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Watanabe CM, Suzuki CI, Dos Santos AM, Aloia TPA, Lee G, Wald D, Okamoto OK, de Azevedo JTC, de Godoy JAP, Santos FPS, Weinlich R, Kerbauy LN, Kutner JM, Paiva RDMA, Hamerschlak N. An Extended Flow Cytometry Evaluation of ex Vivo Expanded NK Cells Using K562.Clone1, a Feeder Cell Line Manufactured in Brazil. Transplant Cell Ther 2024:S2666-6367(24)00531-1. [PMID: 38986739 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2024.07.004] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in the immune system's response against cancer. However, the challenge of obtaining the required quantity of NK cells for effective therapeutic response necessitates the development of strategies for their ex vivo expansion. This study aimed to develop a novel feeder cell line, K562.Clone1, capable of promoting the ex vivo expansion of NK cells while preserving their cytotoxic potential. he K562 leukemic cell line was transduced with mbIL-21 and 4-1BBL proteins to generate K562.Clone1 cells. NK cells were then co-cultured with these feeder cells, and their expansion rate was monitored over 14 days. The cytotoxic potential of the expanded NK cells was evaluated against acute myeloid leukemia blasts and tumor cell lines of leukemia and glial origin. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the significance of the results. The K562.Clone1 co-cultured with peripheral NK showed a significant increase in cell count, with an approximate 94-fold expansion over 14 days. Expanded NK cells demonstrated cytotoxicity against the tested tumor cell lines, indicating preservation of their cytotoxic characteristics. Additionally, the CD56, CD16, inhibitory KIRs, and activation receptors were conserved and present in a well-balanced manner. The study successfully developed a feeder cell line, K562.Clone1, that effectively promotes the expansion of NK cells ex vivo while maintaining their cytotoxic potential. This development could significantly contribute to the advancement of NK cell therapy, especially in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Grace Lee
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - David Wald
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Oswaldo Keith Okamoto
- Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia T Cottas de Azevedo
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Aparecida Preto de Godoy
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabio P S Santos
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Oncology and Hematology Center, Familia Dayan-Daycoval, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Weinlich
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucila N Kerbauy
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Oncology and Hematology Center, Familia Dayan-Daycoval, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jose Mauro Kutner
- Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Oncology and Hematology Center, Familia Dayan-Daycoval, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raquel de Melo Alves Paiva
- Experimental Research Laboratory, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Hemotherapy and Cellular Therapy, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Nelson Hamerschlak
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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2
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Soldierer M, Bister A, Haist C, Thivakaran A, Cengiz SC, Sendker S, Bartels N, Thomitzek A, Smorra D, Hejazi M, Uhrberg M, Scheckenbach K, Monzel C, Wiek C, Reinhardt D, Niktoreh N, Hanenberg H. Genetic Engineering and Enrichment of Human NK Cells for CAR-Enhanced Immunotherapy of Hematological Malignancies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:847008. [PMID: 35464442 PMCID: PMC9022481 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.847008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The great clinical success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has unlocked new levels of immunotherapy for hematological malignancies. Genetically modifying natural killer (NK) cells as alternative CAR immune effector cells is also highly promising, as NK cells can be transplanted across HLA barriers without causing graft-versus-host disease. Therefore, off-the-shelf usage of CAR NK cell products might allow to widely expand the clinical indications and to limit the costs of treatment per patient. However, in contrast to T cells, manufacturing suitable CAR NK cell products is challenging, as standard techniques for genetically engineering NK cells are still being defined. In this study, we have established optimal lentiviral transduction of primary human NK cells by systematically testing different internal promoters for lentiviral CAR vectors and comparing lentiviral pseudotypes and viral entry enhancers. We have additionally modified CAR constructs recognizing standard target antigens for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy—CD19, CD33, and CD123—to harbor a CD34-derived hinge region that allows efficient detection of transduced NK cells in vitro and in vivo and also facilitates CD34 microbead-assisted selection of CAR NK cell products to >95% purity for potential clinical usage. Importantly, as most leukemic blasts are a priori immunogenic for activated primary human NK cells, we developed an in vitro system that blocks the activating receptors NKG2D, DNAM-1, NKp30, NKp44, NKp46, and NKp80 on these cells and therefore allows systematic testing of the specific killing of CAR NK cells against ALL and AML cell lines and primary AML blasts. Finally, we evaluated in an ALL xenotransplantation model in NOD/SCID-gamma (NSG) mice whether human CD19 CAR NK cells directed against the CD19+ blasts are relying on soluble or membrane-bound IL15 production for NK cell persistence and also in vivo leukemia control. Hence, our study provides important insights into the generation of pure and highly active allogeneic CAR NK cells, thereby advancing adoptive cellular immunotherapy with CAR NK cells for human malignancies further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maren Soldierer
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Arthur Bister
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Corinna Haist
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Aniththa Thivakaran
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sevgi Can Cengiz
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Sendker
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Nina Bartels
