1
|
Wang L, Zhang L, Dunmall LC, Wang YY, Fan Z, Cheng Z, Wang Y. The dilemmas and possible solutions for CAR-T cell therapy application in solid tumors. Cancer Lett 2024; 591:216871. [PMID: 38604310 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy, as an adoptive immunotherapy, is playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of malignant tumors. CAR-T cells are referred to as "living drugs" as they not only target tumor cells directly, but also induce long-term immune memory that has the potential to provide long-lasting protection. CD19.CAR-T cells have achieved complete response rates of over 90 % for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and over 60 % for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, the response rate of CAR-T cells in the treatment of solid tumors remains extremely low and the side effects potentially severe. In this review, we discuss the limitations that the solid tumor microenvironment poses for CAR-T application and the solutions that are being developed to address these limitations, in the hope that in the near future, CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors can attain the same success rates as are now being seen clinically for hematological malignancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Wang
- Department of Oncology, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China; National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lufang Zhang
- National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Louisa Chard Dunmall
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yang Yang Wang
- Department of General Pediatrics, Newham General Hospital, E13 8SL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zaiwen Fan
- Department of Oncology, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenguo Cheng
- National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaohe Wang
- National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Centre for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Leland P, Degheidy H, Lea A, Bauer SR, Puri RK, Joshi BH. Identification and characterisation of novel CAR-T cells to target IL13Rα2 positive human glioma in vitro and in vivo. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1664. [PMID: 38685487 PMCID: PMC11058282 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previously, we discovered that human solid tumours, but not normal human tissues, preferentially overexpress interleukin-13Receptor alpha2, a high binding receptor for IL-13. To develop novel anti-cancer approaches, we constructed a chimeric antigen receptor construct using a high binding and codon optimised scFv-IL-13Rα2 fragment fused with CD3ζ and co-stimulatory cytoplasmic domains of CD28 and 4-1BB. METHODS We developed a scFv clone, designated 14-1, by biopanning the bound scFv phages using huIL-13Rα2Fc chimeric protein and compared its binding with our previously published clone 4-1. We performed bioinformatic analyses for complementary determining regions (CDR) framework and residue analyses of the light and heavy chains. This construct was packaged with helper plasmids to produce CAR-lentivirus and transduced human Jurkat T or activated T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to produce CAR-T cells and tested for their quality attributes in vitro and in vivo. Serum enzymes including body weight from non-tumour bearing mice were tested for assessing general toxicity of CAR-T cells. RESULTS The binding of 14-1 clone is to IL-13Rα2Fc-chimeric protein is ∼5 times higher than our previous clone 4-1. The 14-1-CAR-T cells grew exponentially in the presence of cytokines and maintained phenotype and biological attributes such as cell viability, potency, migration and T cell activation. Clone 14-1 migrated to IL-13Rα2Fc and cell free supernatants only from IL-13Rα2+ve confluent glioma tumour cells in a chemotaxis assay. scFv-IL-13Rα2-CAR-T cells specifically killed IL-13Rα2+ve but not IL-13Rα2-ve tumour cells in vitro and selectively caused significant release of IFN-γ only from IL-13Rα2+ve co-cultures. These CAR-T cells regressed IL-13Rα2+ve glioma xenografts in vivo without any general toxicity. In contrast, the IL-13Rα2 gene knocked-down U251 and U87 xenografts failed to respond to the CAR-T therapy. CONCLUSION Taken together, we conclude that the novel scFv-IL-13Rα2 CAR-T cell therapy may offer an effective therapeutic option after designing a careful pre-clinical and clinical study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Leland
- Tumor Vaccine and Biotechnology BranchDivision of Cell Therapy IISilver SpringMarylandUSA
| | - Heba Degheidy
- Cellular and Tissue Therapy Branch, Office of Cellular Therapy & Human Tissues, Office of Therapeutic ProductsCenter for Biologics Evaluation and ResearchU.S. Food and Drug Administration, White OakSilver SpringMarylandUSA
| | - Ashley Lea
- Tumor Vaccine and Biotechnology BranchDivision of Cell Therapy IISilver SpringMarylandUSA
| | - Steven R. Bauer
- Cellular and Tissue Therapy Branch, Office of Cellular Therapy & Human Tissues, Office of Therapeutic ProductsCenter for Biologics Evaluation and ResearchU.S. Food and Drug Administration, White OakSilver SpringMarylandUSA
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Raj K. Puri
- Tumor Vaccine and Biotechnology BranchDivision of Cell Therapy IISilver SpringMarylandUSA
- Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.FrederickMarylandUSA
| | - Bharat H. Joshi
- Tumor Vaccine and Biotechnology BranchDivision of Cell Therapy IISilver SpringMarylandUSA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Qin A, Qin Y, Lee J, Musket A, Ying M, Krenciute G, Marincola FM, Yao ZQ, Musich PR, Xie Q. Tyrosine kinase signaling-independent MET-targeting with CAR-T cells. J Transl Med 2023; 21:682. [PMID: 37779207 PMCID: PMC10544186 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04521-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent progress in cancer immunotherapy encourages the expansion of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Overexpression of MET receptor tyrosine kinase is common in HCC; however, MET inhibitors are effective only when MET is in an active form, making patient stratification difficult. Specific MET-targeting CAR-T cells hold the promise of targeting HCC with MET overexpression regardless of signaling pathway activity. METHODS MET-specific CARs with CD28ζ or 4-1BBζ as co-stimulation domains were constructed. MET-CAR-T cells derived from healthy subjects (HS) and HCC patients were evaluated for their killing activity and cytokine release against HCC cells with various MET activations in vitro, and for their tumor growth inhibition in orthotopic xenograft models in vivo. RESULTS MET-CAR.CD28ζ and MET-CAR.4-1BBζ T cells derived from both HS and HCC patients specifically killed MET-positive HCC cells. When stimulated with MET-positive HCC cells in vitro, MET-CAR.CD28ζ T cells demonstrated a higher level of cytokine release and expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) than MET-CAR.4-1BBζ T cells. When analyzed in vivo, MET-CAR.CD28ζ T cells more effectively inhibited HCC orthotopic tumor growth in mice when compared to MET-CAR.4-1BBζ T cells. CONCLUSION We generated and characterized MET-specific CAR-T cells for targeting HCC with MET overexpression regardless of MET activation. Compared with MET-CAR.4-1BBζ, MET-CAR.CD28ζ T cells showed a higher anti-HCC potency but also a higher level of T cell exhaustion. While MET-CAR.CD28ζ is preferred for further development, overcoming the exhaustion of MET-CAR-T cells is necessary to improve their therapeutic efficacy in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Qin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA
| | - Yuan Qin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA
| | - Joseph Lee
- Department of Surgery, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA
| | - Anna Musket
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA
| | - Mingyao Ying
- Department of Neurology, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Giedre Krenciute
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | | | - Zhi Q Yao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA
- Center of Excellence for Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA
| | - Phillip R Musich
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA
| | - Qian Xie
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA.
