351
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Versatile strategy for controlling the specificity and activity of engineered T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E450-8. [PMID: 26759368 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1524193113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of autologous T cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has emerged as a promising cancer therapy. Despite impressive clinical efficacy, the general application of current CAR-T--cell therapy is limited by serious treatment-related toxicities. One approach to improve the safety of CAR-T cells involves making their activation and proliferation dependent upon adaptor molecules that mediate formation of the immunological synapse between the target cancer cell and T-cell. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of structurally defined semisynthetic adaptors we refer to as "switch" molecules, in which anti-CD19 and anti-CD22 antibody fragments are site-specifically modified with FITC using genetically encoded noncanonical amino acids. This approach allows the precise control over the geometry and stoichiometry of complex formation between CD19- or CD22-expressing cancer cells and a "universal" anti-FITC-directed CAR-T cell. Optimization of this CAR-switch combination results in potent, dose-dependent in vivo antitumor activity in xenograft models. The advantage of being able to titrate CAR-T-cell in vivo activity was further evidenced by reduced in vivo toxicity and the elimination of persistent B-cell aplasia in immune-competent mice. The ability to control CAR-T cell and cancer cell interactions using intermediate switch molecules may expand the scope of engineered T-cell therapy to solid tumors, as well as indications beyond cancer therapy.
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352
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Chimeric antigen receptor-redirected T cells return to the bench. Semin Immunol 2016; 28:3-9. [PMID: 26797495 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
While the clinical progress of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) immunotherapy has garnered attention to the field, our understanding of the biology of these chimeric molecules is still emerging. Our aim within this review is to bring to light the mechanistic understanding of these multi-modular receptors and how these individual components confer particular properties to CAR-Ts. In addition, we will discuss extrinsic factors that can be manipulated to influence CAR-T performance such as choice of cellular population, culturing conditions and additional modifications that enhance their activity particularly in solid tumors. Finally, we will also consider the emerging toxicity associated with CAR-Ts. By breaking apart the CAR and examining the role of each piece, we can build a better functioning cellular vehicle for optimized treatment of cancer patients.
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353
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Switch-mediated activation and retargeting of CAR-T cells for B-cell malignancies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E459-68. [PMID: 26759369 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1524155113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 285] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has produced impressive results in clinical trials for B-cell malignancies. However, safety concerns related to the inability to control CAR-T cells once infused into the patient remain a significant challenge. Here we report the engineering of recombinant antibody-based bifunctional switches that consist of a tumor antigen-specific Fab molecule engrafted with a peptide neo-epitope, which is bound exclusively by a peptide-specific switchable CAR-T cell (sCAR-T). The switch redirects the activity of the bio-orthogonal sCAR-T cells through the selective formation of immunological synapses, in which the sCAR-T cell, switch, and target cell interact in a structurally defined and temporally controlled manner. Optimized switches specific for CD19 controlled the activity, tissue-homing, cytokine release, and phenotype of sCAR-T cells in a dose-titratable manner in a Nalm-6 xenograft rodent model of B-cell leukemia. The sCAR-T-cell dosing regimen could be tuned to provide efficacy comparable to the corresponding conventional CART-19, but with lower cytokine levels, thereby offering a method of mitigating cytokine release syndrome in clinical translation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this methodology is readily adaptable to targeting CD20 on cancer cells using the same sCAR-T cell, suggesting that this approach may be broadly applicable to heterogeneous and resistant tumor populations, as well as other liquid and solid tumor antigens.
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354
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Suerth JD, Morgan MA, Kloess S, Heckl D, Neudörfl C, Falk CS, Koehl U, Schambach A. Efficient generation of gene-modified human natural killer cells via alpharetroviral vectors. J Mol Med (Berl) 2016; 94:83-93. [PMID: 26300042 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-015-1327-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in tumor immunotherapy with their unique capability of killing transformed cells without the need for prior sensitization and without major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/peptide restriction. However, tumor cells can escape NK cell cytotoxicity by various tumor immune escape mechanisms. To overcome these escape mechanisms, NK cells can be modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), enhancing their tumor-specific cytotoxicity. To determine the most efficacious method to modify human NK cells, we compared different retroviral vector systems, retroviral pseudotypes, and transduction protocols. Using optimized transduction conditions, the highest transduction levels (up to 60%) were achieved with alpharetroviral vectors. Alpharetroviral-modified primary human NK cells exhibited no alteration in receptor expression and had similar degranulation activity as untransduced NK cells, thus demonstrating that alpharetroviral modification did not negatively affect NK cell cytotoxicity. Transduction of NK cells with an alpharetroviral vector containing a CD19 CAR expression cassette selectively enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity towards CD19-expressing leukemia cells, achieving nearly complete elimination of leukemia cells after 48 h. Taken together, alpharetroviral vectors are promising tools for NK cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy applications. KEY MESSAGES Efficient modification of human NK cells using alpharetroviral vectors. Anti-CD19-CAR-NK cells exhibited improved cytotoxicity towards CD19(+) leukemia cells. Alpharetroviral vectors are promising tools for immunotherapy applications using NK cells.