- Department of Experimental Medical Physics, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Antonia Thomitzek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Denise Smorra
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Maryam Hejazi
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Markus Uhrberg
- Institute for Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kathrin Scheckenbach
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Cornelia Monzel
- Department of Experimental Medical Physics, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Constanze Wiek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dirk Reinhardt
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Naghmeh Niktoreh
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Helmut Hanenberg
- Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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3
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Hong G, Xie S, Guo Z, Zhang D, Ge S, Zhang S, Gao W. Progression-Free Survival of a Patient with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Adoptive Cell Therapy Using Natural Killer Cells: A Case Report. Onco Targets Ther 2022; 15:255-266. [PMID: 35313527 PMCID: PMC8934175 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s344707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a promising treatment that is considered safe and efficient. Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the innate immune system and destroy target cells such as tumor cells without prior sensitization. Here, we report a 59-year-old man with advanced diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent 17 courses of NK cell treatment from March 2017 to July 2018. Although he presented with progressive disease, his hydrothorax and ascites decreased, and his state of mind, appetite and quality of life were markedly improved after treatment versus at admission. To date, his survival time is >48 months. Here, we provide evidence that NK cell adoptive therapy has no adverse effects, enhances immune function, and improves the quality of life of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guodai Hong
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University (Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital), Shenzhen, 518002, People’s Republic of China
| | - Silun Xie
- Shenzhen Cell Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, 518054, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zikuan Guo
- Beijing Clin- Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Beijing, 100070, People’s Republic of China
| | - Diping Zhang
- Shenzhen Cell Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, 518054, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sihai Ge
- Shenzhen Cell Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, 518054, People’s Republic of China
| | - Suqin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University (Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital), Shenzhen, 518002, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenbin Gao
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University (Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital), Shenzhen, 518002, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Wenbin Gao, Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University (Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital), Luohu District, Shenzhen, 518002, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 132 6677 8968, Email
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4
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Croom-Perez TJ, Robles-Carillo LD, Oyer JL, Dieffenthaller TA, Hasan MF, Copik AJ. Kinetic, imaging based assay to measure NK cell cytotoxicity against adherent cells. Methods Cell Biol 2022. [PMID: 37516529 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2022.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Natural Killer cells (NK cells) are a key component of the innate immune system and are key effectors of immunosurveillance. NK cells not only have the inherent ability to directly kill malignant, compromised, or virally infected cells, but also recruit and coordinate responses by other immune cells to prime the adaptive immune response. Given this potent anti-tumor response and good safety profile, adoptive NK cell therapy is an emerging cancer treatment modality. Direct killing of tumor cells is major mode of action for NK cell anti-tumor activity and measuring changes in NK cell cytotoxic response in vitro is a critical step in pre-clinical evaluation of novel NK cellular products. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for a live-cell imaging assay for testing NK cell cytotoxicity against a broad range of adherent and 3D in vitro tumor models. Compared to other methods for measuring in vitro cytotoxicity, this method offers real-time dynamic tracking of and provides a multiparameter readout for more robust understanding of NK cell tumor killing.
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5
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Cytokine-enhanced cytolytic activity of exosomes from NK Cells. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:734-749. [PMID: 34316033 PMCID: PMC9209332 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00352-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play key roles in immune surveillance against tumors and viral infection. NK cells distinguish abnormal cells from healthy cells by cell-cell interaction with cell surface proteins and then attack target cells via multiple mechanisms. In addition, extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from NK cells (NK-EVs), including exosomes, possess cytotoxic capacity against tumor cells, but their characteristics and regulation by cytokines remain unknown. Here, we report that EVs derived from human NK-92 cells stimulated with IL-15 + IL-21 show enhanced cytotoxic capacity against tumor cells. Major cytolytic granules, granzyme B and granzyme H, are enriched by IL-15 + IL-21 stimulation in NK-EVs; however, knockout experiments reveal those cytolytic granules are independent of enhanced cytotoxic capacity. To find out the key molecules, mass spectrometry analyses were performed with different cytokine conditions, no cytokine, IL-15, IL-21, or IL-15 + IL-21. We then found that CD226 (DNAM-1) on NK-EVs is enriched by IL-15 + IL-21 stimulation and that blocking antibodies against CD226 reduced the cytolytic activity of NK-EVs. We also show NK-EVs are taken up by target cells via macropinocytosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate the novel properties of NK-EVs and the mechanism of their incorporation into target cells.
