus Endogènes et Infectieux, Gustave Roussy, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS UMR8104, INSERM U1016, Paris, France
| | - Luca Simula
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS UMR8104, INSERM U1016, Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Phayanouvong
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Fathia Mami-Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Georges Bismuth
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS UMR8104, INSERM U1016, Paris, France
| | - Justine Decroocq
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre-Université de Paris, Service d'Hématologie Clinique, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Didier Bouscary
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS UMR8104, INSERM U1016, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre-Université de Paris, Service d'Hématologie Clinique, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Jacques Dutrieux
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS UMR8104, INSERM U1016, Paris, France
- Viral DNA Integration and Chromatin Dynamics Network (DyNAVir), Paris, France
| | - Marianne Mangeney
- CNRS UMR9196, Physiologie et Pathologie Moléculaires des Rétrovirus Endogènes et Infectieux, Gustave Roussy, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS UMR8104, INSERM U1016, Paris, France
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14
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Ma H, Wei W, Liang D, Xu X, Yang D, Wang Q, Wang Y, Wei Q, Sun B, Zhao X. HGF-Based CAR-T Cells Target Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells That Express High Levels of c-Met. Immunol Invest 2023; 52:735-748. [PMID: 37409941 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2023.2232402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CAR-T is emerging as an effective treatment strategy for hematologic malignancies, however its effectiveness for treating solid tumors, such as Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is limited. Here, we screened a variety of CAR-T cells that target c-Met to investigate their potential to induce HCC cell death in vitro. METHODS Human T cells were transduced to express CARs by lentiviral vector transfection. c-Met expression in human HCC cell lines and CARs expression were monitored by flow cytometry. Tumor cell killing was evaluated by Luciferase Assay System Kit. The concentrations of cytokine were tested by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Knock down and overexpression studies targeting c-Met were conducted to assess the targeting specificity of CARs. RESULTS We found that CAR T cells expressing a minimal amino-terminal polypeptide sequence comprising the first kringle (kringle 1) domain (denoted as NK1 CAR-T cells), efficiently killed HCC cell lines that expressed high levels of the HGF receptor c-Met. Furthermore, we report that while NK1 CAR-T cells were efficient at targeting SMMC7221 cells for destruction, and its potency was significantly attenuated in parallel experiments with cells stably expressing short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) that suppressed c-Met expression. Correspondingly, overexpression of c-Met in the embryonic kidney cell line HEK293T led to their enhanced killing by NK1 CAR-T cells. CONCLUSION Our studies demonstrate that a minimal amino-terminal polypeptide sequence comprising the kirngle1 domain of HGF is highly relevant to the design of effective CAR-T cell therapies that kill HCC cells expressing high levels of c-Met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Ma
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Laboratory of Animal Tumor Models, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenwen Wei
- Department of Targeting Therapy & Immunology and Laboratory of Animal Tumor Models, Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dandan Liang
- Department of Targeting Therapy & Immunology and Laboratory of Animal Tumor Models, Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xing Xu
- Core Facilities, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Targeting Therapy & Immunology and Laboratory of Animal Tumor Models, Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Quan Wei
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bin Sun
- Department of Targeting Therapy & Immunology and Laboratory of Animal Tumor Models, Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xudong Zhao
- Department of Targeting Therapy & Immunology and Laboratory of Animal Tumor Models, Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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15
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Wang H, Huang Y, Xu C. Charging CAR by electrostatic power. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:138-146. [PMID: 37366589 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment. CAR is a synthetic immune receptor that recognizes tumor antigen and activates T cells through multiple signaling pathways. However, the current CAR design is not as robust as T cell receptor (TCR), a natural antigen receptor with high sensitivity and efficiency. TCR signaling relies on specific molecular interactions, and thus electrostatic force, the major force of molecular interactions, play critical roles. Understanding how electrostatic charge regulates TCR/CAR signaling events will facilitate the development of next-generation T cell therapies. This review summarizes recent findings on the roles of electrostatic interactions in both natural and synthetic immune receptor signaling, specifically that in CAR clustering and effector molecule recruitments, and highlights potential strategies for engineering CAR-T cell therapy by leveraging charge-based interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haopeng Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuwei Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenqi Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Smith R. Bringing cell therapy to tumors: considerations for optimal CAR binder design. Antib Ther 2023; 6:225-239. [PMID: 37846297 PMCID: PMC10576856 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbad019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells have revolutionized the immunotherapy of B-cell malignancies and are poised to expand the range of their impact across a broad range of oncology and non-oncology indications. Critical to the success of a given CAR is the choice of binding domain, as this is the key driver for specificity and plays an important role (along with the rest of the CAR structure) in determining efficacy, potency and durability of the cell therapy. While antibodies have proven to be effective sources of CAR binding domains, it has become apparent that the desired attributes for a CAR binding domain do differ from those of a recombinant antibody. This review will address key factors that need to be considered in choosing the optimal binding domain for a given CAR and how binder properties influence and are influenced by the rest of the CAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Smith
- Department of Research, Kite, a Gilead Company, 5858 Horton Street, Suite 240, Emeryville, CA 94070, USA
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17
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Shen X, Zhang R, Nie X, Yang Y, Hua Y, Lü P. 4-1BB Targeting Immunotherapy: Mechanism, Antibodies, and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2023; 38:431-444. [PMID: 37433196 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2023.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
4-1BB (CD137, TNFRSF9) is a type I transmembrane protein which binds its natural ligand, 4-1BBL. This interaction has been exploited to improve cancer immunotherapy. With ligand binding by 4-1BB, the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway is activated, which results in transcription of corresponding genes such as interleukin-2 and interferon-γ, as well as the induction of T cell proliferation and antiapoptotic signals. Moreover, monoclonal antibodies that target-4-1BB, for example, Urelumab and Utomilumab, are widely used in the treatments of B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, and other solid tumors. Furthermore, 4-1BB as a costimulatory domain, for chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells, improves T cell proliferation and survival as well as reduces T cell exhaustion. As such, a deeper understanding of 4-1BB will contribute to improvements in cancer immunotherapy. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of current 4-1BB studies, with a focus on the use of targeting-4-1BB antibodies and 4-1BB activation domains in CAR-T cells for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Shen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Rusong Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xiaojuan Nie
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yanhua Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Ye Hua
- Institute of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Peng Lü
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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18
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Sarén T, Saronio G, Marti Torrell P, Zhu X, Thelander J, Andersson Y, Hofström C, Nestor M, Dimberg A, Persson H, Ramachandran M, Yu D, Essand M. Complementarity-determining region clustering may cause CAR-T cell dysfunction. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4732. [PMID: 37563127 PMCID: PMC10415375 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40303-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is rapidly advancing as cancer treatment, however, designing an optimal CAR remains challenging. A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) is generally used as CAR targeting moiety, wherein the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) define its specificity. We report here that the CDR loops can cause CAR clustering, leading to antigen-independent tonic signalling and subsequent CAR-T cell dysfunction. We show via CARs incorporating scFvs with identical framework and varying CDR sequences that CARs may cluster on the T cell surface, which leads to antigen-independent CAR-T cell activation, characterized by increased cell size and interferon (IFN)-γ secretion. This results in CAR-T cell exhaustion, activation-induced cell death and reduced responsiveness to target-antigen-expressing tumour cells. CDR mutagenesis confirms that the CAR-clustering is mediated by CDR-loops. In summary, antigen-independent tonic signalling can be induced by CDR-mediated CAR clustering, which could not be predicted from the scFv sequences, but could be tested for by evaluating the activity of unstimulated CAR-T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Sarén
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Giulia Saronio
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Paula Marti Torrell
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Xu Zhu
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Josefin Thelander
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yasmin Andersson
- Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Camilla Hofström
- Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Marika Nestor
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Dimberg
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helena Persson
- Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Drug Discovery and Development Platform, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Mohanraj Ramachandran
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Di Yu
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Magnus Essand
- Uppsala University, Dept Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden.