- Center of Excellence for Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zannikou M, Duffy JT, Levine RN, Seblani M, Liu Q, Presser A, Arrieta VA, Chen CJ, Sonabend AM, Horbinski CM, Lee-Chang C, Miska J, Lesniak MS, Gottschalk S, Balyasnikova IV. IL15 modification enables CAR T cells to act as a dual targeting agent against tumor cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in GBM. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006239. [PMID: 36759014 PMCID: PMC9923337 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-006239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) is a major barrier to the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) in glioblastoma (GBM). Transgenic expression of IL15 is one attractive strategy to modulate the TME. However, at present, it is unclear if IL15 could be used to directly target myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a major cellular component of the GBM TME. Here, we explored if MDSC express IL15Rα and the feasibility of exploiting its expression as an immunotherapeutic target. METHODS RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry were used to determine IL15Rα expression in paired peripheral and tumor-infiltrating immune cells of GBM patients and two syngeneic murine GBM models. We generated murine T cells expressing IL13Rα2-CARs and secretory IL15 (CAR.IL15s) or IL13Rα2-CARs in which IL15 was fused to the CAR to serve as an IL15Rα-targeting moiety (CAR.IL15f), and characterized their effector function in vitro and in syngeneic IL13Rα2+glioma models. RESULTS IL15Rα was preferentially expressed in myeloid, B, and dendritic cells in patients' and syngeneic GBMs. In vitro, CAR.IL15s and CAR.IL15f T cells depleted MDSC and decreased their secretion of immunosuppressive molecules with CAR.IL15f T cells being more efficacious. Similarly, CAR.IL15f T cells significantly improved the survival of mice in two GBM models. TME analysis showed that treatment with CAR.IL15f T cells resulted in higher frequencies of CD8+T cells, NK, and B cells, but a decrease in CD11b+cells in tumors compared with therapy with CAR T cells. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that MDSC of the glioma TME express IL15Ra and that these cells can be targeted with secretory IL15 or an IL15Rα-targeting moiety incorporated into the CAR. Thus, IL15-modified CAR T cells act as a dual targeting agent against tumor cells and MDSC in GBM, warranting their future evaluation in early-phase clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markella Zannikou
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Joseph T Duffy
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Rebecca N Levine
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Maggie Seblani
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Qianli Liu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Aaron Presser
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Victor A Arrieta
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Christopher J Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Adam M Sonabend
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Craig M Horbinski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Catalina Lee-Chang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jason Miska
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Maciej S Lesniak
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Irina V Balyasnikova
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Daei Sorkhabi A, Mohamed Khosroshahi L, Sarkesh A, Mardi A, Aghebati-Maleki A, Aghebati-Maleki L, Baradaran B. The current landscape of CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors: Mechanisms, research progress, challenges, and counterstrategies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1113882. [PMID: 37020537 PMCID: PMC10067596 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1113882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The successful outcomes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in treating hematologic cancers have increased the previously unprecedented excitement to use this innovative approach in treating various forms of human cancers. Although researchers have put a lot of work into maximizing the effectiveness of these cells in the context of solid tumors, few studies have discussed challenges and potential strategies to overcome them. Restricted trafficking and infiltration into the tumor site, hypoxic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), antigen escape and heterogeneity, CAR T-cell exhaustion, and severe life-threatening toxicities are a few of the major obstacles facing CAR T-cells. CAR designs will need to go beyond the traditional architectures in order to get over these limitations and broaden their applicability to a larger range of malignancies. To enhance the safety, effectiveness, and applicability of this treatment modality, researchers are addressing the present challenges with a wide variety of engineering strategies as well as integrating several therapeutic tactics. In this study, we reviewed the antigens that CAR T-cells have been clinically trained to recognize, as well as counterstrategies to overcome the limitations of CAR T-cell therapy, such as recent advances in CAR T-cell engineering and the use of several therapies in combination to optimize their clinical efficacy in solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amin Daei Sorkhabi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Aila Sarkesh
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Mardi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Aghebati-Maleki
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Leili Aghebati-Maleki
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- *Correspondence: Leili Aghebati-Maleki, ; Behzad Baradaran,
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- *Correspondence: Leili Aghebati-Maleki, ; Behzad Baradaran,
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jaén M, Martín-Regalado Á, Bartolomé RA, Robles J, Casal JI. Interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 (IL13Rα2): Expression, signaling pathways and therapeutic applications in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188802. [PMID: 36152905 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 (IL13Rα2) is increasingly recognized as a relevant player in cancer invasion and metastasis. Despite being initially considered a decoy receptor for dampening the levels of interleukin 13 (IL-13) in diverse inflammatory conditions, accumulating evidences in the last decades indicate the capacity of IL13Rα2 for mediating IL-13 signaling in cancer cells. The biological reasons behind the expression of this receptor with such extremely high affinity for IL-13 in cancer cells remain unclear. Elevated expression of IL13Rα2 is commonly associated with invasion, late stage and cancer metastasis that results in poor prognosis for glioblastoma, colorectal or breast cancer, among others. The discovery of new mediators and effectors of IL13Rα2 signaling has been critical for deciphering its underlying molecular mechanisms in cancer progression. Still, many questions about the effects of inflammation, the cancer type and the tumor degree in the expression of IL13Rα2 remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we review and discuss the current status of the IL13Rα2 biology in cancer, with particular emphasis in the role of inflammation-driven expression and the regulation of different signaling pathways. As IL13Rα2 implications in cancer continue to grow exponentially, we highlight new targeted therapies recently developed for glioblastoma, colorectal cancer and other IL13Rα2-positive tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Jaén
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángela Martín-Regalado
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rubén A Bartolomé
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Robles
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Protein Alternatives SL, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Ignacio Casal
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang P, Zhang Y, Ji N. Challenges in the Treatment of Glioblastoma by Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Immunotherapy and Possible Solutions. Front Immunol 2022; 13:927132. [PMID: 35874698 PMCID: PMC9300859 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.927132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most lethal brain cancers in adults, accounts for 48.6% of all malignant primary CNS tumors diagnosed each year. The 5-year survival rate of GBM patients remains less than 10% even after they receive the standard-of-care treatment, including maximal safe resection, adjuvant radiation, and chemotherapy with temozolomide. Therefore, new therapeutic modalities are urgently needed for this deadly cancer. The last decade has witnessed great advances in chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell immunotherapy for the treatment of hematological malignancies. Up to now, the US FDA has approved six CAR-T cell products in treating hematopoietic cancers including B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Meanwhile, the number of clinical trials on CAR-T cell has increased significantly, with more than 80% from China and the United States. With its achievements in liquid cancers, the clinical efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy has also been explored in a variety of solid malignancies that include GBMs. However, attempts to expand CAR-T cell immunotherapy in GBMs have not yet presented promising results in hematopoietic malignancies. Like other solid tumors, CAR-T cell therapies against GBM still face several challenges, such as tumor heterogeneity, tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment, and CAR-T cell persistence. Hence, developing strategies to overcome these challenges will be necessary to accelerate the transition of CAR-T cell immunotherapy against GBMs from bench to bedside.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Ji,
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Knudson KM, Hwang S, McCann MS, Joshi BH, Husain SR, Puri RK. Recent Advances in IL-13Rα2-Directed Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:878365. [PMID: 35464460 PMCID: PMC9023787 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.878365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-13 receptor subunit alpha-2 (IL-13Rα2, CD213A), a high-affinity membrane receptor of the anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokine IL-13, is overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors and is correlated with poor prognosis in glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, adrenocortical carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and breast cancer. While initially hypothesized as a decoy receptor for IL-13-mediated signaling, recent evidence demonstrates IL-13 can signal through IL-13Rα2 in human cells. In addition, expression of IL-13Rα2 and IL-13Rα2-mediated signaling has been shown to promote tumor proliferation, cell survival, tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. Given its differential expression in tumor versus normal tissue, IL-13Rα2 is an attractive immunotherapy target, as both a targetable receptor and an immunogenic antigen. Multiple promising strategies, including immunotoxins, cancer vaccines, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, have been developed to target IL-13Rα2. In this mini-review, we discuss recent developments surrounding IL-13Rα2-targeted therapies in pre-clinical and clinical study, including potential strategies to improve IL-13Rα2-directed cancer treatment efficacy.
Collapse
|
9
|
Xu C, Bai Y, An Z, Hu Y, Zhang C, Zhong X. IL-13Rα2 humanized scFv-based CAR-T cells exhibit therapeutic activity against glioblastoma. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 24:443-451. [PMID: 35141400 PMCID: PMC8810302 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells have exhibited impressive anti-tumor effects in both B cell malignancies and some types of solid tumors. However, single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of a murine monoclonal antibody will induce immune responses, limit CAR-T cell persistence, and thus increase the risk of relapse. This study successfully constructed a CAR-targeting interleukin-13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2) according to a murine antibody, and then humanized the scFv sequence to generate another CAR. T cells expressing any of these two CARs demonstrated superior tumor inhibitory effects in vitro and in two xenograft mouse models. However, T cells transduced with humanized CAR have an increased expansion and reduced cytokines, including interleukin-6 and interferon-γ. The top expressed genes clustered in leukocyte-mediated cytotoxicity, and T cell migration and immunological synapse formation contributed to the anti-glioblastoma (GBM) activity of the humanized CAR. In conclusion, we successfully generated a humanized third-generation CAR-targeting IL-13Rα2 and confirmed its anti-GBM efficacy, which provide a candidate method for clinical GBM treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chang Xu
- The Clinical Center of Gene and Cell Engineering, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 10, Iron Medicine Road, Yang Fang Dian, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Bai
- The Clinical Center of Gene and Cell Engineering, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 10, Iron Medicine Road, Yang Fang Dian, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Zhijing An
- The Clinical Center of Gene and Cell Engineering, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 10, Iron Medicine Road, Yang Fang Dian, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Hu
- The Clinical Center of Gene and Cell Engineering, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 10, Iron Medicine Road, Yang Fang Dian, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Can Zhang
- The Clinical Center of Gene and Cell Engineering, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 10, Iron Medicine Road, Yang Fang Dian, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaosong Zhong
- The Clinical Center of Gene and Cell Engineering, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 10, Iron Medicine Road, Yang Fang Dian, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
A novel TanCAR targeting IL13Rα2 and EphA2 for enhanced glioblastoma therapy. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 24:729-741. [PMID: 35317513 PMCID: PMC8908045 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy has been shown to be an effective strategy for combatting non-solid tumors; however, CAR-T therapy is still a challenge for solid tumors, such as glioblastoma. To improve CAR-T therapy for glioblastoma, a new TanCAR, comprising the tandem arrangement of IL13 (4MS) and EphA2 scFv, was generated and validated in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the novel TanCAR-redirected T cells killed glioblastoma tumor cells by recognizing either IL-13 receptor α2 (IL13Rα2) or EphA2 alone or together upon simultaneous encounter of both targets, but did not kill normal cells bearing only the IL13Rα1/IL4Rα receptor. As further proof of principle, the novel TanCAR was tested in a subcutaneous glioma xenograft mouse model. The results indicated that the novel TanCAR-redirected T cells produced greater glioma tumor regression than single CAR-T cells. Thus, the novel TanCAR-redirected T cells kill gliomas more efficiently and selectively than a single IL13 CAR or EphA2 scFv CAR, with the potential for preventing antigen escape and reduced off-target cytotoxicity.
Collapse
|
11
|
Genetic Modification of T Cells for the Immunotherapy of Cancer. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10030457. [PMID: 35335089 PMCID: PMC8949949 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10030457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a beneficial treatment approach for multiple cancers, however, current therapies are effective only in a small subset of patients. Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) is a facet of immunotherapy where T cells targeting the tumor cells are transferred to the patient with several primary forms, utilizing unmodified or modified T cells: tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), genetically modified T cell receptor transduced T cells, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) transduced T cells. Many clinical trials are underway investigating the efficacy and safety of these different subsets of ACT, as well as trials that combine one of these subsets with another type of immunotherapy. The main challenges existing with ACT are improving clinical responses and decreasing adverse events. Current research focuses on identifying novel tumor targeting T cell receptors, improving safety and efficacy, and investigating ACT in combination with other immunotherapies.