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MESH Headings
- Alpharetrovirus/genetics
- Antigens, CD19/genetics
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/genetics
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/immunology
- Genetic Therapy/methods
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
- Humans
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Killer Cells, Natural/cytology
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Leukemia/immunology
- Leukemia/therapy
- Receptors, Antigen/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen/immunology
- Transduction, Genetic/methods
- Tumor Escape/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia D Suerth
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael A Morgan
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stephan Kloess
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dirk Heckl
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine Neudörfl
- Institute of Transplant Immunology, IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine S Falk
- Institute of Transplant Immunology, IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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355
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Abstract
Plasmid DNA is being used as a pharmaceutical agent in vaccination, as well as a basic substance and starting material in gene and cell therapy, and viral vector production. Since the uncontrolled expression of backbone sequences present in such plasmids and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes may have profound detrimental effects, an important goal in vector development was to produce supercoiled DNA lacking bacterial backbone sequences: Minicircle (MC) DNA. The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system is a non-viral gene delivery platform enabling a close-to-random profile of genomic integration. In combination, the MC platform greatly enhances SB transposition and transgene integration resulting in higher numbers of stably modified target cells. We have recently developed a strategy for MC-based SB transposition of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) transgenes that enable improved transposition rates compared to conventional plasmids and rapid manufacturing of therapeutic CAR T cell doses (Monjezi et al. 2016). This advance enables manufacturing CAR T cells in a virus-free process that relies on SB-mediated transposition from MC DNA to accomplish gene-transfer. Advantages of this approach include a strong safety profile due to the nature of the MC itself and the genomic insertion pattern of MC-derived CAR transposons. In addition, stable transposition and high-level CAR transgene expression, as well as easy and reproducible handling, make MCs a preferred vector source for gene-transfer in advanced cellular and gene therapy. In this chapter, we will review our experience in MC-based CAR T cell engineering and discuss our recent advances in MC manufacturing to accelerate both pre-clinical and clinical implementation.
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356
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Karlsson H, Svensson E, Gigg C, Jarvius M, Olsson-Strömberg U, Savoldo B, Dotti G, Loskog A. Evaluation of Intracellular Signaling Downstream Chimeric Antigen Receptors. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144787. [PMID: 26700307 PMCID: PMC4689545 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
CD19-targeting CAR T cells have shown potency in clinical trials targeting B cell leukemia. Although mainly second generation (2G) CARs carrying CD28 or 4-1BB have been investigated in patients, preclinical studies suggest that third generation (3G) CARs with both CD28 and 4-1BB have enhanced capacity. However, little is known about the intracellular signaling pathways downstream of CARs. In the present work, we have analyzed the signaling capacity post antigen stimulation in both 2G and 3G CARs. 3G CAR T cells expanded better than 2G CAR T cells upon repeated stimulation with IL-2 and autologous B cells. An antigen-driven accumulation of CAR+ cells was evident post antigen stimulation. The cytotoxicity of both 2G and 3G CAR T cells was maintained by repeated stimulation. The phosphorylation status of intracellular signaling proteins post antigen stimulation showed that 3G CAR T cells had a higher activation status than 2G. Several proteins involved in signaling downstream the TCR were activated, as were proteins involved in the cell cycle, cell adhesion and exocytosis. In conclusion, 3G CAR T cells had a higher degree of intracellular signaling activity than 2G CARs which may explain the increased proliferative capacity seen in 3G CAR T cells. The study also indicates that there may be other signaling pathways to consider when designing or evaluating new generations of CARs.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- CD28 Antigens/immunology
- Case-Control Studies
- Flow Cytometry
- Healthy Volunteers
- Humans
- Immunotherapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Nude
- Receptors, Antigen/immunology
- Signal Transduction
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Karlsson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Emma Svensson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Camilla Gigg
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulla Olsson-Strömberg
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Section of Hematology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Barbara Savoldo
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Gianpietro Dotti
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Angelica Loskog
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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357
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Zhou L, Liu X, Wang X, Sun Z, Song XT. CD123 redirected multiple virus-specific T cells for acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Res 2015; 41:76-84. [PMID: 26740053 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been increasingly used as a curative treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, relapse rates after HSCT in complete remission (CR) are reported between 30% and 70%. In addition, numerous studies suggested that secondary viral infection from a variety of viruses including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), adenovirus (Adv), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are among the most common causes of death post-HSCT. Currently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based T cells have been developed to treat AML in clinical studies, while virus-specific cytotoxic T cells (VST) have been proven to be able to effectively prevent or treat viral infection after HSCT. Thus it would be desirable to develop T cells with the ability of simultaneously targeting AML relapse and viral infection. In this article, we now describe the generation of VST cells that are engineered to express CAR for a specific AML cell-surface antigen CD123 (CD123-CAR-VST). Using Dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with EBV, Adv, and CMV peptides as sources of viral antigens, we generated VST from A2 donor peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC). VST were then transduced with retroviral vector encoding CD123-CAR to generate CD123-CAR-VST. We demonstrated that CD123-CAR-VST recognized EBV, Adv, and CMV epitopes and had HLA-restricted virus-specific cytotoxic effector function against EBV target. In addition, CD123-CAR-VST retained the specificity against CD123-positive AML cell lines such as MOLM13 and THP-1 in vitro. Thus our results suggested that CD123-CAR-VST might be a valuable candidate to simultaneously prevent or treat relapse and viral infection in AML HSCT recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhou
- Shangdong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China; Department of Hematology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, PR China; Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Hematology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Xingbing Wang
- Department of Hematology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Zimin Sun
- Shangdong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China; Department of Hematology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
| | - Xiao-Tong Song
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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358
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Harris DT, Kranz DM. Adoptive T Cell Therapies: A Comparison of T Cell Receptors and Chimeric Antigen Receptors. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2015; 37:220-230. [PMID: 26705086 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The tumor-killing properties of T cells provide tremendous opportunities to treat cancer. Adoptive T cell therapies have begun to harness this potential by endowing a functionally diverse repertoire of T cells with genetically modified, tumor-specific recognition receptors. Normally, this antigen recognition function is mediated by an αβ T cell receptor (TCR), but the dominant therapeutic forms currently in development are synthetic constructs called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). While CAR-based adoptive cell therapies are already showing great promise, their basic mechanistic properties have been studied in less detail compared with those of αβ TCRs. In this review, we compare and contrast various features of TCRs versus CARs, with a goal of highlighting issues that need to be addressed to fully exploit the therapeutic potential of both.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, 600 S. Matthews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - David M Kranz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, 600 S. Matthews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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359
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Whilding LM, Maher J. CAR T-cell immunotherapy: The path from the by-road to the freeway? Mol Oncol 2015; 9:1994-2018. [PMID: 26563646 PMCID: PMC5528729 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2015.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors are genetically encoded artificial fusion molecules that can re-program the specificity of peripheral blood polyclonal T-cells against a selected cell surface target. Unparallelled clinical efficacy has recently been demonstrated using this approach to treat patients with refractory B-cell malignancy. However, the approach is technically challenging and can elicit severe toxicity in patients. Moreover, solid tumours have largely proven refractory to this approach. In this review, we describe the important structural features of CARs and how this may influence function. Emerging clinical experience is summarized in both solid tumours and haematological malignancies. Finally, we consider the particular challenges imposed by solid tumours to the successful development of CAR T-cell immunotherapy, together with a number of innovative strategies that have been developed in an effort to reverse the balance in favour of therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynsey M Whilding
- King's College London, King's Health Partners Integrated Cancer Centre, Department of Research Oncology, Guy's Hospital Campus, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK.