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19
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Zhu I, Piraner DI, Roybal KT. Synthesizing a Smarter CAR T Cell: Advanced Engineering of T-cell Immunotherapies. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:1030-1043. [PMID: 37429007 PMCID: PMC10527511 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The immune system includes an array of specialized cells that keep us healthy by responding to pathogenic cues. Investigations into the mechanisms behind immune cell behavior have led to the development of powerful immunotherapies, including chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Although CAR T cells have demonstrated efficacy in treating blood cancers, issues regarding their safety and potency have hindered the use of immunotherapies in a wider spectrum of diseases. Efforts to integrate developments in synthetic biology into immunotherapy have led to several advancements with the potential to expand the range of treatable diseases, fine-tune the desired immune response, and improve therapeutic cell potency. Here, we examine current synthetic biology advances that aim to improve on existing technologies and discuss the promise of the next generation of engineered immune cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iowis Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Dan I. Piraner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Kole T. Roybal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA 8Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone UCSF Institute for Genetic Immunology, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
- UCSF Cell Design Institute, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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20
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Schubert ML, Schmitt A, Hückelhoven-Krauss A, Neuber B, Kunz A, Waldhoff P, Vonficht D, Yousefian S, Jopp-Saile L, Wang L, Korell F, Keib A, Michels B, Haas D, Sauer T, Derigs P, Kulozik A, Kunz J, Pavel P, Laier S, Wuchter P, Schmier J, Bug G, Lang F, Gökbuget N, Casper J, Görner M, Finke J, Neubauer A, Ringhoffer M, Wolleschak D, Brüggemann M, Haas S, Ho AD, Müller-Tidow C, Dreger P, Schmitt M. Treatment of adult ALL patients with third-generation CD19-directed CAR T cells: results of a pivotal trial. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:79. [PMID: 37481608 PMCID: PMC10363324 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01470-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Third-generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells (CARTs) might improve clinical outcome of patients with B cell malignancies. This is the first report on a third-generation CART dose-escalating, phase-1/2 investigator-initiated trial treating adult patients with refractory and/or relapsed (r/r) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS Thirteen patients were treated with escalating doses of CD19-directed CARTs between 1 × 106 and 50 × 106 CARTs/m2. Leukapheresis, manufacturing and administration of CARTs were performed in-house. RESULTS For all patients, CART manufacturing was feasible. None of the patients developed any grade of Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) or a higher-grade (≥ grade III) catokine release syndrome (CRS). CART expansion and long-term CART persistence were evident in the peripheral blood (PB) of evaluable patients. At end of study on day 90 after CARTs, ten patients were evaluable for response: Eight patients (80%) achieved a complete remission (CR), including five patients (50%) with minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative CR. Response and outcome were associated with the administered CART dose. At 1-year follow-up, median overall survival was not reached and progression-free survival (PFS) was 38%. Median PFS was reached on day 120. Lack of CD39-expression on memory-like T cells was more frequent in CART products of responders when compared to CART products of non-responders. After CART administration, higher CD8 + and γδ-T cell frequencies, a physiological pattern of immune cells and lower monocyte counts in the PB were associated with response. CONCLUSION In conclusion, third-generation CARTs were associated with promising clinical efficacy and remarkably low procedure-specific toxicity, thereby opening new therapeutic perspectives for patients with r/r ALL. Trial registration This trial was registered at www. CLINICALTRIALS gov as NCT03676504.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Luisa Schubert
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anita Schmitt
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Angela Hückelhoven-Krauss
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Brigitte Neuber
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Kunz
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philip Waldhoff
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dominik Vonficht
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Schayan Yousefian
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lea Jopp-Saile
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Korell
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Keib
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Birgit Michels
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dominik Haas
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tim Sauer
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Derigs
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Kulozik
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim Kunz
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Petra Pavel
- Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy (IKTZ), German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sascha Laier
- Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy (IKTZ), German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Wuchter
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, of the Heidelberg University, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg - Hessen, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Gesine Bug
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Fabian Lang
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nicola Gökbuget
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jochen Casper
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Martin Görner
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jürgen Finke
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Neubauer
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, University Hospital Giessen und Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Denise Wolleschak
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Center of Internal Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke University Medical Center, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Monika Brüggemann
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Simon Haas
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)/National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anthony D Ho
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)/National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)/National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Dreger
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)/National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Schmitt
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)/National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
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21
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Kokalaki E, Ma B, Ferrari M, Grothier T, Hazelton W, Manzoor S, Costu E, Taylor J, Bulek A, Srivastava S, Gannon I, Jha R, Gealy R, Stanczuk L, Rizou T, Robson M, El-Kholy M, Baldan V, Righi M, Sillibourne J, Thomas S, Onuoha S, Cordoba S, Pule M. Dual targeting of CD19 and CD22 against B-ALL using a novel high-sensitivity aCD22 CAR. Mol Ther 2023; 31:2089-2104. [PMID: 36945773 PMCID: PMC10362402 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
CAR T cells recognizing CD19 effectively treat relapsed and refractory B-ALL and DLBCL. However, CD19 loss is a frequent cause of relapse. Simultaneously targeting a second antigen, CD22, may decrease antigen escape, but is challenging: its density is approximately 10-fold less than CD19, and its large structure may hamper immune synapse formation. The characteristics of the optimal CD22 CAR are underexplored. We generated 12 distinct CD22 antibodies and tested CARs derived from them to identify a CAR based on the novel 9A8 antibody, which was sensitive to low CD22 density and lacked tonic signaling. We found no correlation between affinity or membrane proximity of recognition epitope within Ig domains 3-6 of CD22 with CART function. The optimal strategy for CD19/CD22 CART co-targeting is undetermined. Co-administration of CD19 and CD22 CARs is costly; single CARs targeting CD19 and CD22 are challenging to construct. The co-expression of two CARs has previously been achieved using bicistronic vectors. Here, we generated a dual CART product by co-transduction with 9A8-41BBζ and CAT-41BBζ (obe-cel), the previously described CD19 CAR. CAT/9A8 CART eliminated single- and double-positive target cells in vitro and eliminated CD19- tumors in vivo. CAT/9A8 CART is being tested in a phase I clinical study (NCT02443831).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Biao Ma
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Mathieu Ferrari
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Thomas Grothier
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Warren Hazelton
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Somayya Manzoor
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Eren Costu
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Julia Taylor
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Anna Bulek
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | | | - Isaac Gannon
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Ram Jha
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Rosalind Gealy
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Lukas Stanczuk
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Tatiana Rizou
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Mathew Robson
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | | | - Vania Baldan
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Matteo Righi
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | | | - Simon Thomas
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Shimobi Onuoha
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Shaun Cordoba
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK
| | - Martin Pule
- Autolus Ltd, The MediaWorks, 191 Wood Ln, London W12 7FP, UK; Department of Haematology, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
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22
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Jung IY, Noguera-Ortega E, Bartoszek R, Collins SM, Williams E, Davis M, Jadlowsky JK, Plesa G, Siegel DL, Chew A, Levine BL, Berger SL, Moon EK, Albelda SM, Fraietta JA. Tissue-resident memory CAR T cells with stem-like characteristics display enhanced efficacy against solid and liquid tumors. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101053. [PMID: 37224816 PMCID: PMC10313923 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells demonstrate remarkable success in treating hematological malignancies, but their effectiveness in non-hematopoietic cancers remains limited. This study proposes enhancing CAR T cell function and localization in solid tumors by modifying the epigenome governing tissue-residency adaptation and early memory differentiation. We identify that a key factor in human tissue-resident memory CAR T cell (CAR-TRM) formation is activation in the presence of the pleotropic cytokine, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), which enforces a core program of both "stemness" and sustained tissue residency by mediating chromatin remodeling and concurrent transcriptional changes. This approach leads to a practical and clinically actionable in vitro production method for engineering peripheral blood T cells into a large number of "stem-like" CAR-TRM cells resistant to tumor-associated dysfunction, possessing an enhanced ability to accumulate in situ and rapidly eliminate cancer cells for more effective immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Young Jung
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Estela Noguera-Ortega
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Robert Bartoszek
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sierra M Collins
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Erik Williams
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Megan Davis
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Julie K Jadlowsky
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gabriela Plesa
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Donald L Siegel
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anne Chew
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bruce L Levine
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edmund K Moon
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Steven M Albelda
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Joseph A Fraietta
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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23
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McKenzie C, El-Kholy M, Parekh F, Robson M, Lamb K, Allen C, Sillibourne J, Cordoba S, Thomas S, Pule M. Novel Fas-TNFR chimeras that prevent Fas ligand-mediated kill and signal synergistically to enhance CAR T cell efficacy. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 32:603-621. [PMID: 37200859 PMCID: PMC10185706 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The hostile tumor microenvironment limits the efficacy of adoptive cell therapies. Activation of the Fas death receptor initiates apoptosis and disrupting these receptors could be key to increasing CAR T cell efficacy. We screened a library of Fas-TNFR proteins identifying several novel chimeras that not only prevented Fas ligand-mediated kill, but also enhanced CAR T cell efficacy by signaling synergistically with the CAR. Upon binding Fas ligand, Fas-CD40 activated the NF-κB pathway, inducing greatest proliferation and IFN-γ release out of all Fas-TNFRs tested. Fas-CD40 induced profound transcriptional modifications, particularly genes relating to the cell cycle, metabolism, and chemokine signaling. Co-expression of Fas-CD40 with either 4-1BB- or CD28-containing CARs increased in vitro efficacy by augmenting CAR T cell proliferation and cancer target cytotoxicity, and enhanced tumor killing and overall mouse survival in vivo. Functional activity of the Fas-TNFRs were dependent on the co-stimulatory domain within the CAR, highlighting crosstalk between signaling pathways. Furthermore, we show that a major source for Fas-TNFR activation derives from CAR T cells themselves via activation-induced Fas ligand upregulation, highlighting a universal role of Fas-TNFRs in augmenting CAR T cell responses. We have identified Fas-CD40 as the optimal chimera for overcoming Fas ligand-mediated kill and enhancing CAR T cell efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Martin Pule
- Autolus Therapeutics, London W12 7FP, UK
- Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK
- Corresponding author Martin Pule, Autolus Therapeutics, London W12 7FP, UK.