Collapse
|
12
|
Hanssens H, Meeus F, De Veirman K, Breckpot K, Devoogdt N. The antigen-binding moiety in the driver's seat of CARs. Med Res Rev 2022; 42:306-342. [PMID: 34028069 PMCID: PMC9292017 DOI: 10.1002/med.21818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Immuno-oncology has been at the forefront of cancer treatment in recent decades. In particular immune checkpoint and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy have achieved spectacular results. Over the years, CAR-T cell development has followed a steady evolutionary path, focusing on increasing T cell potency and sustainability, which has given rise to different CAR generations. However, there was less focus on the mode of interaction between the CAR-T cell and the cancer cell; more specifically on the targeting moiety used in the CAR and its specific properties. Recently, the importance of optimizing this domain has been recognized and the possibilities have been exploited. Over the last 10 years-in addition to the classical scFv-based CARs-single domain CARs, natural receptor-ligand CARs, universal CARs and CARs targeting more than one antigen have emerged. In addition, the specific parameters of the targeting domain and their influence on T cell activation are being examined. In this review, we concisely present the history of CAR-T cell therapy, and then expand on various developments in the CAR ectodomain. We discuss different formats, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, as well as the developments in affinity tuning, avidity effects, epitope location, and influence of the extracellular spacer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heleen Hanssens
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging LaboratoryVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- Laboratory of Hematology and ImmunologyVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical SciencesVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Fien Meeus
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging LaboratoryVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical SciencesVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Kim De Veirman
- Laboratory of Hematology and ImmunologyVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Karine Breckpot
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Department of Biomedical SciencesVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | - Nick Devoogdt
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging LaboratoryVrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Prinzing B, Zebley CC, Petersen CT, Fan Y, Anido AA, Yi Z, Nguyen P, Houke H, Bell M, Haydar D, Brown C, Boi SK, Alli S, Crawford JC, Riberdy JM, Park JJ, Zhou S, Velasquez MP, DeRenzo C, Lazzarotto CR, Tsai SQ, Vogel P, Pruett-Miller SM, Langfitt DM, Gottschalk S, Youngblood B, Krenciute G. Deleting DNMT3A in CAR T cells prevents exhaustion and enhances antitumor activity. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabh0272. [PMID: 34788079 PMCID: PMC8733956 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abh0272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is revolutionizing cancer immunotherapy for patients with B cell malignancies and is now being developed for solid tumors and chronic viral infections. Although clinical trials have demonstrated the curative potential of CAR T cell therapy, a substantial and well-established limitation is the heightened contraction and transient persistence of CAR T cells during prolonged antigen exposure. The underlying mechanism(s) for this dysfunctional state, often termed CAR T cell exhaustion, remains poorly defined. Here, we report that exhaustion of human CAR T cells occurs through an epigenetic repression of the T cell’s multipotent developmental potential. Deletion of the de novo DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A) in T cells expressing first- or second-generation CARs universally preserved the cells’ ability to proliferate and mount an antitumor response during prolonged tumor exposure. The increased functionality of the exhaustion-resistant DNMT3A knockout CAR T cells was coupled to an up-regulation of interleukin-10, and genome-wide DNA methylation profiling defined an atlas of genes targeted for epigenetic silencing. This atlas provides a molecular definition of CAR T cell exhaustion, which includes many transcriptional regulators that limit the “stemness” of immune cells, including CD28, CCR7, TCF7, and LEF1. Last, we demonstrate that this epigenetically regulated multipotency program is firmly coupled to the clinical outcome of prior CAR T cell therapies. These data document the critical role epigenetic mechanisms play in limiting the fate potential of human T cells and provide a road map for leveraging this information for improving CAR T cell efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke Prinzing
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Caitlin C. Zebley
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Department of Immunology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Christopher T. Petersen
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yiping Fan
- Department of Bioinformatics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Alejandro Allo Anido
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Zhongzhen Yi
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Phuong Nguyen
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Haley Houke
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Matthew Bell
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Dalia Haydar
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Charmaine Brown
- Department of Immunology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shannon K. Boi
- Department of Immunology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shanta Alli
- Department of Immunology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jeremy Chase Crawford
- Department of Immunology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Janice M. Riberdy
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jeoungeun J. Park
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Sheng Zhou
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Mireya Paulina Velasquez
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Chris DeRenzo
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Cicera R. Lazzarotto
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shengdar Q. Tsai
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Peter Vogel
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shondra M. Pruett-Miller
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Deanna M. Langfitt
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ben Youngblood
- Department of Immunology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Giedre Krenciute
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Kim K, Gwak HS, Han N, Hong EK, Choi BK, Lee S, Choi S, Park JH, Seok JH, Jeon Y, Cho H, Lee SJ, Lee Y, Nam KT, Song SW. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells With Modified Interleukin-13 Preferentially Recognize IL13Rα2 and Suppress Malignant Glioma: A Preclinical Study. Front Immunol 2021; 12:715000. [PMID: 34819930 PMCID: PMC8606595 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.715000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Interleukin-13 receptor α 2 (IL13Rα2) is a promising tumor-directed antigen of malignant glioma (MG). Here, we examine the efficacy and safety of T cells containing a YYB-103 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that can preferentially bind to IL13Rα2 on MG cells. Methods IL13 was modified on the extracellular domain by substitution of amino acids with E13K, R66D, S69D, and R109K and stably transfected into human T cells using a retroviral vector. The in vitro efficacy of YYB-103 CAR T cells was tested in cell lines with differing IL13Rα1 and IL13Rα2 expression. The in vivo efficacy of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intravenous (i.v.) routes of YYB-103 CAR T-cell administration were tested in orthotopic MG mouse models. Immunohistochemical staining of MG was performed using WHO grade 3/4 surgical specimens from 53 patients. IL13Rα2 expression was quantified by H-score calculated from staining intensity and percentage of positive cells. Results Binding affinity assay of YYB-103 verified apparently nil binding to IL13Rα1, which was more selective than previously reported IL13 modification (E13Y). YYB-103 CAR T cells showed selective toxicity toward co-cultured U87MG (IL13Rα1+/IL13Rα2+) cells but not A431 (IL13Rα1+/IL13Rα2-) cells. Consistently, YYB-103 CAR T cells suppressed tumor growth in nude mice receiving orthotopic injection of U87 MG cells. Both i.c.v. and i.v. injections of YYB-103 CAR T cells reduced tumor volume and prolonged overall survival of tumor-bearing mice. The median H-score for IL13Rα2 in patient-derived MG tissue was 5 (mean, 57.5; SD, 87.2; range, 0 to 300). Conclusion This preclinical study demonstrates the efficacy of IL13Rα2-targeted YYB-103 CAR T cells against MG cells. The use of modified IL13 to construct a CAR facilitated the selective targeting of IL13Rα2-expressing MG cells while sparing IL13Rα1-expressing cells. Notably, YYB-103 CAR T cells exhibited effective blood-brain barrier crossing, suggesting compatibility with i.v. administration rather than intracranial injection. Additionally, the high H-score for IL13Rα2 in glioblastoma, especially in conjunction with the poor prognostic markers of wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH-1) and unmethylated O6-methyl guanine methyl-transferase (MGMT), could be used to determine the eligibility of patients with recurrent glioblastoma for a future clinical trial of YYB-103 CAR T cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiwan Kim
- Department of Drug Development I, CellabMED Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ho-Shin Gwak
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Nayoung Han
- Department of Pathology, Program for Immunotherapy Research, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Eun Kyung Hong
- Department of Pathology, Program for Immunotherapy Research, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Beom K. Choi
- Biomedicine Production Branch, Program for Immunotherapy Research, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Sangeun Lee
- Department of Drug Development I, CellabMED Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Soyoung Choi
- Department of Drug Development I, CellabMED Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ju-Hwang Park
- Department of Process Development, CellabMED Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Seok
- Department of Process Development, CellabMED Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yeongha Jeon
- Department of Drug Development II, CellabMED Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyuntae Cho
- Department of Clinical Development, CellabMED Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Song-Jae Lee
- Research Institute, CellabMED Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yura Lee
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ki Taek Nam
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ferreras C, Fernández L, Clares-Villa L, Ibáñez-Navarro M, Martín-Cortázar C, Esteban-Rodríguez I, Saceda J, Pérez-Martínez A. Facing CAR T Cell Challenges on the Deadliest Paediatric Brain Tumours. Cells 2021; 10:2940. [PMID: 34831165 PMCID: PMC8616287 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) tumours comprise 25% of the paediatric cancer diagnoses and are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Current treatments for paediatric CNS tumours are far from optimal and fail for those that relapsed or are refractory to treatment. Besides, long-term sequelae in the developing brain make it mandatory to find new innovative approaches. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy has increased survival in patients with B-cell malignancies, but the intrinsic biological characteristics of CNS tumours hamper their success. The location, heterogeneous antigen expression, limited infiltration of T cells into the tumour, the selective trafficking provided by the blood-brain barrier, and the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment have emerged as the main hurdles that need to be overcome for the success of CAR T cell therapy. In this review, we will focus mainly on the characteristics of the deadliest high-grade CNS paediatric tumours (medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and high-grade gliomas) and the potential of CAR T cell therapy to increase survival and patients' quality of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Ferreras
- Translational Research in Paediatric Oncology, Haematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, University Hospital La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (C.F.); (L.C.-V.); (C.M.-C.)
| | - Lucía Fernández
- Haematological Malignancies H12O, Clinical Research Department, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (L.F.); (M.I.-N.)
| | - Laura Clares-Villa
- Translational Research in Paediatric Oncology, Haematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, University Hospital La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (C.F.); (L.C.-V.); (C.M.-C.)
| | - Marta Ibáñez-Navarro
- Haematological Malignancies H12O, Clinical Research Department, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (L.F.); (M.I.-N.)
| | - Carla Martín-Cortázar
- Translational Research in Paediatric Oncology, Haematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, University Hospital La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (C.F.); (L.C.-V.); (C.M.-C.)
| | | | - Javier Saceda
- Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery, University Hospital La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Antonio Pérez-Martínez
- Translational Research in Paediatric Oncology, Haematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, University Hospital La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (C.F.); (L.C.-V.); (C.M.-C.)