| | - John Maher
- King's College London, King's Health Partners Integrated Cancer Centre, Department of Research Oncology, Guy's Hospital Campus, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK; Department of Immunology, Barnet Hospital, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 3DJ, UK; Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK
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360
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Chimeric Antigen Receptors for Cancer: Progress and Challenges. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40778-015-0026-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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361
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In Vitro and In Vivo Comparison of Lymphocytes Transduced with a Human CD16 or with a Chimeric Antigen Receptor Reveals Potential Off-Target Interactions due to the IgG2 CH2-CH3 CAR-Spacer. J Immunol Res 2015; 2015:482089. [PMID: 26665156 PMCID: PMC4664810 DOI: 10.1155/2015/482089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The present work was designed to compare two mechanisms of cellular recognition based on Ab specificity: firstly, when the anti-HER2 mAb trastuzumab bridges target cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes armed with a Fc receptor (ADCC) and, secondly, when HER2 positive target cells are directly recognized by cytotoxic lymphocytes armed with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). To compare these two mechanisms, we used the same cellular effector (NK-92) and the same signaling domain (FcεRIγ). The NK-92 cytotoxic cell line was transfected with either a FcγRIIIa-FcεRIγ (NK-92CD16) or a trastuzumab-based scFv-FcεRIγ chimeric receptor (NK-92CAR). In vitro, the cytotoxic activity against HER2 positive target cells after indirect recognition by NK-92CD16 was always inferior to that observed after direct recognition by NK-92CAR. In contrast, and somehow unexpectedly, in vivo, adoptive transfer of NK-92CD16 + trastuzumab but not of NK-92CAR induced tumor regression. Analysis of the in vivo xenogeneic system suggested that the human CH2-CH3 IgG2 used as a spacer in our construct was able to interact with the FcR present at the cell surface of the few NSG-FcR+ remaining immune cells. This interaction, leading to blockage of the NK-92CAR in the periphery of the engrafted tumor cells, stresses the critical role of the composition of the spacer domain.
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362
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Galvan DL, O'Neil RT, Foster AE, Huye L, Bear A, Rooney CM, Wilson MH. Anti-Tumor Effects after Adoptive Transfer of IL-12 Transposon-Modified Murine Splenocytes in the OT-I-Melanoma Mouse Model. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140744. [PMID: 26473608 PMCID: PMC4608718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of gene modified T cells provides possible immunotherapy for patients with cancers refractory to other treatments. We have previously used the non-viral piggyBac transposon system to gene modify human T cells for potential immunotherapy. However, these previous studies utilized adoptive transfer of modified human T cells to target cancer xenografts in highly immunodeficient (NOD-SCID) mice that do not recapitulate an intact immune system. Currently, only viral vectors have shown efficacy in permanently gene-modifying mouse T cells for immunotherapy applications. Therefore, we sought to determine if piggyBac could effectively gene modify mouse T cells to target cancer cells in a mouse cancer model. We first demonstrated that we could gene modify cells to express murine interleukin-12 (p35/p40 mIL-12), a transgene with proven efficacy in melanoma immunotherapy. The OT-I melanoma mouse model provides a well-established T cell mediated immune response to ovalbumin (OVA) positive B16 melanoma cells. B16/OVA melanoma cells were implanted in wild type C57Bl6 mice. Mouse splenocytes were isolated from C57Bl6 OT-I mice and were gene modified using piggyBac to express luciferase. Adoptive transfer of luciferase-modified OT-I splenocytes demonstrated homing to B16/OVA melanoma tumors in vivo. We next gene-modified OT-I cells to express mIL-12. Adoptive transfer of mIL-12-modified mouse OT-I splenocytes delayed B16/OVA melanoma tumor growth in vivo compared to control OT-I splenocytes and improved mouse survival. Our results demonstrate that the piggyBac transposon system can be used to gene modify splenocytes and mouse T cells for evaluating adoptive immunotherapy strategies in immunocompetent mouse tumor models that may more directly mimic immunotherapy applications in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Galvan
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Richard T O'Neil
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Aaron E Foster
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Leslie Huye
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Adham Bear
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cliona M Rooney
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Matthew H Wilson
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America; Tennessee Valley Health Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America; Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
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363
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Sommermeyer D, Hudecek M, Kosasih PL, Gogishvili T, Maloney DG, Turtle CJ, Riddell SR. Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells derived from defined CD8+ and CD4+ subsets confer superior antitumor reactivity in vivo. Leukemia 2015; 30:492-500. [PMID: 26369987 PMCID: PMC4746098 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2015.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 613] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive T-cell therapy with gene-modified T-cells expressing a tumor-reactive T-cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is a rapidly growing field of translational medicine and has shown success in the treatment of B-cell malignancies and solid tumors. In all reported trials, patients have received T-cell products comprised of random compositions of CD4+ and CD8+ naïve and memory T-cells, meaning that each patient received a different therapeutic agent. This variation might have influenced the efficacy of T-cell therapy, and complicates comparison of outcomes between different patients and across trials. We analyzed CD19 CAR-expressing effector T-cells derived from different subsets (CD4+/CD8+ naïve, central memory, effector memory). T-cells derived from each of the subsets were efficiently transduced and expanded, but showed clear differences in effector function and proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Combining the most potent CD4+ and CD8+ CAR-expressing subsets resulted in synergistic antitumor effects in vivo. We show that CAR-T-cell products generated from defined T-cell subsets can provide uniform potency compared with products derived from unselected T-cells that vary in phenotypic composition. These findings have important implications for the formulation of T-cell products for adoptive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Sommermeyer
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - M Hudecek
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Medicine II - Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - P L Kosasih
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - T Gogishvili
- Department of Medicine II - Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - D G Maloney
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - C J Turtle