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24
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Fraessle SP, Tschulik C, Effenberger M, Cletiu V, Gerget M, Schober K, Busch DH, Germeroth L, Stemberger C, Poltorak MP. Activation-inducible CAR expression enables precise control over engineered CAR T cell function. Commun Biol 2023; 6:604. [PMID: 37277433 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04978-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CAR T cell therapy is a rapidly growing area of oncological treatments having a potential of becoming standard care for multiple indications. Coincidently, CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology is entering next-generation CAR T cell product manufacturing with the promise of more precise and more controllable cell modification methodology. The intersection of these medical and molecular advancements creates an opportunity for completely new ways of designing engineered cells to help overcome current limitations of cell therapy. In this manuscript we present proof-of-concept data for an engineered feedback loop. We manufactured activation-inducible CAR T cells with the help of CRISPR-mediated targeted integration. This new type of engineered T cells expresses the CAR gene dependent on their activation status. This artifice opens new possibilities to regulate CAR T cell function both in vitro and in vivo. We believe that such a physiological control system can be a powerful addition to the currently available toolbox of next-generation CAR constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Fraessle
- Juno Therapeutics GmbH, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Grillparzerstr. 10, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Claudia Tschulik
- Juno Therapeutics GmbH, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Grillparzerstr. 10, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Manuel Effenberger
- Juno Therapeutics GmbH, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Grillparzerstr. 10, 81675, Munich, Germany.
| | - Vlad Cletiu
- Juno Therapeutics GmbH, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Grillparzerstr. 10, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Gerget
- Juno Therapeutics GmbH, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Grillparzerstr. 10, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Kilian Schober
- Institute for Medical Microbiology Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk H Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lothar Germeroth
- Juno Therapeutics GmbH, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Grillparzerstr. 10, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Stemberger
- Juno Therapeutics GmbH, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Grillparzerstr. 10, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Mateusz P Poltorak
- Juno Therapeutics GmbH, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Grillparzerstr. 10, 81675, Munich, Germany
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25
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Shah D, Soper B, Shopland L. Cytokine release syndrome and cancer immunotherapies - historical challenges and promising futures. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1190379. [PMID: 37304291 PMCID: PMC10248525 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1190379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Cancer immunotherapy involves reinvigorating the patient's own immune system to fight against cancer. While novel approaches like Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells, bispecific T cell engagers, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising efficacy, Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) is a serious adverse effect and remains a major concern. CRS is a phenomenon of immune hyperactivation that results in excessive cytokine secretion, and if left unchecked, it may lead to multi-organ failure and death. Here we review the pathophysiology of CRS, its occurrence and management in the context of cancer immunotherapy, and the screening approaches that can be used to assess CRS and de-risk drug discovery earlier in the clinical setting with more predictive pre-clinical data. Furthermore, the review also sheds light on the potential immunotherapeutic approaches that can be used to overcome CRS associated with T cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deep Shah
- In vivo Services, The Jackson Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Brian Soper
- Technical Information Services, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
| | - Lindsay Shopland
- In vivo Services, The Jackson Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, United States
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26
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Michelozzi IM, Gomez-Castaneda E, Pohle RVC, Cardoso Rodriguez F, Sufi J, Puigdevall Costa P, Subramaniyam M, Kirtsios E, Eddaoudi A, Wu SW, Guvenel A, Fisher J, Ghorashian S, Pule MA, Tape CJ, Castellano S, Amrolia PJ, Giustacchini A. Activation priming and cytokine polyfunctionality modulate the enhanced functionality of low-affinity CD19 CAR T cells. Blood Adv 2023; 7:1725-1738. [PMID: 36453632 PMCID: PMC10182295 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022008490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently described a low-affinity second-generation CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) CAT that showed enhanced expansion, cytotoxicity, and antitumor efficacy compared with the high-affinity (FMC63-based) CAR used in tisagenlecleucel, in preclinical models. Furthermore, CAT demonstrated an excellent toxicity profile, enhanced in vivo expansion, and long-term persistence in a phase 1 clinical study. To understand the molecular mechanisms behind these properties of CAT CAR T cells, we performed a systematic in vitro characterization of the transcriptomic (RNA sequencing) and protein (cytometry by time of flight) changes occurring in T cells expressing low-affinity vs high-affinity CD19 CARs following stimulation with CD19-expressing cells. Our results show that CAT CAR T cells exhibit enhanced activation to CD19 stimulation and a distinct transcriptomic and protein profile, with increased activation and cytokine polyfunctionality compared with FMC63 CAR T cells. We demonstrate that the enhanced functionality of low-affinity CAT CAR T cells is a consequence of an antigen-dependent priming induced by residual CD19-expressing B cells present in the manufacture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria M. Michelozzi
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eduardo Gomez-Castaneda
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ruben V. C. Pohle
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ferran Cardoso Rodriguez
- Cell Communication Lab, Department of Oncology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jahangir Sufi
- Cell Communication Lab, Department of Oncology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pau Puigdevall Costa
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Meera Subramaniyam
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Efstratios Kirtsios
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ayad Eddaoudi
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Si Wei Wu
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aleks Guvenel
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Fisher
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Ghorashian
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin A. Pule
- Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Tape
- Cell Communication Lab, Department of Oncology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sergi Castellano
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Genomics, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Persis J. Amrolia
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Giustacchini
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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27
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Alvanou M, Lysandrou M, Christophi P, Psatha N, Spyridonidis A, Papadopoulou A, Yannaki E. Empowering the Potential of CAR-T Cell Immunotherapies by Epigenetic Reprogramming. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1935. [PMID: 37046597 PMCID: PMC10093039 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15071935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell-based, personalized immunotherapy can nowadays be considered the mainstream treatment for certain blood cancers, with a high potential for expanding indications. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-Ts), an ex vivo genetically modified T-cell therapy product redirected to target an antigen of interest, have achieved unforeseen successes in patients with B-cell hematologic malignancies. Frequently, however, CAR-T cell therapies fail to provide durable responses while they have met with only limited success in treating solid cancers because unique, unaddressed challenges, including poor persistence, impaired trafficking to the tumor, and site penetration through a hostile microenvironment, impede their efficacy. Increasing evidence suggests that CAR-Ts' in vivo performance is associated with T-cell intrinsic features that may be epigenetically altered or dysregulated. In this review, we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on T-cell differentiation, exhaustion, and tumor infiltration and discuss how epigenetic reprogramming may enhance CAR-Ts' memory phenotype, trafficking, and fitness, contributing to the development of a new generation of potent CAR-T immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Alvanou
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, 265 04 Rio, Greece
| | - Memnon Lysandrou
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, 265 04 Rio, Greece
| | - Panayota Christophi
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, 265 04 Rio, Greece
| | - Nikoleta Psatha
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexandros Spyridonidis