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6
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Baysal H, De Pauw I, Zaryouh H, Peeters M, Vermorken JB, Lardon F, De Waele J, Wouters A. The Right Partner in Crime: Unlocking the Potential of the Anti-EGFR Antibody Cetuximab via Combination With Natural Killer Cell Chartering Immunotherapeutic Strategies. Front Immunol 2021; 12:737311. [PMID: 34557197 PMCID: PMC8453198 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.737311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cetuximab has an established role in the treatment of patients with recurrent/metastatic colorectal cancer and head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). However, the long-term effectiveness of cetuximab has been limited by the development of acquired resistance, leading to tumor relapse. By contrast, immunotherapies can elicit long-term tumor regression, but the overall response rates are much more limited. In addition to epidermal growth factor (EGFR) inhibition, cetuximab can activate natural killer (NK) cells to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). In view of the above, there is an unmet need for the majority of patients that are treated with both monotherapy cetuximab and immunotherapy. Accumulated evidence from (pre-)clinical studies suggests that targeted therapies can have synergistic antitumor effects through combination with immunotherapy. However, further optimizations, aimed towards illuminating the multifaceted interplay, are required to avoid toxicity and to achieve better therapeutic effectiveness. The current review summarizes existing (pre-)clinical evidence to provide a rationale supporting the use of combined cetuximab and immunotherapy approaches in patients with different types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Baysal
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ines De Pauw
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hannah Zaryouh
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marc Peeters
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Medical Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Jan Baptist Vermorken
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Medical Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Filip Lardon
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jorrit De Waele
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - An Wouters
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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7
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Nguyen R, Sahr N, Sykes A, McCarville MB, Federico SM, Sooter A, Cullins D, Rooney B, Janssen WE, Talleur AC, Triplett BM, Anthony G, Dyer MA, Pappo AS, Leung WH, Furman WL. Longitudinal NK cell kinetics and cytotoxicity in children with neuroblastoma enrolled in a clinical phase II trial. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2019-000176. [PMID: 32221013 PMCID: PMC7206969 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Natural killer (NK) cells are one of the main effector populations of immunotherapy with monoclonal antibody and cytokines, used in combination with chemotherapy to treat children with high-risk neuroblastoma on this phase II trial. However, the impact of chemoimmunotherapy on NK cell kinetics, phenotype, and function is understudied. Methods We prospectively examined NK cell properties from 63 children with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma enrolled in a phase II trial (NCT01857934) and correlated our findings with tumor volume reduction after 2 courses of chemoimmunotherapy. NK cell studies were conducted longitudinally during chemoimmunotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (autoHCT) with optional haploidentical NK cell infusion and additional immunotherapy. Results Chemoimmunotherapy led to significant NK cytopenia, but complete NK cell recovery reliably occurred by day 21 of each therapy course as well as after autoHCT. Haploidentical NK cell infusion elevated the NK cell count transiently during autoHCT. NK cell cytotoxicity increased significantly during treatment compared with diagnosis. In addition, NK cells maintained their ability to respond to cytokine stimulation in culture longitudinally. Unsupervised cluster analysis of CD56bright NK cell count and tumor volume at diagnosis and after two courses of chemoimmunotherapy identified two patient groups with distinct primary tumor sizes and therapy responses. Conclusion After profound NK cytopenia due to chemoimmunotherapy, endogenously reconstituted NK cells exhibit enhanced NK cytotoxicity compared with pretherapy measurements. Our data suggest a relationship between CD56bright expression and tumor size before and after two courses of chemoimmunotherapy; however, future studies are necessary to confirm this relationship and its predictive significance. Trial registration number NCT01857934.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Nguyen
- Oncology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,LMI, NHLBI, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Natasha Sahr
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - April Sykes
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Mary Beth McCarville
- Department of Radiological Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Sara M Federico
- Oncology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Amanda Sooter
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - David Cullins
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Barbara Rooney
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - William E Janssen
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Aimee C Talleur
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brandon M Triplett
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Gwendolyn Anthony
- Oncology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Michael A Dyer
- Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Alberto S Pappo
- Oncology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Wing H Leung
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Wayne L Furman
- Oncology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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8
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Leivas A, Valeri A, Córdoba L, García-Ortiz A, Ortiz A, Sánchez-Vega L, Graña-Castro O, Fernández L, Carreño-Tarragona G, Pérez M, Megías D, Paciello ML, Sánchez-Pina J, Pérez-Martínez A, Lee DA, Powell DJ, Río P, Martínez-López J. NKG2D-CAR-transduced natural killer cells efficiently target multiple myeloma. Blood Cancer J 2021; 11:146. [PMID: 34392311 PMCID: PMC8364555 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-021-00537-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