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - S R Riddell
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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364
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Abstract
Second-generation chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) retarget and reprogramme T cells to augment their antitumour efficacy. The combined activating and co-stimulatory domains incorporated in these CARs critically determine the function, differentiation, metabolism and persistence of engineered T cells. CD19-targeted CARs that incorporate CD28 or 4-1BB signalling domains are the best known to date. Both have shown remarkable complete remission rates in patients with refractory B cell malignancies. Recent data indicate that CD28-based CARs direct a brisk proliferative response and boost effector functions, whereas 4-1BB-based CARs induce a more progressive T cell accumulation that may compensate for less immediate potency. These distinct kinetic features can be exploited to further develop CAR-based T cell therapies for a variety of cancers. A new field of immunopharmacology is emerging.
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365
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Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy was selected as the Breakthrough of the Year 2013 by the editors of Science, in part because of the successful treatment of refractory hematological malignancies with adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells. Effective treatment of B cell leukemia may pave the road to future treatment of solid tumors, using similar approaches. The prostate expresses many unique proteins and, since the prostate gland is a dispensable organ, CAR T cells can potentially be used to target these tissue-specific antigens. However, the location and composition of prostate cancer metastases complicate the task of treating these tumors. It is therefore likely that more sophisticated CAR T cell approaches are going to be required for prostate metastasis than for B cell malignancies. Two main challenges that need to be resolved are how to increase the migration and infiltration of CAR T cells into prostate cancer bone metastases and how to counteract the immunosuppressive microenvironment found in bone lesions. Inclusion of homing (chemokine) receptors in CAR T cells may improve their recruitment to bone metastases, as may antibody-based combination therapies to normalize the tumor vasculature. Optimal activation of CAR T cells through the introduction of multiple costimulatory domains would help to overcome inhibitory signals from the tumor microenvironment. Likewise, combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors that can reduce tumor immunosuppression may help improve efficacy. Other elegant approaches such as induced expression of immune stimulatory cytokines upon target recognition may also help to recruit other effector immune cells to metastatic sites. Although toxicities are difficult to predict in prostate cancer, severe on-target/off-tumor toxicities have been observed in clinical trials with use of CAR T cells against hematological malignancies; therefore, the choice of the target antigen is going to be crucial. This review focuses on different means of accomplishing maximal effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy for prostate cancer bone metastases while minimizing side effects and CAR T cell-associated toxicities. CAR T cell-based therapies for prostate cancer have the potential to be a therapy model for other solid tumors.
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366
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Seyedin SN, Schoenhals JE, Lee DA, Cortez MA, Wang X, Niknam S, Tang C, Hong DS, Naing A, Sharma P, Allison JP, Chang JY, Gomez DR, Heymach JV, Komaki RU, Cooper LJ, Welsh JW. Strategies for combining immunotherapy with radiation for anticancer therapy. Immunotherapy 2015; 7:967-980. [PMID: 26310908 DOI: 10.2217/imt.15.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Radiation therapy controls local disease but also prompts the release of tumor-associated antigens and stress-related danger signals that primes T cells to promote tumor regression at unirradiated sites known as the abscopal effect. This may be enhanced by blocking inhibitory immune signals that modulate immune activity through a variety of mechanisms. Indeed, abscopal responses have occurred in patients with lung cancer or melanoma when given anti-CTLA4 antibody and radiation. Other approaches involve expanding and reinfusing T or NK cells or engineered T cells to express receptors that target specific tumor peptides. These approaches may be useful for immunocompromised patients receiving radiation. Preclinical and clinical studies are testing both immune checkpoint-based strategies and adoptive immunotherapies with radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven N Seyedin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jonathan E Schoenhals
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX, USA
| | - Dean A Lee
- Faculty, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria A Cortez
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX, USA
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX, USA
| | - Sharareh Niknam
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX, USA
| | - Chad Tang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - David S Hong
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Aung Naing
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Padmanee Sharma
- Department of Immunology, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James P Allison
- Department of Immunology, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joe Y Chang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Daniel R Gomez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - John V Heymach
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ritsuko U Komaki
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Laurence J Cooper
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James W Welsh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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367
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Abstract
Lymphomas arise from clonal expansions of B, T, or NK cells at different stages of differentiation. Because they occur in the immunocyte-rich lymphoid tissues, they are easily accessible to antibodies and cell-based immunotherapy. Expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on T cells is a means of combining the antigen-binding site of a monoclonal antibody with the activating machinery of a T cell, enabling antigen recognition independent of major histocompatibility complex restriction, while retaining the desirable antitumor properties of a T cell. Here, we discuss the basic design of CARs and their potential advantages and disadvantages over other immune therapies for lymphomas. We review current clinical trials in the field and consider strategies to improve the in vivo function and safety of immune cells expressing CARs. The ultimate driver of CAR development and implementation for lymphoma will be the demonstration of their ability to safely and cost-effectively cure these malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Ramos
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center.,Department of Medicine, and
| | - Helen E Heslop
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center.,Department of Medicine, and.,Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; , ,
| | - Malcolm K Brenner