- Paediatric Haemato-Oncology Department, University Hospital La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Neural stem cells secreting bispecific T cell engager to induce selective antiglioma activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2015800118. [PMID: 33627401 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015800118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor in adults. No treatment provides durable relief for the vast majority of GBM patients. In this study, we've tested a bispecific antibody comprised of single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) against T cell CD3ε and GBM cell interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 (IL13Rα2). We demonstrate that this bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) (BiTELLON) engages peripheral and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes harvested from patients' tumors and, in so doing, exerts anti-GBM activity ex vivo. The interaction of BiTELLON with T cells and IL13Rα2-expressing GBM cells stimulates T cell proliferation and the production of proinflammatory cytokines interferon γ (IFNγ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). We have modified neural stem cells (NSCs) to produce and secrete the BiTELLON (NSCLLON). When injected intracranially in mice with a brain tumor, NSCLLON show tropism for tumor, secrete BiTELLON, and remain viable for over 7 d. When injected directly into the tumor, NSCLLON provide a significant survival benefit to mice bearing various IL13Rα2+ GBMs. Our results support further investigation and development of this therapeutic for clinical translation.
Collapse
|
17
|
Choe JH, Watchmaker PB, Simic MS, Gilbert RD, Li AW, Krasnow NA, Downey KM, Yu W, Carrera DA, Celli A, Cho J, Briones JD, Duecker JM, Goretsky YE, Dannenfelser R, Cardarelli L, Troyanskaya O, Sidhu SS, Roybal KT, Okada H, Lim WA. SynNotch-CAR T cells overcome challenges of specificity, heterogeneity, and persistence in treating glioblastoma. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/591/eabe7378. [PMID: 33910979 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abe7378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of solid cancers with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is plagued by the lack of ideal target antigens that are both absolutely tumor specific and homogeneously expressed. We show that multi-antigen prime-and-kill recognition circuits provide flexibility and precision to overcome these challenges in the context of glioblastoma. A synNotch receptor that recognizes a specific priming antigen, such as the heterogeneous but tumor-specific glioblastoma neoantigen epidermal growth factor receptor splice variant III (EGFRvIII) or the central nervous system (CNS) tissue-specific antigen myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), can be used to locally induce expression of a CAR. This enables thorough but controlled tumor cell killing by targeting antigens that are homogeneous but not absolutely tumor specific. Moreover, synNotch-regulated CAR expression averts tonic signaling and exhaustion, maintaining a higher fraction of the T cells in a naïve/stem cell memory state. In immunodeficient mice bearing intracerebral patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) with heterogeneous expression of EGFRvIII, a single intravenous infusion of EGFRvIII synNotch-CAR T cells demonstrated higher antitumor efficacy and T cell durability than conventional constitutively expressed CAR T cells, without off-tumor killing. T cells transduced with a synNotch-CAR circuit primed by the CNS-specific antigen MOG also exhibited precise and potent control of intracerebral PDX without evidence of priming outside of the brain. In summary, by using circuits that integrate recognition of multiple imperfect but complementary antigens, we improve the specificity, completeness, and persistence of T cells directed against glioblastoma, providing a general recognition strategy applicable to other solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H Choe
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Payal B Watchmaker
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Milos S Simic
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ryan D Gilbert
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Aileen W Li
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Nira A Krasnow
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kira M Downey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Wei Yu
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Diego A Carrera
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Anna Celli
- Department of Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Juhyun Cho
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jessica D Briones
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jason M Duecker
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Yitzhar E Goretsky
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ruth Dannenfelser
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.,Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Lia Cardarelli
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.,Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Olga Troyanskaya
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.,Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.,Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Kole T Roybal
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. .,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.,Helen Diller Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Hideho Okada
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. .,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.,Helen Diller Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Wendell A Lim
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. .,Helen Diller Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chokshi CR, Brakel BA, Tatari N, Savage N, Salim SK, Venugopal C, Singh SK. Advances in Immunotherapy for Adult Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143400. [PMID: 34298615 PMCID: PMC8305609 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Therapy failure and disease recurrence are hallmarks of glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and lethal tumor in adults that originates in the brain. Despite aggressive standards of care, tumor recurrence is inevitable with no standardized second-line therapy. Recent clinical studies evaluating therapies that augment the anti-tumor immune response (i.e., immunotherapies) have yielded promising results in subsets of GBM patients. Here, we summarize clinical studies in the past decade that evaluate vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for treatment of GBM. Although immunotherapies have yet to return widespread efficacy for the majority of GBM patients, critical insights from completed and ongoing clinical trials are informing development of the next generation of therapies, with the goal to alleviate disease burden and extend patient survival. Abstract Despite aggressive multimodal therapy, glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults. With the advent of therapies that revitalize the anti-tumor immune response, several immunotherapeutic modalities have been developed for treatment of GBM. In this review, we summarize recent clinical and preclinical efforts to evaluate vaccination strategies, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Although these modalities have shown long-term tumor regression in subsets of treated patients, the underlying biology that may predict efficacy and inform therapy development is being actively investigated. Common to all therapeutic modalities are fundamental mechanisms of therapy evasion by tumor cells, including immense intratumoral heterogeneity, suppression of the tumor immune microenvironment and low mutational burden. These insights have led efforts to design rational combinatorial therapies that can reignite the anti-tumor immune response, effectively and specifically target tumor cells and reliably decrease tumor burden for GBM patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chirayu R. Chokshi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (C.R.C.); (B.A.B.); (N.T.); (N.S.); (S.K.S.)
| | - Benjamin A. Brakel
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (C.R.C.); (B.A.B.); (N.T.); (N.S.); (S.K.S.)
| | - Nazanin Tatari
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (C.R.C.); (B.A.B.); (N.T.); (N.S.); (S.K.S.)
| | - Neil Savage
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (C.R.C.); (B.A.B.); (N.T.); (N.S.); (S.K.S.)
| | - Sabra K. Salim
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (C.R.C.); (B.A.B.); (N.T.); (N.S.); (S.K.S.)
| | - Chitra Venugopal
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada;
| | - Sheila K. Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (C.R.C.); (B.A.B.); (N.T.); (N.S.); (S.K.S.)
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Haydar D, Houke H, Chiang J, Yi Z, Odé Z, Caldwell K, Zhu X, Mercer KS, Stripay JL, Shaw TI, Vogel P, DeRenzo C, Baker SJ, Roussel MF, Gottschalk S, Krenciute G. Cell-surface antigen profiling of pediatric brain tumors: B7-H3 is consistently expressed and can be targeted via local or systemic CAR T-cell delivery. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:999-1011. [PMID: 33320196 PMCID: PMC8168826 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is actively being explored for pediatric brain tumors in preclinical models and early phase clinical studies. At present, it is unclear which CAR target antigens are consistently expressed across different pediatric brain tumor types. In addition, the extent of HLA class I expression is unknown, which is critical for tumor recognition by conventional αβTCR T cells. METHODS We profiled 49 low- and high-grade pediatric brain tumor patient-derived orthotopic xenografts (PDOX) by flow analysis for the expression of 5 CAR targets (B7-H3, GD2, IL-13Rα2, EphA2, and HER2), and HLA class I. In addition, we generated B7-H3-CAR T cells and evaluated their antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS We established an expression hierarchy for the analyzed antigens (B7-H3 = GD2 >> IL-13Rα2 > HER2 = EphA2) and demonstrated that antigen expression is heterogenous. All high-grade gliomas expressed HLA class I, but only 57.1% of other tumor subtypes had detectable expression. We then selected B7-H3 as a target for CAR T-cell therapy. B7-H3-CAR T cells recognized tumor cells in an antigen-dependent fashion. Local or systemic administration of B7-H3-CAR T cells induced tumor regression in PDOX and immunocompetent murine glioma models resulting in a significant survival advantage. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the importance of studying target antigen and HLA class I expression in PDOX samples for the future design of immunotherapies. In addition, our results support active preclinical and clinical exploration of B7-H3-targeted CAR T-cell therapies for a broad spectrum of pediatric brain tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Haydar
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Haley Houke
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jason Chiang
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Zhongzhen Yi
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Zelda Odé
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Kenneth Caldwell
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Xiaoyan Zhu
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Kimberly S Mercer
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jennifer L Stripay
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Timothy I Shaw
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Peter Vogel
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Christopher DeRenzo
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Suzanne J Baker
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Martine F Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Giedre Krenciute
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Hsu K, Middlemiss S, Saletta F, Gottschalk S, McCowage GB, Kramer B. Chimeric Antigen Receptor-modified T cells targeting EphA2 for the immunotherapy of paediatric bone tumours. Cancer Gene Ther 2021; 28:321-334. [PMID: 32873870 PMCID: PMC8057949 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-020-00221-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, as an approved treatment option for patients with B cell malignancies, demonstrates that genetic modification of autologous immune cells is an effective anti-cancer regimen. Erythropoietin-producing Hepatocellular receptor tyrosine kinase class A2 (EphA2) is a tumour associated antigen expressed on a range of sarcomas, including paediatric osteosarcoma (OS) and Ewing sarcoma (ES). We tested human EphA2 directed CAR T cells for their capacity to target and kill human OS and ES tumour cells using in vitro and in vivo assays, demonstrating that EphA2 CAR T cells have potent anti-tumour efficacy in vitro and can eliminate established OS and ES tumours in vivo in a dose and delivery route dependent manner. Next, in an aggressive metastatic OS model we demonstrated that systemically infused EphA2 CAR T cells can traffic to and eradicate tumour deposits in murine livers and lungs. These results support further pre-clinical evaluation of EphA2 CAR T cells to inform the design of early phase clinical trial protocols to test the feasibility and safety of this immune cell therapy in paediatric bone sarcoma patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Hsu
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, Kid's Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Shiloh Middlemiss
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, Kid's Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Federica Saletta
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, Kid's Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Geoffrey B McCowage
- Children's Cancer Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Belinda Kramer
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, Kid's Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
CD28 Co-Stimulus Achieves Superior CAR T Cell Effector Function against Solid Tumors Than 4-1BB Co-Stimulus. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051050. [PMID: 33801448 PMCID: PMC7958604 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spacer or co-stimulatory components in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) design influence CAR T cell effector function. Few preclinical mouse models optimally support CAR candidate pre-selection for clinical development. Here we use a model in which murine CAR T cells can be exploited with human tumor xenografts. This mouse-in-mouse approach avoids limitations caused by species-specific factors crucial for CAR T cell survival, trafficking and function. We compared trafficking, expansion and tumor control for T cells expressing different CAR construct designs targeting two antigens (L1CAM or HER2), structurally identical except for spacer (long or short) or co-stimulatory (4-1BB or CD28) domains to be evaluated. Using monoclonal, murine-derived L1CAM-specific CAR T cells in Rag-/- mice harboring established xenografted tumors from a human neuroblastoma cell line revealed a clear superiority in CAR T cell trafficking using CD28 co-stimulation. L1CAM-targeting short spacer-CD28/ζ CAR T cells expanded the most at the tumor site and induced initial tumor regression. Treating patient-derived neuroblastoma xenografts with human L1CAM-targeting CAR T cells confirmed the superiority of CD28 co-stimulus. CD28 superiority was also demonstrated with HER2-specific CAR T cells (targeting ovarian carcinoma xenografts). Our findings encourage incorporating CD28 signaling into CAR design for adoptive T cell treatment of solid tumors.