CAR-T-cell therapy against MM currently shows promising results, but usually with serious toxicities. CAR-NK cells may exert less toxicity when redirected against resistant myeloma cells. CARs can be designed through the use of receptors, such as NKG2D, which recognizes a wide range of ligands to provide broad target specificity. Here, we test this approach by analyzing the antitumor activity of activated and expanded NK cells (NKAE) and CD45RA- T cells from MM patients that were engineered to express an NKG2D-based CAR. NKAE cells were cultured with irradiated Clone9.mbIL21 cells. Then, cells were transduced with an NKG2D-4-1BB-CD3z-CAR. CAR-NKAE cells exhibited no evidence of genetic abnormalities. Although memory T cells were more stably transduced, CAR-NKAE cells exhibited greater in vitro cytotoxicity against MM cells, while showing minimal activity against healthy cells. In vivo, CAR-NKAE cells mediated highly efficient abrogation of MM growth, and 25% of the treated mice remained disease free. Overall, these results demonstrate that it is feasible to modify autologous NKAE cells from MM patients to safely express a NKG2D-CAR. Additionally, autologous CAR-NKAE cells display enhanced antimyeloma activity demonstrating that they could be an effective strategy against MM supporting the development of NKG2D-CAR-NK-cell therapy for MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Leivas
- H12O-CNIO Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Valeri
- H12O-CNIO Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Córdoba
- H12O-CNIO Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena García-Ortiz
- H12O-CNIO Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandra Ortiz
- H12O-CNIO Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Sánchez-Vega
- H12O-CNIO Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Lucía Fernández
- H12O-CNIO Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Carreño-Tarragona
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Pérez
- Confocal Microscopy Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Megías
- Confocal Microscopy Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Liz Paciello
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Sánchez-Pina
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Dean A Lee
- Cellular Therapy and Cancer Immunology Program, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Daniel J Powell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Paula Río
- Division of Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIEMAT/CIBERER), Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Advanced Therapies Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD, UAM), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Joaquín Martínez-López
- H12O-CNIO Haematological Malignancies Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre-Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain.
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9
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Expansion of cytotoxic natural killer cells in multiple myeloma patients using K562 cells expressing OX40 ligand and membrane-bound IL-18 and IL-21. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 71:613-625. [PMID: 34282497 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-02982-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy is a promising treatment approach for multiple myeloma (MM), but obtaining a sufficient number of activated NK cells remains challenging. Here, we report an improved method to generate ex vivo expanded NK (eNK) cells from MM patients based on genetic engineering of K562 cells to express OX40 ligand and membrane-bound (mb) IL-18 and IL-21. METHODS K562-OX40L-mbIL-18/-21 cells were generated by transducing K562-OX40L cells with a lentiviral vector encoding mbIL-18 and mbIL-21, and these were used as feeder cells to expand NK cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors (HDs) and MM patients in the presence of IL-2/IL-15. Purity, expansion rate, receptor expression, and functions of eNK cells were determined over four weeks of culture. RESULTS NK cell expansion was enhanced by short exposure of soluble IL-18 and IL-21 with K562-OX40L cells. Co-culture of NK cells with K562-OX40L-mbIL-18/-21 cells resulted in remarkable expansion of NK cells from HDs (9,860-fold) and MM patients (4,929-fold) over the 28-day culture period. Moreover, eNK cells showed increased expression of major activation markers and enhanced cytotoxicity towards target K562, U266, and RPMI8226 cells. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that genetically engineered K562 cells expressing OX40L, mbIL-18, and mbIL-21 improve the expansion of NK cells, increase activation signals, and enhance their cytolytic activity towards MM cells.
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10
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Bailey CP, Figueroa M, Gangadharan A, Yang Y, Romero MM, Kennis BA, Yadavilli S, Henry V, Collier T, Monje M, Lee DA, Wang L, Nazarian J, Gopalakrishnan V, Zaky W, Becher OJ, Chandra J. Pharmacologic inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 1 as a therapeutic and immune-sensitization strategy in pediatric high-grade glioma. Neuro Oncol 2021; 22:1302-1314. [PMID: 32166329 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), including brainstem diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), are incurable pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGG). Mutations in the H3 histone tail (H3.1/3.3-K27M) are a feature of DIPG, rendering them therapeutically sensitive to small-molecule inhibition of chromatin modifiers. Pharmacological inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is clinically relevant but has not been carefully investigated in pHGG or DIPG. METHODS Patient-derived DIPG cell lines, orthotopic mouse models, and pHGG datasets were used to evaluate effects of LSD1 inhibitors on cytotoxicity and immune gene expression. Immune cell cytotoxicity was assessed in DIPG cells pretreated with LSD1 inhibitors, and informatics platforms were used to determine immune infiltration of pHGG. RESULTS Selective cytotoxicity and an immunogenic gene signature were established in DIPG cell lines using clinically relevant LSD1 inhibitors. Pediatric HGG patient sequencing data demonstrated survival benefit of this LSD1-dependent gene signature. Pretreatment of DIPG with these inhibitors increased lysis by natural killer (NK) cells. Catalytic LSD1 inhibitors induced tumor regression and augmented NK cell infusion in vivo to reduce tumor burden. CIBERSORT analysis of patient data confirmed NK infiltration is beneficial to patient survival, while CD8 T cells are negatively prognostic. Catalytic LSD1 inhibitors are nonperturbing to NK cells, while scaffolding LSD1 inhibitors are toxic to NK cells and do not induce the gene signature in DIPG cells. CONCLUSIONS LSD1 inhibition using catalytic inhibitors is selectively cytotoxic and promotes an immune gene signature that increases NK cell killing in vitro and in vivo, representing a therapeutic opportunity for pHGG. KEY POINTS 1. LSD1 inhibition using several clinically relevant compounds is selectively cytotoxic in DIPG and shows in vivo efficacy as a single agent.2. An LSD1-controlled gene signature predicts survival in pHGG patients and is seen in neural tissue from LSD1 inhibitor-treated mice.3. LSD1 inhibition enhances NK cell cytotoxicity against DIPG in vivo and in vitro with correlative genetic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cavan P Bailey