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center.,Department of Medicine, and.,Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; , ,
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368
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Wang X, Wong CW, Urak R, Taus E, Aguilar B, Chang WC, Mardiros A, Budde LE, Brown CE, Berger C, Forman SJ, Jensen MC. Comparison of naïve and central memory derived CD8 + effector cell engraftment fitness and function following adoptive transfer. Oncoimmunology 2015; 5:e1072671. [PMID: 26942092 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1072671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human CD8+ effector T cells derived from CD45RO+CD62L+ precursors enriched for central memory (TCM) precursors retain the capacity to engraft and reconstitute functional memory upon adoptive transfer, whereas effectors derived from CD45RO+CD62L- precursors enriched for effector memory precursors do not. Here we sought to compare the engraftment fitness and function of CD8+ effector T cells derived from CD45RA+CD62L+ precursors enriched for naïve and stem cell memory precursors (TN/SCM) with that of TCM. We found that cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) derived from TCM transcribed higher levels of CD28, FOS, INFγ, Eomesodermin (Eomes), and lower levels of BCL2L11, maintained higher levels of phosphorylated AKT, and displayed enhanced sensitivity to the proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of γ-chain cytokines compared to CTLs derived from TN/SCM. Higher frequencies of CTLs derived from TCM retained CD28 expression and upon activation secreted higher levels of IL-2. In NOD/Scid IL-2RγCnull mice, CD8+ TCM derived CTLs engrafted to higher frequencies in response to human IL-15 and mounted robust proliferative responses to an immunostimulatory vaccine. Similarly, CD8+ TCM derived CD19CAR+ CTLs exhibited superior antitumor potency following adoptive transfer compared to their CD8+ TN/SCM derived counterparts. These studies support the use of TCM enriched cell products for adoptive therapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuli Wang
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - ChingLam W Wong
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Urak
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Ellie Taus
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Brenda Aguilar
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Wen-Chung Chang
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Armen Mardiros
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Lihua E Budde
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Christine E Brown
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Carolina Berger
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephen J Forman
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Michael C Jensen
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
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369
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Srivastava S, Riddell SR. Engineering CAR-T cells: Design concepts. Trends Immunol 2015; 36:494-502. [PMID: 26169254 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite being empirically designed based on a simple understanding of TCR signaling, T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have been remarkably successful in treating patients with advanced refractory B cell malignancies. However, many challenges remain in improving the safety and efficacy of this therapy and extending it toward the treatment of epithelial cancers. Other aspects of TCR signaling beyond those directly provided by CD3ζ and CD28 phosphorylation strongly influence a T cell's ability to differentiate and acquire full effector functions. Here, we discuss how the principles of TCR recognition, including spatial constraints, Kon/Koff rates, and synapse formation, along with in-depth analysis of CAR signaling might be applied to develop safer and more effective synthetic tumor targeting receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Srivastava
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stanley R Riddell
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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370
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Urbanska K, Stashwick C, Poussin M, Powell DJ. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor as a Target in the Redirected T-cell Therapy for Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2015; 3:1130-7. [PMID: 26112923 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-15-0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T cells engineered to express chimeric immunoreceptors is an effective strategy to treat hematologic cancers; however, the use of this type of therapy for solid cancers, such as ovarian cancer, remains challenging because a safe and effective immunotherapeutic target has not yet been identified. Here, we constructed and evaluated a novel redirected T-cell-based immunotherapy targeting human follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), a highly conserved molecule in vertebrate animals with expression limited to gonadal tissues, ovarian cancer, and cancer-associated vasculature. Receptor ligand-based anti-FSHR immunoreceptors were constructed that contained small binding fragments from the ligand for FSHR, FSH, fused to T-cell transmembrane and T-cell signaling domains. Human T cells transduced to express anti-FSHR immunoreceptors were specifically immunoreactive against FSHR-expressing human and mouse ovarian cancer cell lines in an MHC-nonrestricted manner and mediated effective lysis of FHSR-expressing tumor cells, but not FSHR-deficient targets, in vitro. Similarly, the outgrowth of human ovarian cancer xenografts in immunodeficient mice was significantly inhibited by the adoptive transfer of FSHR-redirected T cells. Our experimental observations show that FSHR is a promising immunotherapeutic target for ovarian cancer and support further exploration of FSHR-targeted immune therapy approaches for patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Urbanska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Caitlin Stashwick
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mathilde Poussin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel J Powell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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371
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A T-cell-directed chimeric antigen receptor for the selective treatment of T-cell malignancies. Blood 2015; 126:983-92. [PMID: 26056165 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-02-629527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Options for targeted therapy of T-cell malignancies remain scarce. Recent clinical trials demonstrated that chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) can effectively redirect T lymphocytes to eradicate lymphoid malignancies of B-cell origin. However, T-lineage neoplasms remain a more challenging task for CAR T cells due to shared expression of most targetable surface antigens between normal and malignant T cells, potentially leading to fratricide of CAR T cells or profound immunodeficiency. Here, we report that T cells transduced with a CAR targeting CD5, a common surface marker of normal and neoplastic T cells, undergo only limited fratricide and can be expanded long-term ex vivo. These CD5 CAR T cells effectively eliminate malignant T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoma lines in vitro and significantly inhibit disease progression in xenograft mouse models of T-ALL. These data support the therapeutic potential of CD5 CAR in patients with T-cell neoplasms.