Collapse
|
22
|
Lichtman EI, Du H, Shou P, Song F, Suzuki K, Ahn S, Li G, Ferrone S, Su L, Savoldo B, Dotti G. Preclinical Evaluation of B7-H3-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:3141-3153. [PMID: 33531429 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-2540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The development of safe and effective chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has largely been limited by the concomitant expression of most AML-associated surface antigens on normal myeloid progenitors and by the potential prolonged disruption of normal hematopoiesis by the immunotargeting of these antigens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate B7-homolog 3 (B7-H3) as a potential target for AML-directed CAR T-cell therapy. B7-H3, a coreceptor belonging to the B7 family of immune checkpoint molecules, is overexpressed on the leukemic blasts of a significant subset of patients with AML and may overcome these limitations as a potential target antigen for AML-directed CAR-T therapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN B7-H3 expression was evaluated on AML cell lines, primary AML blasts, and normal bone marrow progenitor populations. The antileukemia efficacy of B7-H3-specific CAR-T cells (B7-H3.CAR-T) was evaluated using in vitro coculture models and xenograft models of disseminated AML, including patient-derived xenograft models. The potential hematopoietic toxicity of B7-H3.CAR-Ts was evaluated in vitro using colony formation assays and in vivo in a humanized mouse model. RESULTS B7-H3 is expressed on monocytic AML cell lines and on primary AML blasts from patients with monocytic AML, but is not significantly expressed on normal bone marrow progenitor populations. B7-H3.CAR-Ts exhibit efficient antigen-dependent cytotoxicity in vitro and in xenograft models of AML, and are unlikely to cause unacceptable hematopoietic toxicity. CONCLUSIONS B7-H3 is a promising target for AML-directed CAR-T therapy. B7-H3.CAR-Ts control AML and have a favorable safety profile in preclinical models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eben I Lichtman
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. .,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Hongwei Du
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Peishun Shou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Feifei Song
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kyogo Suzuki
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Sarah Ahn
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Guangming Li
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lishan Su
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Barbara Savoldo
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Gianpietro Dotti
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Current Status on Therapeutic Molecules Targeting Siglec Receptors. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122691. [PMID: 33333862 PMCID: PMC7765293 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type of lectins (Siglecs) are receptors that recognize sialic acid-containing glycans. In the majority of the cases, Siglecs are expressed on immune cells and play a critical role in regulating immune cell signaling. Over the years, it has been shown that the sialic acid-Siglec axis participates in immunological homeostasis, and that any imbalance can trigger different pathologies, such as autoimmune diseases or cancer. For all this, different therapeutics have been developed that bind to Siglecs, either based on antibodies or being smaller molecules. In this review, we briefly introduce the Siglec family and we compile a description of glycan-based molecules and antibody-based therapies (including CAR-T and bispecific antibodies) that have been designed to therapeutically targeting Siglecs.
Collapse
|
24
|
Building a CAR-Treg: Going from the basic to the luxury model. Cell Immunol 2020; 358:104220. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
|
25
|
Ponterio E, De Maria R, Haas TL. Identification of Targets to Redirect CAR T Cells in Glioblastoma and Colorectal Cancer: An Arduous Venture. Front Immunol 2020; 11:565631. [PMID: 33101285 PMCID: PMC7555836 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.565631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is an artificial molecule engineered to induce cytolytic T cell reactions in tumors. Generally, this molecule combines an extracellular single-chain variable fragment (scFv) able to recognize tumor-associated epitopes together with the intracellular signaling domains that are required for T cell activation. When expressed by T cells, the CAR enables the recognition and subsequent destruction of cancer cells expressing the complementary antigen on their surface. Although the clinical application for CAR T cells is currently limited to some hematological malignancies, researchers are trying to develop CAR T cell-based therapies for the treatment of solid tumors. However, while in the case of CD19, or other targets restricted to the hematopoietic compartment, the toxicity is limited and manageable, the scarcity of specific antigens expressed by solid tumors and not by healthy cells from vital organs makes the clinical development of CAR T cells in this context particularly challenging. Here we summarize relevant research and clinical trials conducted to redirect CAR T cells to surface antigens in solid tumors and cancer stem cells with a focus on colorectal cancer and glioblastoma. Finally, we will discuss current knowledge of altered glycosylation of CSCs and cancer cells and how these novel epitopes may help to target CAR T cell-based immunotherapy in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Ponterio
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" -Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy.,Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" -Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy.,Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tobias Longin Haas
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Rome, Rome, Italy.,IIGM-Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, Fondazione del Piemonte per l'Oncologia-Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Candiolo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Schäfer D, Henze J, Pfeifer R, Schleicher A, Brauner J, Mockel-Tenbrinck N, Barth C, Gudert D, Al Rawashdeh W, Johnston ICD, Hardt O. A Novel Siglec-4 Derived Spacer Improves the Functionality of CAR T Cells Against Membrane-Proximal Epitopes. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1704. [PMID: 32849600 PMCID: PMC7426717 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A domain that is often neglected in the assessment of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) functionality is the extracellular spacer module. However, several studies have elucidated that membrane proximal epitopes are best targeted through CARs comprising long spacers, while short spacer CARs exhibit highest activity on distal epitopes. This finding can be explained by the requirement to have an optimal distance between the effector T cell and target cell. Commonly used long spacer domains are the CH2-CH3 domains of IgG molecules. However, CARs containing these spacers generally show inferior in vivo efficacy in mouse models compared to their observed in vitro activity, which is linked to unspecific Fcγ-Receptor binding and can be abolished by mutating the respective regions. Here, we first assessed a CAR therapy targeting membrane proximal CD20 using such a modified long IgG1 spacer. However, despite these mutations, this construct failed to unfold its observed in vitro cytotoxic potential in an in vivo model, while a shorter but less structured CD8α spacer CAR showed complete tumor clearance. Given the shortage of well-described long spacer domains with a favorable functionality profile, we designed a novel class of CAR spacers with similar attributes to IgG spacers but without unspecific off-target binding, derived from the Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins (Siglecs). Of five constructs tested, a Siglec-4 derived spacer showed highest cytotoxic potential and similar performance to a CD8α spacer in a CD20 specific CAR setting. In a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma model, a Siglec-4 spacer CAR targeting a membrane proximal (TSPAN8) epitope was efficiently engaged in vitro, while a membrane distal (CD66c) epitope did not activate the T cell. Transfer of the TSPAN8 specific Siglec-4 spacer CAR to an in vivo setting maintained the excellent tumor killing characteristics being indistinguishable from a TSPAN8 CD8α spacer CAR while outperforming an IgG4 long spacer CAR and, at the same time, showing an advantageous central memory CAR T cell phenotype with lower release of inflammatory cytokines. In summary, we developed a novel spacer that combines cytotoxic potential with an advantageous T cell and cytokine release phenotype, which make this an interesting candidate for future clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schäfer
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology & Clinic for Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,R&D Reagents, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Janina Henze
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology & Clinic for Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,R&D Reagents, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Rita Pfeifer
- R&D Reagents, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Anna Schleicher
- Faculty of Chemistry and Biosciences, Karlsruher Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Janina Brauner
- R&D Reagents, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | | | - Carola Barth
- R&D Reagents, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Daniela Gudert
- R&D Reagents, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | | | - Ian C D Johnston
- R&D Reagents, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Olaf Hardt
- R&D Reagents, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
A Head Start: CAR-T Cell Therapy for Primary Malignant Brain Tumors. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2020; 21:73. [PMID: 32725495 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-020-00772-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT Oncology is the midst of a therapeutic renaissance. The realization of immunotherapy as an efficacious and expanding treatment option has empowered physicians and patients alike. However, despite these remarkable advances, we have only just broached the potential immunotherapy has to offer and have yet to successfully expand these novel modalities to the field of neuro-oncology. In recent years, exciting results in preclinical studies of immune adjuvants, oncolytic viruses, or cell therapy have been met with only fleeting signs of response when taken to early phase trials. Although many have speculated why these innovative approaches result in impaired outcomes, we are left empty-handed in a field plagued by a drought of new therapies. Herein, we will review the recent advances across cellular therapy for primary malignant brain tumors, an approach that lends itself to overcoming the inherent resistance mechanisms which have impeded the success of prior treatment attempts.