- Department of Pediatrics , Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mary Figueroa
- Department of Pediatrics , Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Achintyan Gangadharan
- Department of Pediatrics , Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yanwen Yang
- Department of Pediatrics , Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Megan M Romero
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Bridget A Kennis
- Department of Pediatrics , Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Sridevi Yadavilli
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Verlene Henry
- Department of Pediatrics , Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Tiara Collier
- Brain Tumor Center, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Dean A Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's and the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Linghua Wang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Vidya Gopalakrishnan
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas.,Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Wafik Zaky
- Department of Pediatrics , Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Oren J Becher
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Joya Chandra
- Department of Pediatrics , Research, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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11
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Naeimi Kararoudi M, Tullius BP, Chakravarti N, Pomeroy EJ, Moriarity BS, Beland K, Colamartino ABL, Haddad E, Chu Y, Cairo MS, Lee DA. Genetic and epigenetic modification of human primary NK cells for enhanced antitumor activity. Semin Hematol 2020; 57:201-212. [PMID: 33256913 PMCID: PMC7809645 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using genetically modified immune cells such as those expressing chimeric antigen receptors has shown dramatic outcomes in patients with refractory and relapsed malignancies. Natural killer (NK) cells as a member of the innate immune system, possessing both anticancer (cytotoxic) and proinflammatory (cytokine) responses to cancers and rare off-target toxicities have great potential for a wide range of cancer therapeutic settings. Therefore, improving NK cell antitumor activity through genetic modification is of high interest in the field of cancer immunotherapy. However, gene manipulation in primary NK cells has been challenging because of broad resistance to many genetic modification methods that work well in T cells. Here we review recent successful approaches for genetic and epigenetic modification of NK cells including epigenetic remodeling, transposons, mRNA-mediated gene delivery, lentiviruses, and CRISPR gene targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, Abigail Wexner Research Institute of Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Brian P Tullius
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, Abigail Wexner Research Institute of Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Nitin Chakravarti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Emily J Pomeroy
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | | | - Kathie Beland
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Elie Haddad
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Yaya Chu
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
| | - Mitchell S Cairo
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
| | - Dean A Lee
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, Abigail Wexner Research Institute of Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
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12
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Bailey CP, Figueroa M, Gangadharan A, Lee DA, Chandra J. Scaffolding LSD1 Inhibitors Impair NK Cell Metabolism and Cytotoxic Function Through Depletion of Glutathione. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2196. [PMID: 33042135 PMCID: PMC7527493 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell therapies such as chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells and NK cells are cutting-edge methods for treating cancer and other diseases. There is high interest in optimizing drug treatment regimens to best work together with emerging cell therapies, such as targeting epigenetic enzymes to stimulate recognition of tumor cells by immune cells. Herein, we uncover new mechanisms of the histone demethylase LSD1, and various inhibitors targeting unique domains of LSD1, in the function of NK cells grown for cell therapy. Catalytic inhibitors (tranylcypromine and the structural derivatives GSK LSD1 and RN-1) can irreversibly block the demethylase activity of LSD1, while scaffolding inhibitors (SP-2509 and clinical successor SP-2577, also known as seclidemstat) disrupt epigenetic complexes that include LSD1. Relevant combinations of LSD1 inhibitors with cell therapy infusions and immune checkpoint blockade have shown efficacy in pre-clinical solid tumor models, reinforcing a need to understand how these drugs would impact T- and NK cells. We find that scaffolding LSD1 inhibitors potently reduce oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis of NK cells, and higher doses induce mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and depletion of the antioxidant glutathione. These effects are unique to scaffolding inhibitors compared to catalytic, to NK cells compared to T-cells, and importantly, can fully ablate the lytic capacity of NK cells. Supplementation with biologically achievable levels of glutathione rescues NK cell cytolytic function but not NK cell metabolism. Our results suggest glutathione supplementation may reverse NK cell activity suppression in patients treated with seclidemstat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cavan P Bailey
- Department of Pediatrics-Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mary Figueroa
- Department of Pediatrics-Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Achintyan Gangadharan
- Department of Pediatrics-Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Dean A Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's and the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Joya Chandra