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372
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Eradication of B-ALL using chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells targeting the TSLPR oncoprotein. Blood 2015; 126:629-39. [PMID: 26041741 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-11-612903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T cells genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting the CD19 B cell-associated protein have demonstrated potent activity against relapsed/refractory B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Not all patients respond, and CD19-negative relapses have been observed. Overexpression of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR; encoded by CRLF2) occurs in a subset of adults and children with B-ALL and confers a high risk of relapse. Recent data suggest the TSLPR signaling axis is functionally important, suggesting that TSLPR would be an ideal immunotherapeutic target. We constructed short and long CARs targeting TSLPR and tested efficacy against CRLF2-overexpressing B-ALL. Both CARs demonstrated activity in vitro, but only short TSLPR CAR T cells mediated leukemia regression. In vivo activity of the short CAR was also associated with long-term persistence of CAR-expressing T cells. Short TSLPR CAR treatment of mice engrafted with a TSLPR-expressing ALL cell line induced leukemia cytotoxicity with efficacy comparable with that of CD19 CAR T cells. Short TSLPR CAR T cells also eradicated leukemia in 4 xenograft models of human CRLF2-overexpressing ALL. Finally, TSLPR has limited surface expression on normal tissues. TSLPR-targeted CAR T cells thus represent a potent oncoprotein-targeted immunotherapy for high-risk ALL.
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373
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Sleeping Beauty Transposition of Chimeric Antigen Receptors Targeting Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-Like Orphan Receptor-1 (ROR1) into Diverse Memory T-Cell Populations. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128151. [PMID: 26030772 PMCID: PMC4451012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells modified with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting CD19 demonstrated clinical activity against some B-cell malignancies. However, this is often accompanied by a loss of normal CD19+ B cells and humoral immunity. Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor-1 (ROR1) is expressed on sub-populations of B-cell malignancies and solid tumors, but not by healthy B cells or normal post-partum tissues. Thus, adoptive transfer of T cells specific for ROR1 has potential to eliminate tumor cells and spare healthy tissues. To test this hypothesis, we developed CARs targeting ROR1 in order to generate T cells specific for malignant cells. Two Sleeping Beauty transposons were constructed with 2nd generation ROR1-specific CARs signaling through CD3ζ and either CD28 (designated ROR1RCD28) or CD137 (designated ROR1RCD137) and were introduced into T cells. We selected for T cells expressing CAR through co-culture with γ-irradiated activating and propagating cells (AaPC), which co-expressed ROR1 and co-stimulatory molecules. Numeric expansion over one month of co-culture on AaPC in presence of soluble interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-21 occurred and resulted in a diverse memory phenotype of CAR+ T cells as measured by non-enzymatic digital array (NanoString) and multi-panel flow cytometry. Such T cells produced interferon-γ and had specific cytotoxic activity against ROR1+ tumors. Moreover, such cells could eliminate ROR1+ tumor xenografts, especially T cells expressing ROR1RCD137. Clinical trials will investigate the ability of ROR1-specific CAR+ T cells to specifically eliminate tumor cells while maintaining normal B-cell repertoire.
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374
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Long AH, Haso WM, Shern JF, Wanhainen KM, Murgai M, Ingaramo M, Smith JP, Walker AJ, Kohler ME, Venkateshwara VR, Kaplan RN, Patterson GH, Fry TJ, Orentas RJ, Mackall CL. 4-1BB costimulation ameliorates T cell exhaustion induced by tonic signaling of chimeric antigen receptors. Nat Med 2015; 21:581-90. [PMID: 25939063 PMCID: PMC4458184 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1202] [Impact Index Per Article: 133.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting CD19 have mediated dramatic antitumor responses in hematologic malignancies, but tumor regression has rarely occurred using CARs targeting other antigens. It remains unknown whether the impressive effects of CD19 CARs relate to greater susceptibility of hematologic malignancies to CAR therapies, or superior functionality of the CD19 CAR itself. We show that tonic CAR CD3-ζ phosphorylation, triggered by antigen-independent clustering of CAR single-chain variable fragments, can induce early exhaustion of CAR T cells that limits antitumor efficacy. Such activation is present to varying degrees in all CARs studied, except the highly effective CD19 CAR. We further determine that CD28 costimulation augments, whereas 4-1BB costimulation reduces, exhaustion induced by persistent CAR signaling. Our results provide biological explanations for the antitumor effects of CD19 CARs and for the observations that CD19 CAR T cells incorporating the 4-1BB costimulatory domain are more persistent than those incorporating CD28 in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne H Long
- 1] Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. [2] Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Waleed M Haso
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jack F Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kelsey M Wanhainen
- 1] Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. [2] Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, USA
| | - Meera Murgai
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Maria Ingaramo
- Section on Biophotonics, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jillian P Smith
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alec J Walker
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - M Eric Kohler
- 1] Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. [2] Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Vikas R Venkateshwara
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Rosandra N Kaplan
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - George H Patterson
- Section on Biophotonics, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Terry J Fry
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Rimas J Orentas
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Crystal L Mackall
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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375
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376
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Wang X, Wong CW, Urak R, Mardiros A, Budde LE, Chang WC, Thomas SH, Brown CE, La Rosa C, Diamond DJ, Jensen MC, Nakamura R, Zaia JA, Forman SJ. CMVpp65 Vaccine Enhances the Antitumor Efficacy of Adoptively Transferred CD19-Redirected CMV-Specific T Cells. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 21:2993-3002. [PMID: 25838392 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-2920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) recognizing CD19 can induce complete remission of B-cell malignancies in clinical trials; however, in some disease settings, CAR therapy confers only modest clinical benefit due to attenuated persistence of CAR T cells. The purpose of this study was to enhance persistence and augment the antitumor activity of adoptively transferred CD19CAR T cells by restimulating CAR(+) T cells through an endogenous cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T-cell receptor. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN CMV-specific T cells from CMV seropositive healthy donors were selected after stimulation with pp65 protein and transduced with clinical-grade lentivirus expressing the CD19R:CD28:ζ/EGFRt CAR. The resultant bispecific T cells, targeting CMV and CD19, were expanded via CD19 CAR-mediated signals using CD19-expressing cells. RESULTS The bispecific T cells proliferated vigorously after engagement with either endogenous CMVpp65 T-cell receptors or engineered CD19 CARs, exhibiting specific cytolytic activity and IFNγ secretion. Upon adoptive transfer into immunodeficient mice bearing human lymphomas, the bispecific T cells exhibited proliferative response and enhanced antitumor activity following CMVpp65 peptide vaccine administration. CONCLUSIONS We have redirected CMV-specific T cells to recognize and lyse tumor cells via CD19CARs, while maintaining their ability to proliferate in response to CMV antigen stimulation. These results illustrate the clinical applications of CMV vaccine to augment the antitumor activity of adoptively transferred CD19CAR T cells in patients with B-cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuli Wang
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California.