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, 265 04 Rio, Greece
| | - Anastasia Papadopoulou
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2100, USA
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28
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Celichowski P, Turi M, Charvátová S, Radhakrishnan D, Feizi N, Chyra Z, Šimíček M, Jelínek T, Bago JR, Hájek R, Hrdinka M. Tuning CARs: recent advances in modulating chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell activity for improved safety, efficacy, and flexibility. J Transl Med 2023; 21:197. [PMID: 36922828 PMCID: PMC10015723 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04041-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies utilizing genetically engineered T cells have emerged as powerful personalized therapeutic agents showing dramatic preclinical and clinical results, particularly in hematological malignancies. Ectopically expressed chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) reprogram immune cells to target and eliminate cancer. However, CAR T cell therapy's success depends on the balance between effective anti-tumor activity and minimizing harmful side effects. To improve CAR T cell therapy outcomes and mitigate associated toxicities, scientists from different fields are cooperating in developing next-generation products using the latest molecular cell biology and synthetic biology tools and technologies. The immunotherapy field is rapidly evolving, with new approaches and strategies being reported at a fast pace. This comprehensive literature review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the latest developments in controlling CAR T cell activity for improved safety, efficacy, and flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Celichowski
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Marcello Turi
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Sandra Charvátová
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Dhwani Radhakrishnan
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Neda Feizi
- Department of Internal Clinical Sciences, Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Zuzana Chyra
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Šimíček
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Jelínek
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Juli Rodriguez Bago
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Hájek
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Matouš Hrdinka
- Department of Haematooncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
- Department of Haematooncology, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
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29
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Frigault MJ, Bishop MR, Rosenblatt J, O’Donnell EK, Raje N, Cook D, Yee AJ, Logan E, Avigan DE, Jakubowiak A, Shaw K, Daley H, Nikiforow S, Griffin F, Cornwell C, Shen A, Heery C, Maus MV. Phase 1 study of CART-ddBCMA for the treatment of subjects with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Blood Adv 2023; 7:768-777. [PMID: 35468618 PMCID: PMC9989524 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) is a plasma cell neoplasm defined by progressively refractory disease necessitating chronic and increasingly intensive therapy. Despite recent advances, limited treatment options exist for RRMM. This single-arm, open label phase 1 study aimed to evaluate the safety of novel B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T construct that leverages a completely synthetic antigen-binding domain (CART-ddBCMA), which was specifically engineered to reduce immunogenicity and improve CAR cell surface stability. Thirteen patients ≥18 years with RRMM who received at least 3 prior regimens of systemic therapy were enrolled in the study. Patients received a single dose of 100 × 106 CART-ddBCMA (DL1) or 300 × 106 CART-ddBCMA (DL2) following standard lymphodepleting chemotherapy. The primary endpoints of the study were to evaluate the incidence of treatment emergent adverse events, including dose-limiting toxicities, and establish a recommended phase 2 dose. Results showed that CART-ddBCMA was well tolerated and demonstrated a favorable toxicity profile. Only 1 case of grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome and 1 case of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity were reported; both were at DL2 and were manageable with standard treatment. No atypical neurological toxicities and Parkinson disease-like movement disorders were observed. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached. All infused patients responded to CART-ddBCMA, and 9/12 (75%) patients achieved complete response/stringent complete response. Responses deepened over time, and at the time of last data-cut (median follow-up 56 weeks), 8/9 (89%) evaluable patients achieved minimal residual disease negativity. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate the safety of CART-ddBCMA cells and document durable responses to CART-ddBCMA in patients with RRMM. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04155749.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Frigault
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Michael R. Bishop
- David and Etta Jonas Center for Cellular Therapy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Elizabeth K. O’Donnell
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Noopur Raje
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Daniella Cook
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Andrew J. Yee
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Emma Logan
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | | | - Andrzej Jakubowiak
- David and Etta Jonas Center for Cellular Therapy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Kit Shaw
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Cell Manipulation Core Facility, Brookline, MA
| | - Heather Daley
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Cell Manipulation Core Facility, Brookline, MA
| | - Sarah Nikiforow
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Cell Manipulation Core Facility, Brookline, MA
| | | | | | | | | | - Marcela V. Maus
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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30
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Chen X, Chen LC, Khericha M, Meng X, Salvestrini E, Shafer A, Iyer N, Alag AS, Ding Y, Nicolaou DM, Chen YY. Rational Protein Design Yields a CD20 CAR with Superior Antitumor Efficacy Compared with CD19 CAR. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:150-163. [PMID: 36409926 PMCID: PMC9898126 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) are fusion proteins whose functional domains are often connected in a plug-and-play manner to generate multiple CAR variants. However, CARs with highly similar sequences can exhibit dramatic differences in function. Thus, approaches to rationally optimize CAR proteins are critical to the development of effective CAR T-cell therapies. Here, we report that as few as two amino-acid changes in nonsignaling domains of a CAR were able to significantly enhance in vivo antitumor efficacy. We demonstrate juxtamembrane alanine insertion and single-chain variable fragment sequence hybridization as two strategies that could be combined to maximize CAR functionality, and describe a CD20 CAR that outperformed the CD19 CAR in antitumor efficacy in preclinical in vitro and in vivo assays. Precise changes in the CAR sequence drove dramatically different transcriptomic profiles upon antigen stimulation, with the most efficacious CAR inducing an enrichment in highly functional memory T cells upon antigen stimulation. These findings underscore the importance of sequence-level optimization to CAR T-cell function, and the protein-engineering strategy described here may be applied to the development of additional CARs against diverse antigens. See related Spotlight by Scheller and Hudecek, p. 142.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximin Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Laurence C. Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Mobina Khericha
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xiangzhi Meng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Emma Salvestrini
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Amanda Shafer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Neha Iyer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Anya S. Alag
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yunfeng Ding
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Demetri M. Nicolaou
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yvonne Y. Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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31
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Oh BLZ, Chan LWY, Chai LYA. Manipulating NK cellular therapy from cancer to invasive fungal infection: promises and challenges. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1044946. [PMID: 36969979 PMCID: PMC10034767 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1044946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The ideal strategy to fight an infection involves both (i) weakening the invading pathogen through conventional antimicrobial therapy, and (ii) strengthening defense through the augmentation of host immunity. This is even more pertinent in the context of invasive fungal infections whereby the majority of patients have altered immunity and are unable to mount an appropriate host response against the pathogen. Natural killer (NK) cells fit the requirement of an efficient, innate executioner of both tumour cells and pathogens – their unique, targeted cell killing mechanism, combined with other arms of the immune system, make them potent effectors. These characteristics, together with their ready availability (given the various sources of extrinsic NK cells available for harvesting), make NK cells an attractive choice as adoptive cellular therapy against fungi in invasive infections. Improved techniques in ex vivo NK cell activation with expansion, and more importantly, recent advances in genetic engineering including state-of-the-art chimeric antigen receptor platform development, have presented an opportune moment to harness this novel therapeutic as a key component of a multipronged strategy against invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernice Ling Zhi Oh