- Department of Pediatrics-Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.,The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
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13
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Wu Y, Li J, Jabbarzadeh Kaboli P, Shen J, Wu X, Zhao Y, Ji H, Du F, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Zhang H, Yin J, Wen Q, Cho CH, Li M, Xiao Z. Natural killer cells as a double-edged sword in cancer immunotherapy: A comprehensive review from cytokine therapy to adoptive cell immunotherapy. Pharmacol Res 2020; 155:104691. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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14
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Hu Z. Tissue factor as a new target for CAR-NK cell immunotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2815. [PMID: 32071339 PMCID: PMC7028910 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59736-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), representing ~15% of globally diagnosed breast cancer, is typically an incurable malignancy due to the lack of targetable surface targets for development of effective therapy. To address the unmet need for TNBC treatment, we recently determined that tissue factor (TF) is a useful surface target in 50–85% of patients with TNBC and developed a second-generation TF-targeting antibody-like immunoconjugate (called L-ICON) for preclinical treatment of TNBC. Using the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) approach, here we develop and test TF-targeting CAR-engineered natural killer (TF-CAR-NK) cells that co-express CD16, the Fc receptor (FcγIII) to mediate antibody-dependent cellular toxicity (ADCC), for a preclinical assessment of immunotherapy of TNBC using TF-CAR-NK cell as single agent therapy and in combination with L-ICON. Our preclinical results demonstrate that TF-CAR-NK cells alone could kill TNBC cells and its efficacy was enhanced with L-ICON ADCC in vitro. Moreover, TF-CAR-NK cells were effective in vivo for the treatment of TNBC in cell line- and patient’s tumor-derived xenograft mouse models. Thus, this study established the proof of concept of targeting TF as a new target in CAR-NK immunotherapy for effective treatment of TNBC and may warrant further preclinical study and potentially future investigation in TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Hu
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The OSU James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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15
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Corral Sánchez MD, Fernández Casanova L, Pérez-Martínez A. Beyond CAR-T cells: Natural killer cells immunotherapy. Med Clin (Barc) 2019; 154:134-141. [PMID: 31771858 DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2019.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Children and adolescents suffering from refractory leukaemia, relapse after stem cell transplantation, solid metastatic tumour or refractory to conventional treatments still condition a dismal prognosis. The critical role of the immune system in the immunosurveillance of cancer is becoming relevant with the development of new treatments such as the checkpoint inhibitor drugs and genetic modified T lymphocytes, tisagenlecleucel or axicabtagene ciloleucel. In addition, other immunotherapies are being developed such as cell therapy with natural killer (NK) lymphocytes. The rapid and potent cytotoxic activity of NK cells respecting healthy cells and the possibility of expansion, manipulating them and combining them with other treatments, make these cells a powerful therapeutic tool to be developed, with a very high safety profile. Furthermore, new strategies are being developed to increase the therapeutic benefit of NK cells such as genetic manipulation for the expression of chimeric antigen receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antonio Pérez-Martínez
- Servicio de Hemato-Oncología Pediátrica, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España; Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), Madrid, España.
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16
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Ray AK, Somanchi SS, Dastgheyb N, Aquino-Lopez A, Cobanoglu ZE, Geier B, Lee DA. Expression of carcinoma, apoptosis, and cell-death-related genes are determinants for sensitivity of pediatric cancer cell lines to lysis by natural killer cells. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019; 66:e27783. [PMID: 31304677 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have potential utility in pediatric cancer immunotherapy for their ability to lyse diverse tumor targets, lack of dependence on mutation-associated tumor antigens, and for their relative safety demonstrated so far in clinical trials. Here, we evaluate the cytotoxic potential of expanded NK cells against a well-characterized panel of pediatric cancer cell lines representing Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, leukemia, and brain tumors. We correlate their sensitivity NK cell lysis with tumor phenotypic, transcriptomic, and genetic determinants, and correlate known immunogenetic determinants with donor NK cell potency. Although ligand expression on cell lines stratified according to hematologic versus nonhematologic cancer types, the sensitivity to NK cell lysis varied widely and did not correlate with cancer type, expression of individual activating or inhibitory ligands, gene-expression clusters of NK cell ligands, disease status (newly diagnosed or relapsed), or MYCN amplification. Rather, sensitivity to NK cell-mediated lysis was associated with a novel 96-gene cluster of predominantly carcinoma-, apoptosis-, and cell death-related pathways, and with functional p53 status. NK cell potency was strongly associated with activating KIR gene content, but not with KIR/KIR-ligand mismatch. This study suggests that adoptive immunotherapy with expanded NK cells has the potential for a wide range of pediatric cancers, identifies potential biomarkers of efficacy and response, and establishes a foundation for using this cell line panel for the preclinical evaluation of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anish K Ray
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas
| | - Srinivas S Somanchi
- Department of Pediatrics Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Neda Dastgheyb
- Department of Pediatrics Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Arianexys Aquino-Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Zehra E Cobanoglu
- Department of Pediatrics Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Brian Geier