Collapse
|
28
|
CRISPR-Mediated Non-Viral Site-Specific Gene Integration and Expression in T Cells: Protocol and Application for T-Cell Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061704. [PMID: 32604839 PMCID: PMC7352666 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) show great promise in the treatment of some cancers. Modifying T cells to express CARs generally relies on T-cell transduction using viral vectors carrying a transgene, resulting in semi-random DNA integration within the T-cell genome. While this approach has proven successful and is used in generating the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, USA) approved B-lymphocyte antigen CD19-specific CAR T cells, it is possible the transgene could integrate into a locus that would lead to malignant transformation of the engineered T cells. In addition, manufacturing viral vectors is time-consuming and expensive. One way to overcome these challenges is site-specific gene integration, which can be achieved through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) mediated editing and non-viral DNA, which serves as a template for homology-directed repair (HDR). This non-viral gene editing approach provides a rapid, highly specific, and inexpensive way to engineer T cells. Here, we describe an optimized protocol for the site-specific knock-in of a large transgene in primary human T cells using non-viral double stranded DNA as a repair template. As proof-of-principle, we targeted the T-cell receptor alpha constant (TRAC) locus for insertion of a large transgene containing green fluorescence protein (GFP) and interleukin-15 (IL-15). To optimize the knock-in conditions we tested template DNA concentration, homology arm length, cell number, and knock-in efficiency over time. We then applied these established guidelines to target the TRAC or interleukin-13 (IL-13) locus for the knock-in of synthetic molecules, such as a CAR, bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE), and other transgenes. While integration efficiency depends on the targeted gene locus and selected transgene, this optimized protocol reliably generates the desired insertion at rates upwards of 20%. Thus, it should serve as a good starting point for investigators who are interested in knocking in transgenes into specific loci.
Collapse
|
29
|
Garcia-Fabiani MB, Ventosa M, Comba A, Candolfi M, Nicola Candia AJ, Alghamri MS, Kadiyala P, Carney S, Faisal SM, Schwendeman A, Moon JJ, Scheetz L, Lahann J, Mauser A, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG. Immunotherapy for gliomas: shedding light on progress in preclinical and clinical development. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:659-684. [PMID: 32400216 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1768528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gliomas are infiltrating brain tumors associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current standard of care includes radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical resection. Today, survival rates for malignant glioma patients remain dismal and unchanged for decades. The glioma microenvironment is highly immunosuppressive and consequently this has motivated the development of immunotherapies for counteracting this condition, enabling the immune cells within the tumor microenvironment to react against this tumor. AREAS COVERED The authors discuss immunotherapeutic strategies for glioma in phase-I/II clinical trials and illuminate their mechanisms of action, limitations, and key challenges. They also examine promising approaches under preclinical development. EXPERT OPINION In the last decade there has been an expansion in immune-mediated anti-cancer therapies. In the glioma field, sophisticated strategies have been successfully implemented in preclinical models. Unfortunately, clinical trials have not yet yielded consistent results for glioma patients. This could be attributed to our limited understanding of the complex immune cell infiltration and its interaction with the tumor cells, the selected time for treatment, the combination with other therapies and the route of administration of the agent. Applying these modalities to treat malignant glioma is challenging, but many new alternatives are emerging to by-pass these hurdles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria B Garcia-Fabiani
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Maria Ventosa
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Andrea Comba
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Marianela Candolfi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro J Nicola Candia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mahmoud S Alghamri
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Padma Kadiyala
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stephen Carney
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Syed M Faisal
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anna Schwendeman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - James J Moon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lindsay Scheetz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Joerg Lahann
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ava Mauser
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Pedro R Lowenstein
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Maria G Castro
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School , Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Maryamchik E, Gallagher KME, Preffer FI, Kadauke S, Maus MV. New directions in chimeric antigen receptor T cell [CAR-T] therapy and related flow cytometry. CYTOMETRY PART B-CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2020; 98:299-327. [PMID: 32352629 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells provide a promising approach to the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Flow cytometry is a powerful analytical modality, which plays an expanding role in all stages of CAR T therapy, from lymphocyte collection, to CAR T cell manufacturing, to in vivo monitoring of the infused cells and evaluation of their function in the tumor environment. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the new directions is important for designing and implementing CAR T-related flow cytometry assays in the clinical and investigational settings. However, the speed of new discoveries and the multitude of clinical and preclinical trials make it challenging to keep up to date in this complex field. In this review, we summarize the current state of CAR T therapy, highlight the areas of emergent research, discuss applications of flow cytometry in modern cell therapy, and touch upon several considerations particular to CAR detection and assessing the effectiveness of CAR T therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Maryamchik
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Frederic I Preffer
- Clinical Cytometry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephan Kadauke
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marcela V Maus
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Roselli E, Frieling JS, Thorner K, Ramello MC, Lynch CC, Abate-Daga D. CAR-T Engineering: Optimizing Signal Transduction and Effector Mechanisms. BioDrugs 2020; 33:647-659. [PMID: 31552606 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-019-00384-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of genetically engineered T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has shown remarkable results against B cell malignancies. This immunotherapeutic approach has advanced and expanded rapidly from preclinical models to the recent approval of CAR-T cells to treat lymphomas and leukemia by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ongoing research efforts are focused on employing CAR-T cells as a therapy for other cancers, and enhancing their efficacy and safety by optimizing their design. Here we summarize modifications in the intracellular domain of the CAR that gave rise to first-, second-, third- and next-generation CAR-T cells, together with the impact that these different designs have on CAR-T cell biology and function. Further, we describe how the structure of the antigen-sensing ectodomain can be enhanced, leading to superior CAR-T cell signaling and/or function. Finally we discuss how tissue-specific factors may impact the clinical efficacy of CAR-T cells for bone and the central nervous system, as examples of specific indications that may require further CAR signaling optimization to perform in such inhospitable microenvironments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Roselli
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Jeremy S Frieling
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Konrad Thorner
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - María C Ramello
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Conor C Lynch
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Daniel Abate-Daga
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA. .,Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA. .,Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA. .,Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani School of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Shen SH, Woroniecka K, Barbour AB, Fecci PE, Sanchez-Perez L, Sampson JH. CAR T cells and checkpoint inhibition for the treatment of glioblastoma. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 20:579-591. [PMID: 32027536 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2020.1727436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor and is one of the most lethal human cancers. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has markedly improved survival in previously incurable disease; however, this vanguard treatment still faces challenges in GBM. Likewise, checkpoint blockade therapies have not enjoyed the same victories against GBM. As it becomes increasingly evident that a mono-therapeutic approach is unlikely to provide anti-tumor efficacy, there evolves a critical need for combined treatment strategies.Areas covered: This review highlights the clinical successes observed with CAR T cell therapy as well the current efforts to overcome its perceived limitations. The review also explores employed combinations of CAR T cell approaches with immune checkpoint blockade strategies, which aim to potentiate immunotherapeutic benefits while restricting the impact of tumor heterogeneity and T cell exhaustion.Expert opinion: Barriers such as tumor heterogeneity and T cell exhaustion have exposed the weaknesses of various mono-immunotherapeutic approaches to GBM, including CAR T cell and checkpoint blockade strategies. Combining these potentially complementary strategies, however, may proffer a rational means of mitigating these barriers and advancing therapeutic successes against GBM and other solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven H Shen
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Karolina Woroniecka
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Andrew B Barbour
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Peter E Fecci
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Luis Sanchez-Perez
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John H Sampson
- Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Zhao X, Ning Q, Mo Z, Tang S. A promising cancer diagnosis and treatment strategy: targeted cancer therapy and imaging based on antibody fragment. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 47:3621-3630. [PMID: 31468992 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2019.1657875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
With the arrival of the precision medicine and personalized treatment era, targeted therapy that improves efficacy and reduces side effects has become the mainstream approach of cancer treatment. Antibody fragments that further enhance penetration and retain the most critical antigen-specific binding functions are considered the focus of research targeting cancer imaging and therapy. Thanks to the superior penetration and rapid blood clearance of antibody fragments, antibody fragment-based imaging agents enable efficient and sensitive imaging of tumour sites. In tumour-targeted therapy, antibody fragments can directly inhibit tumour proliferation and growth, serve as an ideal carrier for delivery of anti-tumour drugs, or manipulate the immune system to eliminate tumour cells. In this review, the excellent physicochemical properties and the basic structure of antibody fragments are expressly depicted depicted, the progress of antibody fragments in cancer therapy and imaging are thoroughly summarized, and the future development of antibody fragments is predicted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuhong Zhao
- Learning Key Laboratory for Pharmacoproteomics of Hunan Province, Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of South China , Hengyang , China.,Hunan Province Key Laboratory for Antibody-Based Drug and Intelligent Delivery System, Hunan University of Medicine , Huaihua , China
| | - Qian Ning
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory for Antibody-Based Drug and Intelligent Delivery System, Hunan University of Medicine , Huaihua , China
| | - Zhongcheng Mo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Clinical Anatomy and Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China , Hengyang , China
| | - Shengsong Tang