- VIVA-University Children’s Cancer Centre, Khoo-Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Louis Wei Yong Chan
- Clinician Scientist Academy, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Louis Yi Ann Chai
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Louis Yi Ann Chai,
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32
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Caballero AC, Escribà-Garcia L, Pujol-Fernández P, Escudero-López E, Ujaldón-Miró C, Montserrat-Torres R, Sierra J, Alvarez-Fernández C, Briones J. High CAR intensity of expression confers enhanced antitumor effect against lymphoma without functional exhaustion. Cancer Gene Ther 2023; 30:51-61. [PMID: 36031661 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-022-00518-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Identifying factors that ameliorates clinical outcomes following CART therapy represents an unmet need. We hypothesized that CAR expression level would have a significant impact on CART efficacy and tested this with CAR30+ TSCM-LIKE enriched cells. By sorting T-cells according to CAR mean fluorescence intensity in two markedly different populations (CARHI and CARLO), we showed that a high CAR expression enhances antitumor efficacy in vitro, that is sustained after sequential re-exposures to tumor cells and is not associated with T-cell exhaustion or differentiation. Furthermore, we found a correlation between high surface CAR expression and antitumor effect with CAR19+ T-cells, thus validating our findings with CAR30. Definitive proof of CARHI T-cells improved antitumor efficacy was demonstrated in a human Hodgkin's lymphoma xenograft mouse model, where CAR30-TSCM-LIKE enriched products with high intensity of CAR expression achieved superior tumor control in vivo and longer survival than those with a low intensity of CAR expression. Our data suggest that modulation of CAR intensity of expression represents an additional strategy to increase CART therapy clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Caballero
- Hematology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology-IIB, Institut Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Escribà-Garcia
- Hematology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology-IIB, Institut Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Pujol-Fernández
- Hematology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology-IIB, Institut Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Escudero-López
- Hematology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology-IIB, Institut Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Ujaldón-Miró
- Hematology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology-IIB, Institut Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosanna Montserrat-Torres
- Hematology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology-IIB, Institut Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Sierra
- Hematology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.,Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Alvarez-Fernández
- Hematology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. .,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology-IIB, Institut Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. .,Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Javier Briones
- Hematology Service, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. .,Laboratory of Experimental Hematology-IIB, Institut Recerca Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. .,Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain. .,Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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33
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Chow A, Perica K, Klebanoff CA, Wolchok JD. Clinical implications of T cell exhaustion for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2022; 19:775-790. [PMID: 36216928 PMCID: PMC10984554 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-022-00689-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has been a remarkable clinical advancement in the treatment of cancer. T cells are pivotal to the efficacy of current cancer immunotherapies, including immune-checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies. However, cancer is associated with T cell exhaustion, a hypofunctional state characterized by progressive loss of T cell effector functions and self-renewal capacity. The 'un-exhausting' of T cells in the tumour microenvironment is commonly regarded as a key mechanism of action for immune-checkpoint inhibitors, and T cell exhaustion is considered a pathway of resistance for cellular immunotherapies. Several elegant studies have provided important insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic programmes that govern T cell exhaustion. In this Review, we highlight recent discoveries related to the immunobiology of T cell exhaustion that offer a more nuanced perspective beyond this hypofunctional state being entirely undesirable. We review evidence that T cell exhaustion might be as much a reflection as it is the cause of poor tumour control. Furthermore, we hypothesize that, in certain contexts of chronic antigen stimulation, interruption of the exhaustion programme might impair T cell persistence. Therefore, the prioritization of interventions that mitigate the development of T cell exhaustion, including orthogonal cytoreduction therapies and novel cellular engineering strategies, might ultimately confer superior clinical outcomes and the greatest advances in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Chow
- Thoracic Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Ludwig Collaborative and Swim Across America Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Karlo Perica
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Cell Therapy Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher A Klebanoff
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Cell Therapy Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jedd D Wolchok
- Ludwig Collaborative and Swim Across America Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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34
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Safarzadeh Kozani P, Naseri A, Mirarefin SMJ, Salem F, Nikbakht M, Evazi Bakhshi S, Safarzadeh Kozani P. Nanobody-based CAR-T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Biomark Res 2022; 10:24. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1186/s40364-022-00371-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractChimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is the result of combining genetic engineering-based cancer immunotherapy with adoptive cell therapy (ACT). CAR-T therapy has been successful in treating various types of hematological cancers. CARs are receptors made of an extracellular domain, a membrane-spanning domain, and an intracellular domain. The extracellular domain of CARs harbors an antigen-targeting domain responsible for recognizing and binding cell surface-expressed target antigens. Conventionally, the single-chain fragment variable (scFv) of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) is used as the antigen-targeting domain of CARs. However, of late, researchers have exploited nanobodies for this aim based on numerous rationales including the small size of nanobodies, their stability, specificity, and high affinity, and their easy and feasible development process. Many findings have confirmed that nanobody-based CAR-Ts can be as functional as scFv-based CAR-Ts in preclinical and clinical settings. In this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of scFvs and nanobodies in regards to their application as the targeting domain of CARs. Ultimately, we discuss various CAR target antigens which have been targeted using nanobody-based CAR-T cells for the treatment of different types of malignancies.
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35
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Nasiri F, Kazemi M, Mirarefin SMJ, Mahboubi Kancha M, Ahmadi Najafabadi M, Salem F, Dashti Shokoohi S, Evazi Bakhshi S, Safarzadeh Kozani P, Safarzadeh Kozani P. CAR-T cell therapy in triple-negative breast cancer: Hunting the invisible devil. Front Immunol 2022; 13. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1018786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known as the most intricate and hard-to-treat subtype of breast cancer. TNBC cells do not express the well-known estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expressed by other breast cancer subtypes. This phenomenon leaves no room for novel treatment approaches including endocrine and HER2-specific antibody therapies. To date, surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy remain the principal therapy options for TNBC treatment. However, in numerous cases, these approaches either result in minimal clinical benefit or are nonfunctional, resulting in disease recurrence and poor prognosis. Nowadays, chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy is becoming more established as an option for the treatment of various types of hematologic malignancies. CAR-Ts are genetically engineered T lymphocytes that employ the body’s immune system mechanisms to selectively recognize cancer cells expressing tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) of interest and efficiently eliminate them. However, despite the clinical triumph of CAR-T therapy in hematologic neoplasms, CAR-T therapy of solid tumors, including TNBC, has been much more challenging. In this review, we will discuss the success of CAR-T therapy in hematological neoplasms and its caveats in solid tumors, and then we summarize the potential CAR-T targetable TAAs in TNBC studied in different investigational stages.