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Dean A Lee
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
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17
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Hutzen B, Ghonime M, Lee J, Mardis ER, Wang R, Lee DA, Cairo MS, Roberts RD, Cripe TP, Cassady KA. Immunotherapeutic Challenges for Pediatric Cancers. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2019; 15:38-48. [PMID: 31650024 PMCID: PMC6804520 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2019.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Solid tumors contain a mixture of malignant cells and non-malignant infiltrating cells that often create a chronic inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironment that restricts immunotherapeutic approaches. Although childhood and adult cancers share some similarities related to microenvironmental changes, pediatric cancers are unique, and adult cancer practices may not be wholly applicable to our pediatric patients. This review highlights the differences in tumorigenesis, viral infection, and immunologic response between children and adults that need to be considered when trying to apply experiences from experimental therapies in adult cancer patients to pediatric cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Hutzen
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mohammed Ghonime
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joel Lee
- The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Elaine R Mardis
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,Institute for Genomic Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ruoning Wang
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dean A Lee
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mitchell S Cairo
- Department of Pediatrics, Cancer and Blood Diseases Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Ryan D Roberts
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Timothy P Cripe
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kevin A Cassady
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.,Division of Pediatric Infection Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
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18
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Lee DA. Cellular therapy: Adoptive immunotherapy with expanded natural killer cells. Immunol Rev 2019; 290:85-99. [DOI: 10.1111/imr.12793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dean A. Lee
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio
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19
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Wilton KM, Overlee BL, Billadeau DD. NKG2D-DAP10 signaling recruits EVL to the cytotoxic synapse to generate F-actin and promote NK cell cytotoxicity. J Cell Sci 2019; 133:jcs.230508. [PMID: 31235500 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.230508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells eliminate abnormal cells through the release of cytolytic granule contents. In this process, NK cells must adhere to target cells through integrin-mediated adhesion, which is highly dependent on the generation of F-actin. Ena/VASP-like (EVL) is an actin regulatory protein previously shown to regulate integrin-mediated adhesion in other cell types, but its role in NK cell biology is not known. Herein, we show that EVL is recruited to the NK cell cytotoxic synapse and is required for NK cell cytotoxicity. Significantly, EVL is involved in the generation of F-actin at the cytotoxic synapse, antibody-stimulated spreading, and NK cell-target cell adhesion. EVL interacts with WASP (also known as WAS) and VASP and is required for localization of both proteins to the synapse. Recruitment of EVL to points of cellular activation occurs through the receptor NKG2D-DAP10 (also known as KLRK1 and HCST, respectively) via a binding site previously implicated in VAV1 and Grb2 recruitment. Taken together, this study implicates DAP10-mediated Grb2 and VAV1 signaling in the recruitment of an EVL-containing actin regulatory complex to the cytotoxic synapse where it can promote F-actin nucleation leading to NK cell-mediated killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelynn M Wilton
- Department of Immunology, Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Brittany L Overlee
- Division of Oncology, Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Daniel D Billadeau
- Department of Immunology, Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA .,Division of Oncology, Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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20
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Nguyen R, Wu H, Pounds S, Inaba H, Ribeiro RC, Cullins D, Rooney B, Bell T, Lacayo NJ, Heym K, Degar B, Schiff D, Janssen WE, Triplett B, Pui CH, Leung W, Rubnitz JE. A phase II clinical trial of adoptive transfer of haploidentical natural killer cells for consolidation therapy of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:81. [PMID: 30894213 PMCID: PMC6425674 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0564-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Consolidation therapies for children with intermediate- or high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are urgently needed to achieve higher cure rates while limiting therapy-related toxicities. We determined if adoptive transfer of natural killer (NK) cells from haploidentical killer immunoglobulin–like receptor (KIR)–human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched donors may prolong event-free survival in children with intermediate-risk AML who were in first complete remission after chemotherapy. Patients received cyclophosphamide (Day − 7), fludarabine (Days − 6 through − 2), and subcutaneous interleukin-2 (Days − 1, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9). Purified, unmanipulated NK cells were infused on Day 0, and NK cell chimerism and phenotyping from peripheral blood were performed on Days 7, 14, 21, and 28. As primary endpoint, the event-free survival was compared to a cohort of 55 patients who completed chemotherapy and were in first complete remission but did not receive NK cells. Donor NK cell kinetics were determined as secondary endpoints. Twenty-one patients (median age at diagnosis, 6.0 years [range, 0.1–15.3 years]) received a median of 12.5 × 106 NK cells/kg (range, 3.6–62.2 × 106 cells/kg) without major side effects. All but 3 demonstrated transient engraftment with donor NK cells (median peak donor chimerism, 4% [range, 0–43%]). KIR–HLA-mismatched NK cells expanded in 17 patients (81%) and contracted in 4 (19%). However, adoptive transfer of NK cells did not decrease the cumulative incidence of relapse (0.393 [95% confidence interval: 0.182–0.599] vs. 0.35 [0.209–0.495]; P = .556) and did not improve event-free (60.7 ± 10.9% vs. 69.1 ± 6.8%; P = .553) or overall survival (84.2 ± 8.5% vs. 79.1 ± 6.6%; P = .663) over chemotherapy alone. The lack of benefit may result from insufficient numbers and limited persistence of alloreactive donor NK cells but does not preclude its potential usefulness during other phases of therapy, or in combination with other immunotherapeutic agents. Trial registration www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00703820. Registered 24 June 2008.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Nguyen