- Learning Key Laboratory for Pharmacoproteomics of Hunan Province, Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of South China , Hengyang , China.,Hunan Province Key Laboratory for Antibody-Based Drug and Intelligent Delivery System, Hunan University of Medicine , Huaihua , China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhu H, You Y, Shen Z, Shi L. EGFRvIII-CAR-T Cells with PD-1 Knockout Have Improved Anti-Glioma Activity. Pathol Oncol Res 2020; 26:2135-2141. [PMID: 31989402 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-019-00759-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant form of the brain tumors. EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) is expressed in about 30% of GBM specimens, but not expressed in normal brain tissues. Therefore, EGFRvIII protein offers an ideal CAR-T therapeutic target for EGFRvIII-positive GBM patients. PD-L1 is expressed in a variety of cancer cells, including GBM. Tumor-associated PD-L1 can bind to PD-1 on T cells and promote apoptosis of T cells, thus suppressing the anti-cancer immune response. In our current studies, PD-1WT EGFRvIII-CAR-T cells and PD-1KD EGFRvIII-CAR-T cells were generated. Cytokine production and lytic activity of these two CAR-T cells against to PD-L1WT EGFRvIII+ U373 cells or PD-L1KO EGFRvIII+ U373 cells were evaluated. The results showed that PD-1KD EGFRvIII-CAR-T cells and PD-1WT EGFRvIII-CAR-T cells showed same levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production as well as cytolytic activity against PD-L1KO EGFRvIII+ U373 cells; however, PD-1KD EGFRvIII-CAR-T cells exhibited higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 production as well as cytolytic activity against PD-L1+ EGFRvIII+ U373 cells than that of PD-1WT EGFRvIII-CAR-T cells. PD-1KD EGFRvIII-CAR-T cells also exhibited higher anti-glioma activity and longer survival in mice in vivo than that of PD-1WT EGFRvIII-CAR-T cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that PD-1 knockout enhances lytic activity of EGFRvIII-CAR-T cells against PD-L1+ EGFRvIII+ GBM cells. These might provide a new insight into strategy of GBM CAR-T cell therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haifeng Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Funing People's Hospital, Funing, 224400, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongping You
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhouming Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Funing People's Hospital, Funing, 224400, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Shi
- epartment of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, Suzhou, 215300, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Burger MC, Zhang C, Harter PN, Romanski A, Strassheimer F, Senft C, Tonn T, Steinbach JP, Wels WS. CAR-Engineered NK Cells for the Treatment of Glioblastoma: Turning Innate Effectors Into Precision Tools for Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2683. [PMID: 31798595 PMCID: PMC6868035 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults and currently incurable. Despite multimodal treatment regimens, median survival in unselected patient cohorts is <1 year, and recurrence remains almost inevitable. Escape from immune surveillance is thought to contribute to the development and progression of GB. While GB tumors are frequently infiltrated by natural killer (NK) cells, these are actively suppressed by the GB cells and the GB tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, ex vivo activation with cytokines can restore cytolytic activity of NK cells against GB, indicating that NK cells have potential for adoptive immunotherapy of GB if potent cytotoxicity can be maintained in vivo. NK cells contribute to cancer immune surveillance not only by their direct natural cytotoxicity which is triggered rapidly upon stimulation through germline-encoded cell surface receptors, but also by modulating T-cell mediated antitumor immune responses through maintaining the quality of dendritic cells and enhancing the presentation of tumor antigens. Furthermore, similar to T cells, specific recognition and elimination of cancer cells by NK cells can be markedly enhanced through expression of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which provides an opportunity to generate NK-cell therapeutics of defined specificity for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we discuss effects of the GB tumor microenvironment on NK-cell functionality, summarize early treatment attempts with ex vivo activated NK cells, and describe relevant CAR target antigens validated with CAR-T cells. We then outline preclinical approaches that employ CAR-NK cells for GB immunotherapy, and give an overview on the ongoing clinical development of ErbB2 (HER2)-specific CAR-NK cells currently applied in a phase I clinical trial in glioblastoma patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Burger
- Institute for Neurooncology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Congcong Zhang
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Patrick N Harter
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Annette Romanski
- German Red Cross Blood Donation Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Florian Strassheimer
- Institute for Neurooncology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christian Senft
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Torsten Tonn
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Dresden, Germany.,Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Joachim P Steinbach
- Institute for Neurooncology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Winfried S Wels
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Li D, Li X, Zhou WL, Huang Y, Liang X, Jiang L, Yang X, Sun J, Li Z, Han WD, Wang W. Genetically engineered T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2019; 4:35. [PMID: 31637014 PMCID: PMC6799837 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-019-0070-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells in the immune system protect the human body from infection by pathogens and clear mutant cells through specific recognition by T cell receptors (TCRs). Cancer immunotherapy, by relying on this basic recognition method, boosts the antitumor efficacy of T cells by unleashing the inhibition of immune checkpoints and expands adaptive immunity by facilitating the adoptive transfer of genetically engineered T cells. T cells genetically equipped with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) or TCRs have shown remarkable effectiveness in treating some hematological malignancies, although the efficacy of engineered T cells in treating solid tumors is far from satisfactory. In this review, we summarize the development of genetically engineered T cells, outline the most recent studies investigating genetically engineered T cells for cancer immunotherapy, and discuss strategies for improving the performance of these T cells in fighting cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Wei-Lin Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Huang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Liang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041 Chengdu, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Department of Cell Biology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058 Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University & Laboratory of Stem cell and Immunotherapy Engineering, 310058 Zhejing, China
| | - Zonghai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 200032 Shanghai, China
- CARsgen Therapeutics, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Dong Han
- Molecular & Immunological Department, Biotherapeutic Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, 100853 Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 610041 Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Strohl WR, Naso M. Bispecific T-Cell Redirection versus Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T Cells as Approaches to Kill Cancer Cells. Antibodies (Basel) 2019; 8:E41. [PMID: 31544847 PMCID: PMC6784091 DOI: 10.3390/antib8030041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The concepts for T-cell redirecting bispecific antibodies (TRBAs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are both at least 30 years old but both platforms are just now coming into age. Two TRBAs and two CAR-T cell products have been approved by major regulatory agencies within the last ten years for the treatment of hematological cancers and an additional 53 TRBAs and 246 CAR cell constructs are in clinical trials today. Two major groups of TRBAs include small, short-half-life bispecific antibodies that include bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTE®s) which require continuous dosing and larger, mostly IgG-like bispecific antibodies with extended pharmacokinetics that can be dosed infrequently. Most CAR-T cells today are autologous, although significant strides are being made to develop off-the-shelf, allogeneic CAR-based products. CAR-Ts form a cytolytic synapse with target cells that is very different from the classical immune synapse both physically and mechanistically, whereas the TRBA-induced synapse is similar to the classic immune synapse. Both TRBAs and CAR-T cells are highly efficacious in clinical trials but both also present safety concerns, particularly with cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. New formats and dosing paradigms for TRBAs and CAR-T cells are being developed in efforts to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity, as well as to optimize use with both solid and hematologic tumors, both of which present significant challenges such as target heterogeneity and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William R Strohl
- BiStro Biotech Consulting, LLC, 1086 Tullo Farm Rd., Bridgewater, NJ 08807, USA.
| | - Michael Naso
- Century Therapeutics, 3675 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Akhavan D, Alizadeh D, Wang D, Weist MR, Shepphird JK, Brown CE. CAR T cells for brain tumors: Lessons learned and road ahead. Immunol Rev 2019; 290:60-84. [PMID: 31355493 PMCID: PMC6771592 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors, including glioblastoma, represent some of the most difficult to treat of solid tumors. Nevertheless, recent progress in immunotherapy, across a broad range of tumor types, provides hope that immunological approaches will have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with brain tumors. Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T cells, a promising immunotherapeutic modality, utilizes the tumor targeting specificity of any antibody or receptor ligand to redirect the cytolytic potency of T cells. The remarkable clinical response rates of CD19-targeted CAR T cells and early clinical experiences in glioblastoma demonstrating safety and evidence for disease modifying activity support the potential of further advancements ultimately providing clinical benefit for patients. The brain, however, is an immune specialized organ presenting unique and specific challenges to immune-based therapies. Remaining barriers to be overcome for achieving effective CAR T cell therapy in the central nervous system (CNS) include tumor antigenic heterogeneity, an immune-suppressive microenvironment, unique properties of the CNS that limit T cell entry, and risks of immune-based toxicities in this highly sensitive organ. This review will summarize preclinical and clinical data for CAR T cell immunotherapy in glioblastoma and other malignant brain tumors, including present obstacles to advancement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Akhavan
- Department of Radiation OncologyBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
| | - Darya Alizadeh
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell TransplantationBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
- Department of Immuno‐OncologyBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
| | - Dongrui Wang
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell TransplantationBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
- Department of Immuno‐OncologyBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
| | - Michael R. Weist
- Department of Immuno‐OncologyBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
- Department of Molecular Imaging and TherapyBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
| | - Jennifer K. Shepphird
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell TransplantationBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
- Department of Immuno‐OncologyBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
| | - Christine E. Brown
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell TransplantationBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
- Department of Immuno‐OncologyBeckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteCalifornia
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Modified CAR T cells targeting membrane-proximal epitope of mesothelin enhances the antitumor function against large solid tumor. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:476. [PMID: 31209210 PMCID: PMC6572851 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1711-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mesothelin (MSLN) is an attractive antigen for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapy and the epitope selection within MSLN is essential. In this study, we constructed two types of CARs targeting either region I of MSLN (meso1 CAR, also known as a membrane-distal region) or region III of MSLN (meso3 CAR, also known as a membrane-proximal region) using a modified piggyBac transposon system. We reported that, compared with meso1 CAR T cells, meso3 CAR T cells express higher levels of CD107α upon activation and produce increased levels of interleukin-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ against multiple MSLN-expressing cancer cells in vitro. In a real-time cell analyzer system and a three-dimensional spheroid cancer cell model, we also demonstrated that meso3 CAR T cells display an enhanced killing effect compared with that of meso1 CAR T cells. More importantly, in a gastric cancer NSG mice model, meso3 CAR T cells mediated stronger antitumor responses than meso1 CAR T cells did. We further identified that meso3 CAR T cells can effectively inhibit the growth of large ovarian tumors in vivo. Collectively, our study provides evidences that meso3 CAR T-cell therapy performs as a better immunotherapy than meso1 CAR T-cell therapy in treating MSLN-positive solid tumors.