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Nasiri F, Kazemi M, Mirarefin SMJ, Mahboubi Kancha M, Ahmadi Najafabadi M, Salem F, Dashti Shokoohi S, Evazi Bakhshi S, Safarzadeh Kozani P, Safarzadeh Kozani P. CAR-T cell therapy in triple-negative breast cancer: Hunting the invisible devil. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1018786. [PMID: 36483567 PMCID: PMC9722775 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1018786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known as the most intricate and hard-to-treat subtype of breast cancer. TNBC cells do not express the well-known estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expressed by other breast cancer subtypes. This phenomenon leaves no room for novel treatment approaches including endocrine and HER2-specific antibody therapies. To date, surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy remain the principal therapy options for TNBC treatment. However, in numerous cases, these approaches either result in minimal clinical benefit or are nonfunctional, resulting in disease recurrence and poor prognosis. Nowadays, chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy is becoming more established as an option for the treatment of various types of hematologic malignancies. CAR-Ts are genetically engineered T lymphocytes that employ the body's immune system mechanisms to selectively recognize cancer cells expressing tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) of interest and efficiently eliminate them. However, despite the clinical triumph of CAR-T therapy in hematologic neoplasms, CAR-T therapy of solid tumors, including TNBC, has been much more challenging. In this review, we will discuss the success of CAR-T therapy in hematological neoplasms and its caveats in solid tumors, and then we summarize the potential CAR-T targetable TAAs in TNBC studied in different investigational stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Nasiri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mehrasa Kazemi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Thalassemia Research Center, Hemoglobinopathy Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | | | - Maral Mahboubi Kancha
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Milad Ahmadi Najafabadi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faeze Salem
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Setareh Dashti Shokoohi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Evazi Bakhshi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Pouya Safarzadeh Kozani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Pooria Safarzadeh Kozani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Cassioli C, Patrussi L, Valitutti S, Baldari CT. Learning from TCR Signaling and Immunological Synapse Assembly to Build New Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:14255. [PMID: 36430728 PMCID: PMC9694822 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy is a revolutionary pillar in cancer treatment. Clinical experience has shown remarkable successes in the treatment of certain hematological malignancies but only limited efficacy against B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other cancer types, especially solid tumors. A wide range of engineering strategies have been employed to overcome the limitations of CAR T cell therapy. However, it has become increasingly clear that CARs have unique, unexpected features; hence, a deep understanding of how CARs signal and trigger the formation of a non-conventional immunological synapse (IS), the signaling platform required for T cell activation and execution of effector functions, would lead a shift from empirical testing to the rational design of new CAR constructs. Here, we review current knowledge of CARs, focusing on their structure, signaling and role in CAR T cell IS assembly. We, moreover, discuss the molecular features accounting for poor responses in CLL patients treated with anti-CD19 CAR T cells and propose CLL as a paradigm for diseases connected to IS dysfunctions that could significantly benefit from the development of novel CARs to generate a productive anti-tumor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cassioli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Patrussi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Salvatore Valitutti
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1037, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Toulouse (CRCT), Université de Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, 31037 Toulouse, France
- Department of Pathology, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Oncopole de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France
| | - Cosima T. Baldari
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Castiello L, Santodonato L, Napolitano M, Carlei D, Montefiore E, Monque DM, D’Agostino G, Aricò E. Chimeric Antigen Receptor Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors: Choosing the Right Ingredients for the Perfect Recipe. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5351. [PMID: 36358770 PMCID: PMC9655484 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies are revolutionizing the clinical practice of hematological tumors, whereas minimal progresses have been achieved in the solid tumor arena. Multiple reasons have been ascribed to this slower pace: The higher heterogeneity, the hurdles of defining reliable tumor antigens to target, and the broad repertoire of immune escape strategies developed by solid tumors are considered among the major ones. Currently, several CAR therapies are being investigated in preclinical and early clinical trials against solid tumors differing in the type of construct, the cells that are engineered, and the additional signals included with the CAR constructs to overcome solid tumor barriers. Additionally, novel approaches in development aim at overcoming some of the limitations that emerged with the approved therapies, such as large-scale manufacturing, duration of manufacturing, and logistical issues. In this review, we analyze the advantages and challenges of the different approaches under development, balancing the scientific evidences supporting specific choices with the manufacturing and regulatory issues that are essential for their further clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Castiello
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Santodonato
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Napolitano
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Carlei
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Enrica Montefiore
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenica Maria Monque
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina D’Agostino
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aricò
- Cell Factory FaBioCell, Core Facilities, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Dos Santos MH, Machado MP, Kumaresan PR, da Silva TA. Modification of Hinge/Transmembrane and Signal Transduction Domains Improves the Expression and Signaling Threshold of GXMR-CAR Specific to Cryptococcus spp. Cells 2022; 11:3386. [PMID: 36359781 PMCID: PMC9653562 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213386] [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] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) redirect T cells to recognize a specific target. CAR components play a pivotal role in antigen specificity, structure stability, expression on cell surface, and induction of cellular activation, which together determine the success of CAR T-cell therapy. CAR products targeting B-cell lymphoma encouraged the development of new CAR applications beyond cancer. For example, our group developed a CAR to specifically target glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) in the capsule of Cryptococcus species, called GXMR-CAR or GXMR-IgG4-28ζ. Cryptococcus are fungi that cause the life-threatening disease cryptococcosis, and GXMR-IgG4-28ζ redirected T cells to target yeast and titan cell forms of Cryptococcus spp. Here, we replaced the IgG4-hinge and CD28-transmembrane domains from GXMR-CAR with a CD8α molecule as the hinge/transmembrane and used CD28 or 4-1BB molecules as co-stimulatory domains, creating GXMR-8-28ζ and GXMR-8-BBζ, respectively. Jurkat cells expressing GXMR-CAR containing CD8α as the hinge/transmembrane improved the CAR expression and induced a tonic signaling. GXMR-8-28ζ and GXMR-8-BBζ induced high levels of IL-2 and up-regulation of CD69 expression in the presence of reference strains of C. neoformans and C. gattii. Moreover, GXMR-8-28ζ and GXMR-8-BBζ showed increased strength in response to incubation with clinical isolates of Cryptococcuss spp., and 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain triggered a more pronounced cellular activation. Dasatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, attenuated the GXMR-CAR signaling cascade's engagement in the presence or absence of its ligand. This study optimized novel second-generation GXMR-CARs containing the CD8-hinge/transmembrane domain that improved CAR expression, antigen recognition, and signal strength in T-cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Henrique Dos Santos
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 140490-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Michele Procópio Machado
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 140490-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Pappanaicken R Kumaresan
- Department of Hematopoietic Biology and Malignancy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 140490-900, SP, Brazil
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells comprise a unique population of innate lymphoid cells endowed with intrinsic abilities to identify and eliminate virally infected cells and tumour cells. Possessing multiple cytotoxicity mechanisms and the ability to modulate the immune response through cytokine production, NK cells play a pivotal role in anticancer immunity. This role was elucidated nearly two decades ago, when NK cells, used as immunotherapeutic agents, showed safety and efficacy in the treatment of patients with advanced-stage leukaemia. In recent years, following the paradigm-shifting successes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered adoptive T cell therapy and the advancement in technologies that can turn cells into powerful antitumour weapons, the interest in NK cells as a candidate for immunotherapy has grown exponentially. Strategies for the development of NK cell-based therapies focus on enhancing NK cell potency and persistence through co-stimulatory signalling, checkpoint inhibition and cytokine armouring, and aim to redirect NK cell specificity to the tumour through expression of CAR or the use of engager molecules. In the clinic, the first generation of NK cell therapies have delivered promising results, showing encouraging efficacy and remarkable safety, thus driving great enthusiasm for continued innovation. In this Review, we describe the various approaches to augment NK cell cytotoxicity and longevity, evaluate challenges and opportunities, and reflect on how lessons learned from the clinic will guide the design of next-generation NK cell products that will address the unique complexities of each cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara J Laskowski
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Biederstädt
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine III: Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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Rodriguez-Marquez P, Calleja-Cervantes ME, Serrano G, Oliver-Caldes A, Palacios-Berraquero ML, Martin-Mallo A, Calviño C, Español-Rego M, Ceballos C, Lozano T, San Martin-Uriz P, Vilas-Zornoza A, Rodriguez-Diaz S, Martinez-Turrillas R, Jauregui P, Alignani D, Viguria MC, Redondo M, Pascal M, Martin-Antonio B, Juan M, Urbano-Ispizua A, Rodriguez-Otero P, Alfonso-Pierola A, Paiva B, Lasarte JJ, Inoges S, Lopez-Diaz de Cerio A, San-Miguel J, Fernandez de Larrea C, Hernaez M, Rodriguez-Madoz JR, Prosper F. CAR density influences antitumoral efficacy of BCMA CAR T cells and correlates with clinical outcome. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo0514. [PMID: 36179026 PMCID: PMC9524842 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo0514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Identification of new markers associated with long-term efficacy in patients treated with CAR T cells is a current medical need, particularly in diseases such as multiple myeloma. In this study, we address the impact of CAR density on the functionality of BCMA CAR T cells. Functional and transcriptional studies demonstrate that CAR T cells with high expression of the CAR construct show an increased tonic signaling with up-regulation of exhaustion markers and increased in vitro cytotoxicity but a decrease in in vivo BM infiltration. Characterization of gene regulatory networks using scRNA-seq identified regulons associated to activation and exhaustion up-regulated in CARHigh T cells, providing mechanistic insights behind differential functionality of these cells. Last, we demonstrate that patients treated with CAR T cell products enriched in CARHigh T cells show a significantly worse clinical response in several hematological malignancies. In summary, our work demonstrates that CAR density plays an important role in CAR T activity with notable impact on clinical response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria E. Calleja-Cervantes