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Huiyun Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stanley Pounds
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hiroto Inaba
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Raul C Ribeiro
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - David Cullins
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Barbara Rooney
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Teresa Bell
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Norman J Lacayo
- Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford Cancer Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth Heym
- Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | | | | | - William E Janssen
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.,Human Applications Laboratory, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Brandon Triplett
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ching-Hon Pui
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Wing Leung
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey E Rubnitz
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
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21
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Dwyer CJ, Knochelmann HM, Smith AS, Wyatt MM, Rangel Rivera GO, Arhontoulis DC, Bartee E, Li Z, Rubinstein MP, Paulos CM. Fueling Cancer Immunotherapy With Common Gamma Chain Cytokines. Front Immunol 2019; 10:263. [PMID: 30842774 PMCID: PMC6391336 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cell transfer therapy (ACT) using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes or lymphocytes redirected with antigen receptors (CAR or TCR) has revolutionized the field of cancer immunotherapy. Although CAR T cell therapy mediates robust responses in patients with hematological malignancies, this approach has been less effective for treating patients with solid tumors. Additionally, toxicities post T cell infusion highlight the need for safer ACT protocols. Current protocols traditionally expand T lymphocytes isolated from patient tumors or from peripheral blood to large magnitudes in the presence of high dose IL-2 prior to infusion. Unfortunately, this expansion protocol differentiates T cells to a full effector or terminal phenotype in vitro, consequently reducing their long-term survival and antitumor effectiveness in vivo. Post-infusion, T cells face further obstacles limiting their persistence and function within the suppressive tumor microenvironment. Therapeutic manipulation of T cells with common γ chain cytokines, which are critical growth factors for T cells, may be the key to bypass such immunological hurdles. Herein, we discuss the primary functions of the common γ chain cytokines impacting T cell survival and memory and then elaborate on how these distinct cytokines have been used to augment T cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor J Dwyer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Hannah M Knochelmann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Aubrey S Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Megan M Wyatt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Guillermo O Rangel Rivera
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Dimitrios C Arhontoulis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Eric Bartee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Zihai Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Mark P Rubinstein
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Chrystal M Paulos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.,Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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22
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Recurrent Stimulation of Natural Killer Cell Clones with K562 Expressing Membrane-Bound Interleukin-21 Affects Their Phenotype, Interferon-γ Production, and Lifespan. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20020443. [PMID: 30669565 PMCID: PMC6359338 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A pattern of natural killer cell (NK cell) heterogeneity determines proliferative and functional responses to activating stimuli in individuals. Obtaining the progeny of a single cell by cloning the original population is one of the ways to study NK cell heterogeneity. In this work, we sorted single cells into a plate and stimulated them via interleukin (IL)-2 and gene-modified K562 feeder cells that expressed membrane-bound IL-21 (K562-mbIL21), which led to a generation of phenotypically confirmed and functionally active NK cell clones. Next, we applied two models of clone cultivation, which differently affected their phenotype, lifespan, and functional activity. The first model, which included weekly restimulation of clones with K562-mbIL21 and IL-2, resulted in the generation of relatively short-lived (5⁻7 weeks) clones of highly activated NK cells. Levels of human leukocyte antigen class II molecule-DR isotype (HLA-DR) expression in the expanded NK cells correlated strongly with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production. The second model, in which NK cells were restimulated weekly with IL-2 alone and once on the sixth week with K562-mbIL21 and IL-2, produced long-lived clones (8⁻14 weeks) that expanded up to 10⁷ cells with a lower ability to produce IFN-γ. Our method is applicable for studying variability in phenotype, proliferative, and functional activity of certain NK cell progeny in response to the stimulation, which may help in selecting NK cells best suited for clinical use.
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23
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Fernández L, Leivas A, Valentín J, Escudero A, Corral D, de Paz R, Vela M, Bueno D, Rodríguez R, Torres JM, Díaz-Almirón M, López-Collazo E, Martinez-Lopez J, Pérez-Martínez A. How do we manufacture clinical-grade interleukin-15-stimulated natural killer cell products for cancer treatment? Transfusion 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/trf.14573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Fernández
- Clinical Research Department; Spanish National Cancer Research Center, CNIO
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