| | - ChingLam W Wong
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Ryan Urak
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Armen Mardiros
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Lihua E Budde
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Wen-Chung Chang
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Sandra H Thomas
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Christine E Brown
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Corinna La Rosa
- Division of Translational Vaccine Research, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Don J Diamond
- Division of Translational Vaccine Research, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Michael C Jensen
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Ryotaro Nakamura
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - John A Zaia
- Department of Virology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Stephen J Forman
- Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, California.
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377
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Frigault MJ, Lee J, Basil MC, Carpenito C, Motohashi S, Scholler J, Kawalekar OU, Guedan S, McGettigan SE, Posey AD, Ang S, Cooper LJN, Platt JM, Johnson FB, Paulos CM, Zhao Y, Kalos M, Milone MC, June CH. Identification of chimeric antigen receptors that mediate constitutive or inducible proliferation of T cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2015; 3:356-67. [PMID: 25600436 PMCID: PMC4390458 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study compared second-generation chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) encoding signaling domains composed of CD28, ICOS, and 4-1BB (TNFRSF9). Here, we report that certain CARs endow T cells with the ability to undergo long-term autonomous proliferation. Transduction of primary human T cells with lentiviral vectors encoding some of the CARs resulted in sustained proliferation for up to 3 months following a single stimulation through the T-cell receptor (TCR). Sustained numeric expansion was independent of cognate antigen and did not require the addition of exogenous cytokines or feeder cells after a single stimulation of the TCR and CD28. Results from gene array and functional assays linked sustained cytokine secretion and expression of T-bet (TBX21), EOMES, and GATA-3 to the effect. Sustained expression of the endogenous IL2 locus has not been reported in primary T cells. Sustained proliferation was dependent on CAR structure and high expression, the latter of which was necessary but not sufficient. The mechanism involves constitutive signaling through NF-κB, AKT, ERK, and NFAT. The propagated CAR T cells retained a diverse TCR repertoire, and cellular transformation was not observed. The CARs with a constitutive growth phenotype displayed inferior antitumor effects and engraftment in vivo. Therefore, the design of CARs that have a nonconstitutive growth phenotype may be a strategy to improve efficacy and engraftment of CAR T cells. The identification of CARs that confer constitutive or nonconstitutive growth patterns may explain observations that CAR T cells have differential survival patterns in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Frigault
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jihyun Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Maria Ciocca Basil
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Carmine Carpenito
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shinichiro Motohashi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - John Scholler
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Omkar U Kawalekar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sonia Guedan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shannon E McGettigan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Avery D Posey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sonny Ang
- Division of Pediatrics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Jesse M Platt
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - F Brad Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Chrystal M Paulos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. Department of Surgery, Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Yangbing Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael Kalos
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael C Milone
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Carl H June
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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378
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Ghorashian S, Pule M, Amrolia P. CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy for haematological malignancies. Br J Haematol 2015; 169:463-78. [PMID: 25753571 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.13340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
T cells can be redirected to recognize tumour antigens by genetic modification to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). These consist of antibody-derived antigen-binding regions linked to T cell signalling elements. CD19 is an ideal target because it is expressed on most B cell malignancies as well as normal B cells but not on other cell types, restricting any 'on target, off tumour' toxicity to B cell depletion. Recent clinical studies involving CD19 CAR-directed T cells have shown unprecedented responses in a range of B cell malignancies, even in patients with chemorefractory relapse. Durable responses have been achieved, although the persistence of modified T cells may be limited. This therapy is not without toxicity, however. Cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity appear to be frequent but are treatable and reversible. CAR T cell therapy holds the promise of a tailored cellular therapy, which can form memory and be adapted to the tumour microenvironment. This review will provide a perspective on the currently available data, as well as on future developments in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ghorashian
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
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379
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CD33-specific chimeric antigen receptor T cells exhibit potent preclinical activity against human acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2015; 29:1637-47. [PMID: 25721896 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2015.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Patients with chemo-refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a dismal prognosis. Chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell therapy has produced exciting results in CD19+ malignancies and may overcome many of the limitations of conventional leukemia therapies. We developed CART cells to target CD33 (CART33) using the anti-CD33 single chain variable fragment used in gemtuzumab ozogamicin (clone My96) and tested the activity and toxicity of these cells. CART33 exhibited significant effector functions in vitro and resulted in eradication of leukemia and prolonged survival in AML xenografts. CART33 also resulted in human lineage cytopenias and reduction of myeloid progenitors in xenograft models of hematopoietic toxicity, suggesting that permanently expressed CD33-specific CART cells would have unacceptable toxicity. To enhance the viability of CART33 as an option for AML, we designed a transiently expressed mRNA anti-CD33 CAR. Gene transfer was carried out by electroporation into T cells and resulted in high-level expression with potent but self-limited activity against AML. Thus our preclinical studies show potent activity of CART33 and indicate that transient expression of anti-CD33 CAR by RNA modification could be used in patients to avoid long-term myelosuppression. CART33 therapy could be used alone or as part of a preparative regimen prior to allogeneic transplantation in refractory AML.