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Computational Biology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Guillermo Serrano
- Computational Biology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Aina Oliver-Caldes
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Angel Martin-Mallo
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Cristina Calviño
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta Español-Rego
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Candela Ceballos
- Hematology Service, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Teresa Lozano
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Amaia Vilas-Zornoza
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Rebeca Martinez-Turrillas
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Jauregui
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Diego Alignani
- Flow Cytometry Core, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maria C. Viguria
- Hematology Service, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Margarita Redondo
- Hematology Service, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mariona Pascal
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Martin-Antonio
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Juan
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Immunotherapy platform Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alvaro Urbano-Ispizua
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Rodriguez-Otero
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana Alfonso-Pierola
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Bruno Paiva
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Flow Cytometry Core, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Juan J. Lasarte
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Susana Inoges
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ascension Lopez-Diaz de Cerio
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jesus San-Miguel
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Cancer Center Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carlos Fernandez de Larrea
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mikel Hernaez
- Computational Biology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute (DATAI), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Juan R. Rodriguez-Madoz
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Prosper
- Hemato-Oncology Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Department, Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Cancer Center Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
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Mazinani M, Rahbarizadeh F. CAR-T cell potency: from structural elements to vector backbone components. Biomark Res 2022; 10:70. [PMID: 36123710 PMCID: PMC9487061 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00417-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, in which a patient’s own T lymphocytes are engineered to recognize and kill cancer cells, has achieved remarkable success in some hematological malignancies in preclinical and clinical trials, resulting in six FDA-approved CAR-T products currently available in the market. Once equipped with a CAR construct, T cells act as living drugs and recognize and eliminate the target tumor cells in an MHC-independent manner. In this review, we first described all structural modular of CAR in detail, focusing on more recent findings. We then pointed out behind-the-scene elements contributing to CAR expression and reviewed how CAR expression can be drastically affected by the elements embedded in the viral vector backbone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Mazinani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rahbarizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran. .,Research and Development Center of Biotechnology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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43
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Honikel MM, Olejniczak SH. Co-Stimulatory Receptor Signaling in CAR-T Cells. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12091303. [PMID: 36139142 PMCID: PMC9496564 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell engineering strategies have emerged as successful immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of human cancer. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy represents a prominent synthetic biology approach to re-direct the specificity of a patient's autologous T cells toward a desired tumor antigen. CAR-T therapy is currently FDA approved for the treatment of hematological malignancies, including subsets of B cell lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and multiple myeloma. Mechanistically, CAR-mediated recognition of a tumor antigen results in propagation of T cell activation signals, including a co-stimulatory signal, resulting in CAR-T cell activation, proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, and acquisition of effector functions. The importance of including a co-stimulatory domain in CARs was recognized following limited success of early iteration CAR-T cell designs lacking co-stimulation. Today, all CAR-T cells in clinical use contain either a CD28 or 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain. Preclinical investigations are exploring utility of including additional co-stimulatory molecules such as ICOS, OX40 and CD27 or various combinations of multiple co-stimulatory domains. Clinical and preclinical evidence implicates the co-stimulatory signal in several aspects of CAR-T cell therapy including response kinetics, persistence and durability, and toxicity profiles each of which impact the safety and anti-tumor efficacy of this immunotherapy. Herein we provide an overview of CAR-T cell co-stimulation by the prototypical receptors and discuss current and emerging strategies to modulate co-stimulatory signals to enhance CAR-T cell function.
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44
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Battram AM, Oliver-Caldés A, Suárez-Lledó M, Lozano M, Bosch I Crespo M, Martínez-Cibrián N, Cid J, Moreno DF, Rodríguez-Lobato LG, Urbano-Ispizua A, Fernández de Larrea C. T cells isolated from G-CSF-treated multiple myeloma patients are suitable for the generation of BCMA-directed CAR-T cells. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:207-223. [PMID: 35859694 PMCID: PMC9271987 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
Autologous cell immunotherapy using B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells is an effective novel treatment for multiple myeloma (MM). This therapy has only been used for relapsed and refractory patients, at which stage the endogenous T cells used to produce the CAR-T cells are affected by the immunosuppressive nature of advanced MM and/or side effects of previous therapies. An alternative pool of "fitter" T cells is found in leukocytoapheresis products that are routinely collected to obtain hematopoietic progenitor cells for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) early in the treatment of MM. However, to mobilize the progenitor cells, patients are dosed with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which is reported to adversely affect T cell proliferation, function, and differentiation. Here, we aimed to first establish whether G-CSF treatment negatively influences T cell phenotype and to ascertain whether previous exposure of T cells to G-CSF is deleterious for anti-BCMA CAR-T cells. We observed that G-CSF had a minimal impact on T cell phenotype when added in vitro or administered to patients. Moreover, we found that CAR-T cell fitness and anti-tumor activity were unaffected when generated from G-CSF-exposed T cells. Overall, we showed that ASCT apheresis products are a suitable source of T cells for anti-BCMA CAR-T cell manufacture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M Battram
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aina Oliver-Caldés
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hematology, Amyloidosis and Myeloma Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Suárez-Lledó
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hematology, Amyloidosis and Myeloma Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miquel Lozano
- Apheresis & Cellular Therapy Unit, Department of Hemotherapy & Hemostasis, ICMHO (Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques), Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miquel Bosch I Crespo
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Martínez-Cibrián
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hematology, Amyloidosis and Myeloma Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Cid
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Apheresis & Cellular Therapy Unit, Department of Hemotherapy & Hemostasis, ICMHO (Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques), Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David F Moreno
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hematology, Amyloidosis and Myeloma Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Gerardo Rodríguez-Lobato
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hematology, Amyloidosis and Myeloma Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alvaro Urbano-Ispizua
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hematology, Amyloidosis and Myeloma Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Haematology, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Fernández de Larrea
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hematology, Amyloidosis and Myeloma Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Haematology, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
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45
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Parallel CD19/CD20 CAR-Activated T-Cells Are More Effective for Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma In Vitro and In Vivo. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:1227308. [PMID: 36034960 PMCID: PMC9410781 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1227308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells are an effective treatment for refractory B-cell lymphoma, but CD19 deletion is prone to relapse. We conducted this study to find more effective dual CAR19/20 T-cells to target B-cell lymphoma and prevent antigen loss leading to recurrence. In this study, we transduced CD19 and CD20 CARs into human T cells in parallel and compared parallel dual CAR19/20, single CAR, and tandem CAR19/20 in vitro and in vivo. After transduction with the corresponding vectors, CD19 and CD20 CARs were dually expressed in human T cells. It was observed that parallel CAR19/20 T-cells contained a substantial proportion of naive subpopulations and were able to proliferate in vitro. Treatment with parallel CAR19/20, single CAR, or tandem CAR19/20 T-cells sustainably induced complete lysis of leukemia cells in a 5 : 1 ratio. Compared with single or tandem CAR T-cell-transplanted mice, parallel CAR19/20 T-cell-transplanted mice exhibited smaller tumor volume, more stable body weight, and longer survival. This suggests that parallel CAR19/20 has superior antilymphoma activity in vivo. In addition, parallel CAR19/20 T-cells were also able to kill patients' lymphoma cells in vitro. Therefore, it can be considered that parallel CAR19/20 is equally effective against single CAR and tandem CAR19/20 in vitro but more effective against lymphoma cells in vivo. This is a promising treatment to prevent the recurrence of antigen loss following CD19-targeted therapy in B lymphoma.