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380
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Inclusion of an IgG1-Fc spacer abrogates efficacy of CD19 CAR T cells in a xenograft mouse model. Gene Ther 2015; 22:391-403. [DOI: 10.1038/gt.2015.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2014] [Revised: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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381
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Jensen MC, Riddell SR. Designing chimeric antigen receptors to effectively and safely target tumors. Curr Opin Immunol 2015; 33:9-15. [PMID: 25621840 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2015.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of T cells engineered to express artificial chimeric antigen receptors CARs) that target a tumor cell surface molecule has emerged as an exciting new approach for cancer immunotherapy. Clinical trials in patients with advanced B cell malignancies treated with CD19-specific CAR-modified T cells (CAR-T) have shown impressive antitumor efficacy, leading to optimism that this approach will be useful for treating common solid tumors. Because CAR-T cells recognize tumor cells independent of their expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules, tumors that escape conventional T cells by downregulating HLA and/or mutating components of the antigen processing machinery can be eliminated. The ability to introduce or delete additional genes in T cells has the potential to provide therapeutic cell products with novel attributes that overcome impediments to immune mediated tumor elimination in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. This review will discuss recent concepts in the development of effective and safe synthetic CARs for adoptive T cell therapy (ACT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Jensen
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.
| | - Stanley R Riddell
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States; Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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382
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Künkele A, Johnson AJ, Rolczynski LS, Chang CA, Hoglund V, Kelly-Spratt KS, Jensen MC. Functional Tuning of CARs Reveals Signaling Threshold above Which CD8+ CTL Antitumor Potency Is Attenuated due to Cell Fas-FasL-Dependent AICD. Cancer Immunol Res 2015; 3:368-79. [PMID: 25576337 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) development is biased toward selecting constructs that elicit the highest magnitude of T-cell functional outputs. Here, we show that components of CAR extracellular spacer and cytoplasmic signaling domain modulate, in a cooperative manner, the magnitude of CD8(+)CTL activation for tumor-cell cytolysis and cytokine secretion. Unexpectedly, CAR constructs that generate the highest in vitro activity, either by extracellular spacer length tuning or by the addition of cytoplasmic signaling modules, exhibit attenuated antitumor potency in vivo, whereas CARs tuned for moderate signaling outputs mediate tumor eradication. Recursive CAR triggering renders CTLs expressing hyperactive CARs highly susceptible to activation-induced cell death (AICD) as a result of augmented FasL expression. CAR tuning using combinations of extracellular spacers and cytoplasmic signaling modules, which limit AICD of CD8(+)CTLs, may be a critical parameter for achieving clinical activity against solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Künkele
- BTCCCR, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Adam J Johnson
- BTCCCR, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Cindy A Chang
- BTCCCR, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Virginia Hoglund
- BTCCCR, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Michael C Jensen
- BTCCCR, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington. Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
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383
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Jonnalagadda M, Mardiros A, Urak R, Wang X, Hoffman LJ, Bernanke A, Chang WC, Bretzlaff W, Starr R, Priceman S, Ostberg JR, Forman SJ, Brown CE. Chimeric antigen receptors with mutated IgG4 Fc spacer avoid fc receptor binding and improve T cell persistence and antitumor efficacy. Mol Ther 2014; 23:757-68. [PMID: 25366031 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2014.208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The success of adoptive therapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T cells partly depends on optimal CAR design. CARs frequently incorporate a spacer/linker region based on the constant region of either IgG1 or IgG4 to connect extracellular ligand-binding with intracellular signaling domains. Here, we evaluated the potential for the IgG4-Fc linker to result in off-target interactions with Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs). As proof-of-principle, we focused on a CD19-specific scFv-IgG4-CD28-zeta CAR and found that, in contrast to CAR-negative cells, CAR+ T cells bound soluble FcγRs in vitro and did not engraft in NSG mice. We hypothesized that mutations to avoid FcγR binding would improve CAR+ T cell engraftment and antitumor efficacy. Thus, we generated CD19-specific CARs with IgG4-Fc spacers that had either been mutated at two sites (L235E; N297Q) within the CH2 region (CD19R(EQ)) or incorporated a CH2 deletion (CD19Rch2Δ). These mutations reduced binding to soluble FcγRs without altering the ability of the CAR to mediate antigen-specific lysis. Importantly, CD19R(EQ) and CD19Rch2Δ T cells exhibited improved persistence and more potent CD19-specific antilymphoma efficacy in NSG mice. Together, these studies suggest that optimal CAR function may require the elimination of cellular FcγR interactions to improve T cell persistence and antitumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Jonnalagadda
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Armen Mardiros
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Ryan Urak
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Xiuli Wang
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Lauren J Hoffman
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Alyssa Bernanke
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Wen-Chung Chang
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - William Bretzlaff
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Renate Starr
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Saul Priceman
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Julie R Ostberg
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Stephen J Forman
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Christine E Brown
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
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