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Cribioli E, Giordano Attianese GMP, Coukos G, Irving M. CAR T cells targeting the ganglioside NGcGM3 control ovarian tumors in the absence of toxicity against healthy tissues. Front Immunol 2022; 13:951143. [PMID: 35990626 PMCID: PMC9389107 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.951143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have emerged as a powerful immunotherapeutic tool against certain hematological malignancies but a significant proportion of patients either do not respond or they relapse, sometimes as a result of target antigen loss. Moreover, limited clinical benefit has been reported for CAR therapy against epithelial derived solid tumors. A major reason for this is the paucity of solid tumor antigens identified to date that are broadly, homogeneously and stably expressed but not found on healthy tissues. To address this, here we describe the development and evaluation of CAR T cells directed against N-glycoslylated ganglioside monosialic 3 (NGcGM3). NGcGM3 derives from the enzymatic hydroxylation of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NAc) GM3 (NAcGM3) and it is present on the surface of a range of cancers including ovarian, breast, melanoma and lymphoma. However, while NAcGM3 is found on healthy human cells, NGcGM3 is not due to the 7deletion of an exon in the gene encoding for the enzyme cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH). Indeed, unlike for most mammals, in humans NGcGM3 is considered a neoantigen as its presence on tumors is the result of metabolic incorporation from dietary sources. Here, we have generated 3 CARs comprising different single chain variable fragments (scFvs) originating from the well-characterized monoclonal antibody (mAb) 14F7. We show reactivity of the CAR T cells against a range of patient tumor fragments and we demonstrate control of NGcGM3+ SKOV3 ovarian tumors in the absence of toxicity despite the expression of CMAH and presence of NGcGM3+ on healthy tissues in NSG mice. Taken together, our data indicate clinical potential for 14F7-based CAR T cells against a range of cancers, both in terms of efficacy and of patient safety.
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Nikoo M, Rudiansyah M, Bokov DO, Jainakbaev N, Suksatan W, Ansari MJ, Thangavelu L, Chupradit S, Zamani A, Adili A, Shomali N, Akbari M. Potential of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected immune cells in breast cancer therapies: Recent advances. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:4137-4156. [PMID: 35762299 PMCID: PMC9344815 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite substantial developments in conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and molecular-targeted therapy, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Currently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected immune cell therapy has emerged as an innovative immunotherapeutic approach to ameliorate survival rates of breast cancer patients by eliciting cytotoxic activity against cognate tumour-associated antigens expressing tumour cells. As a crucial component of adaptive immunity, T cells and NK cells, as the central innate immune cells, are two types of pivotal candidates for CAR engineering in treating solid malignancies. However, the biological distinctions between NK cells- and T cells lead to differences in cancer immunotherapy outcomes. Likewise, optimal breast cancer removal via CAR-redirected immune cells requires detecting safe target antigens, improving CAR structure for ideal immune cell functions, promoting CAR-redirected immune cells filtration to the tumour microenvironment (TME), and increasing the ability of these engineered cells to persist and retain within the immunosuppressive TME. This review provides a concise overview of breast cancer pathogenesis and its hostile TME. We focus on the CAR-T and CAR-NK cells and discuss their significant differences. Finally, we deliver a summary based on recent advancements in the therapeutic capability of CAR-T and CAR-NK cells in treating breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Nikoo
- Department of Immunology, School of MedicineKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Mohammad Rudiansyah
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of MedicineUniversitas Lambung Mangkurat / Ulin HospitalBanjarmasinIndonesia
| | - Dmitry Olegovich Bokov
- Institute of PharmacySechenov First Moscow State Medical UniversityMoscowRussian Federation
- Laboratory of Food ChemistryFederal Research Center of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food SafetyMoscowRussian Federation
| | | | - Wanich Suksatan
- Faculty of Nursing, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical ScienceChulabhorn Royal AcademyBangkokThailand
| | - Mohammad Javed Ansari
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of PharmacyPrince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz UniversityAl‐kharjSaudi Arabia
| | - Lakshmi Thangavelu
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical ScienceSaveetha UniversityChennaiIndia
| | - Supat Chupradit
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical SciencesChiang Mai UniversityChiang MaiThailand
| | - Amir Zamani
- Shiraz Transplant Center, Abu Ali Sina HospitalShiraz University of Medical SciencesShirazIran
| | - Ali Adili
- Department of OncologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
- Senior Adult Oncology Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA
| | - Navid Shomali
- Department of ImmunologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | - Morteza Akbari
- Department of ImmunologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
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48
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Buonato JM, Edwards JP, Zaritskaya L, Witter AR, Gupta A, LaFleur DW, Tice DA, Richman LK, Hilbert DM. Preclinical Efficacy of BCMA-Directed CAR T Cells Incorporating a Novel D Domain Antigen Recognition Domain. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:1171-1183. [PMID: 35737298 PMCID: PMC9377753 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies directed against B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) have shown compelling clinical activity and manageable safety in subjects with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Prior reported CAR T cells have mostly used antibody fragments such as humanized or murine single-chain variable fragments or camelid heavy-chain antibody fragments as the antigen recognition motif. Herein, we describe the generation and preclinical evaluation of ddBCMA CAR, which uses a novel BCMA binding domain discovered from our D domain phage display libraries and incorporates a 4-1BB costimulatory motif and CD3-zeta T-cell activation domain. Preclinical in vitro studies of ddBCMA CAR T cells cocultured with BCMA-positive cell lines showed highly potent, dose-dependent measures of cytotoxicity, cytokine production, T-cell degranulation, and T-cell proliferation. In each assay, ddBCMA CAR performed as well as the BCMA-directed scFv-based C11D5.3 CAR. Furthermore, ddBCMA CAR T cells demonstrated in vivo tumor suppression in three disseminated BCMA-expressing tumor models in NSG-immunocompromised mice. On the basis of these promising preclinical data, CART-ddBCMA is being studied in a first-in-human phase I clinical study to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, efficacy, and duration of effect for patients with RRMM (NCT04155749).
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine M. Buonato
- Arcellx, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland.,Corresponding Author: Janine M. Buonato, Arcellx, Inc., 25 West Watkins Mill Road, Suite A, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Phone: 240-327-0627; E-mail:
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49
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Gille I, Claas FHJ, Haasnoot GW, Heemskerk MHM, Heidt S. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Regulatory T-Cells in Solid Organ Transplantation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:874157. [PMID: 35720402 PMCID: PMC9204347 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.874157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid organ transplantation is the treatment of choice for various end-stage diseases, but requires the continuous need for immunosuppression to prevent allograft rejection. This comes with serious side effects including increased infection rates and development of malignancies. Thus, there is a clinical need to promote transplantation tolerance to prevent organ rejection with minimal or no immunosuppressive treatment. Polyclonal regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are a potential tool to induce transplantation tolerance, but lack specificity and therefore require administration of high doses. Redirecting Tregs towards mismatched donor HLA molecules by modifying these cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) would render Tregs far more effective at preventing allograft rejection. Several studies on HLA-A2 specific CAR Tregs have demonstrated that these cells are highly antigen-specific and show a superior homing capacity to HLA-A2+ allografts compared to polyclonal Tregs. HLA-A2 CAR Tregs have been shown to prolong survival of HLA-A2+ allografts in several pre-clinical humanized mouse models. Although promising, concerns about safety and stability need to be addressed. In this review the current research, obstacles of CAR Treg therapy, and its potential future in solid organ transplantation will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Gille
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Frans H J Claas
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Eurotransplant Reference Laboratory, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Geert W Haasnoot
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Eurotransplant Reference Laboratory, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Sebastiaan Heidt
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Eurotransplant Reference Laboratory, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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50
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Choudhary MC, Cyktor JC, Riddler SA. Advances in HIV-1-specific chimeric antigen receptor cells to target the HIV-1 reservoir. J Virus Erad 2022; 8:100073. [PMID: 35784676 PMCID: PMC9241028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jve.2022.100073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-1 has dramatically improved outcomes for people living with HIV-1 but requires life-long adherence and can be associated with short and long-term toxicity. Numerous pre-clinical and clinical investigations are underway to develop therapies for immune control of HIV-1 in the absence of ART. The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell therapy for hematological malignancy has renewed efforts to develop and investigate CAR cells as strategies to enhance HIV-1 immunity, enable virus control or elimination, and allow ART-free HIV-1 remission. Here, we review the improvements in anti-HIV-1 CAR cell therapy in the two decades since their initial clinical trials were conducted, describe the additional engineering required to protect CAR cells from HIV-1 infection, and preview the current landscape of CAR cell therapies advancing to HIV-1 clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhu C. Choudhary
- Corresponding author. Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Suite 510, 3601 5Th Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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