Collapse
|
40
|
Stoiber S, Cadilha BL, Benmebarek MR, Lesch S, Endres S, Kobold S. Limitations in the Design of Chimeric Antigen Receptors for Cancer Therapy. Cells 2019; 8:cells8050472. [PMID: 31108883 PMCID: PMC6562702 DOI: 10.3390/cells8050472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapy has entered a new era, transitioning from unspecific chemotherapeutic agents to increasingly specific immune-based therapeutic strategies. Among these, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown unparalleled therapeutic potential in treating refractory hematological malignancies. In contrast, solid tumors pose a much greater challenge to CAR T cell therapy, which has yet to be overcome. As this novel therapeutic modality matures, increasing effort is being invested to determine the optimal structure and properties of CARs to facilitate the transition from empirical testing to the rational design of CAR T cells. In this review, we highlight how individual CAR domains contribute to the success and failure of this promising treatment modality and provide an insight into the most notable advances in the field of CAR T cell engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Stoiber
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 80337 Munich, Germany.
| | - Bruno L Cadilha
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 80337 Munich, Germany.
| | - Mohamed-Reda Benmebarek
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 80337 Munich, Germany.
| | - Stefanie Lesch
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 80337 Munich, Germany.
| | - Stefan Endres
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 80337 Munich, Germany.
- German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), 80337 Munich, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 80337 Munich, Germany.
- German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), 80337 Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Saleem H, Kulsoom Abdul U, Küçükosmanoglu A, Houweling M, Cornelissen FMG, Heiland DH, Hegi ME, Kouwenhoven MCM, Bailey D, Würdinger T, Westerman BA. The TICking clock of EGFR therapy resistance in glioblastoma: Target Independence or target Compensation. Drug Resist Updat 2019; 43:29-37. [PMID: 31054489 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapy against driver mutations responsible for cancer progression has been shown to be effective in many tumor types. For glioblastoma (GBM), the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is the most frequently mutated oncogenic driver and has therefore been considered an attractive target for therapy. However, so far responses to EGFR-pathway inhibitors have been disappointing. We performed an exhaustive analysis of the mechanisms that might account for therapy resistance against EGFR inhibition. We define two major mechanisms of resistance and propose modalities to overcome them. The first resistance mechanism concerns target independence. In this case, cells have lost expression of the EGFR protein and experience no negative impact of EGFR targeting. Loss of extrachromosomally encoded EGFR as present in double minute DNA is a frequent mechanism for this type of drug resistance. The second mechanism concerns target compensation. In this case, cells will counteract EGFR inhibition by activation of compensatory pathways that render them independent of EGFR signaling. Compensatory pathway candidates are platelet-derived growth factor β (PDGFβ), Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGFR1) and cMET and their downstream targets, all not commonly mutated at the time of diagnosis alongside EGFR mutation. Given that both mechanisms make cells independent of EGFR expression, other means have to be found to eradicate drug resistant cells. To this end we suggest rational strategies which include the use of multi-target therapies that hit truncation mutations (mechanism 1) or multi-target therapies to co-inhibit compensatory proteins (mechanism 2).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Saleem
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - U Kulsoom Abdul
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Asli Küçükosmanoglu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Megan Houweling
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Fleur M G Cornelissen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Division of Biology, Nature Science Building, 9500 Gilman Drive, CA, 92093-0377, United States
| | - Dieter H Heiland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Monika E Hegi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital, Chemin des Boveresses 155, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Mathilde C M Kouwenhoven
- Department of Neurology, Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David Bailey
- IOTA Pharmaceuticals Ltd, St Johns Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, UK
| | - Tom Würdinger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bart A Westerman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Chuntova P, Downey KM, Hegde B, Almeida ND, Okada H. Genetically Engineered T-Cells for Malignant Glioma: Overcoming the Barriers to Effective Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2019; 9:3062. [PMID: 30740109 PMCID: PMC6357938 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.03062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant gliomas carry a dismal prognosis. Conventional treatment using chemo- and radiotherapy has limited efficacy with adverse events. Therapy with genetically engineered T-cells, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, may represent a promising approach to improve patient outcomes owing to their potential ability to attack highly infiltrative tumors in a tumor-specific manner and possible persistence of the adaptive immune response. However, the unique anatomical features of the brain and susceptibility of this organ to irreversible tissue damage have made immunotherapy especially challenging in the setting of glioma. With safety concerns in mind, multiple teams have initiated clinical trials using CAR T-cells in glioma patients. The valuable lessons learnt from those trials highlight critical areas for further improvement: tackling the issues of the antigen presentation and T-cell homing in the brain, immunosuppression in the glioma microenvironment, antigen heterogeneity and off-tumor toxicity, and the adaptation of existing clinical therapies to reflect the intricacies of immune response in the brain. This review summarizes the up-to-date clinical outcomes of CAR T-cell clinical trials in glioma patients and examines the most pressing hurdles limiting the efficacy of these therapies. Furthermore, this review uses these hurdles as a framework upon which to evaluate cutting-edge pre-clinical strategies aiming to overcome those barriers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pavlina Chuntova
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kira M Downey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Bindu Hegde
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Neil D Almeida
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Hideho Okada
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Cancer Immunotherapy Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ti D, Niu Y, Wu Z, Fu X, Han W. Genetic engineering of T cells with chimeric antigen receptors for hematological malignancy immunotherapy. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2018; 61:1320-1332. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-018-9411-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
44
|
Filley AC, Henriquez M, Dey M. CART Immunotherapy: Development, Success, and Translation to Malignant Gliomas and Other Solid Tumors. Front Oncol 2018; 8:453. [PMID: 30386740 PMCID: PMC6199385 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology has allowed for the introduction of a high degree of tumor selectivity into adoptive cell transfer therapies. Evolution of this technology has produced a robust antitumor immunotherapeutic strategy that has resulted in dramatic outcomes in liquid cancers. CAR-expressing T-cells (CARTs) targeting CD19 and CD20 have been successfully used in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, producing sustained tumor regressions in a majority of treated patients. These encouraging results have led to a historic and unprecedented FDA approval of CTL019, Novartis' CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of children and young adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, the translation of this technology to solid tumors, like malignant gliomas (MG), has thus far been unsuccessful. This review provides a timely analysis of the factors leading to the success of CART immunotherapy in the setting of hematologic malignancies, barriers limiting its success in the treatment of solid tumors, and approaches to overcome these challenges and allow the application of CART immunotherapy as a treatment modality for refractory tumors, like malignant gliomas, that are in desperate need of effective therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Filley
- Department of Neurosurgery, IU Simon Cancer Center, IU School of Medicine, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Mario Henriquez
- Department of Neurosurgery, IU Simon Cancer Center, IU School of Medicine, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Mahua Dey
- Department of Neurosurgery, IU Simon Cancer Center, IU School of Medicine, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Yin Y, Boesteanu AC, Binder ZA, Xu C, Reid RA, Rodriguez JL, Cook DR, Thokala R, Blouch K, McGettigan-Croce B, Zhang L, Konradt C, Cogdill AP, Panjwani MK, Jiang S, Migliorini D, Dahmane N, Posey AD, June CH, Mason NJ, Lin Z, O’Rourke DM, Johnson LA. Checkpoint Blockade Reverses Anergy in IL-13Rα2 Humanized scFv-Based CAR T Cells to Treat Murine and Canine Gliomas. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2018; 11:20-38. [PMID: 30306125 PMCID: PMC6174845 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We generated two humanized interleukin-13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2) chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), Hu07BBz and Hu08BBz, that recognized human IL-13Rα2, but not IL-13Rα1. Hu08BBz also recognized canine IL-13Rα2. Both of these CAR T cell constructs demonstrated superior tumor inhibitory effects in a subcutaneous xenograft model of human glioma compared with a humanized EGFRvIII CAR T construct used in a recent phase 1 clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02209376). The Hu08BBz demonstrated a 75% reduction in orthotopic tumor growth using low-dose CAR T cell infusion. Using combination therapy with immune checkpoint blockade, humanized IL-13Rα2 CAR T cells performed significantly better when combined with CTLA-4 blockade, and humanized EGFRvIII CAR T cells’ efficacy was improved by PD-1 and TIM-3 blockade in the same mouse model, which was correlated with the levels of checkpoint molecule expression in co-cultures with the same tumor in vitro. Humanized IL-13Rα2 CAR T cells also demonstrated benefit from a self-secreted anti-CTLA-4 minibody in the same mouse model. In addition to a canine glioma cell line (J3T), canine osteosarcoma lung cancer and leukemia cell lines also express IL-13Rα2 and were recognized by Hu08BBz. Canine IL-13Rα2 CAR T cell was also generated and tested in vitro by co-culture with canine tumor cells and in vivo in an orthotopic model of canine glioma. Based on these results, we are designing a pre-clinical trial to evaluate the safety of canine IL-13Rα2 CAR T cells in dog with spontaneous IL-13Rα2-positive glioma, which will help to inform a human clinical trial design for glioblastoma using humanized scFv-based IL-13Rα2 targeting CAR T cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Yin
- The Fourth Section of Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alina C. Boesteanu
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zev A. Binder
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Chong Xu
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Reiss A. Reid
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jesse L. Rodriguez
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Danielle R. Cook
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Radhika Thokala
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kristin Blouch
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bevin McGettigan-Croce
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Logan Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christoph Konradt
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexandria P. Cogdill
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - M. Kazim Panjwani
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shuguang Jiang
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Denis Migliorini
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nadia Dahmane
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Avery D. Posey
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Carl H. June
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nicola J. Mason
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhiguo Lin
- The Fourth Section of Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
- Corresponding author: Zhiguo Lin, The Fourth Section of Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
| | - Donald M. O’Rourke
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Corresponding author: Donald O’Rourke, University of Pennsylvania, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Laura A. Johnson
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Townsend MH, Shrestha G, Robison RA, O’Neill KL. The expansion of targetable biomarkers for CAR T cell therapy. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2018; 37:163. [PMID: 30031396 PMCID: PMC6054736 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0817-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers are an integral part of cancer management due to their use in risk assessment, screening, differential diagnosis, prognosis, prediction of response to treatment, and monitoring progress of disease. Recently, with the advent of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, a new category of targetable biomarkers has emerged. These biomarkers are associated with the surface of malignant cells and serve as targets for directing cytotoxic T cells. The first biomarker target used for CAR T cell therapy was CD19, a B cell marker expressed highly on malignant B cells. With the success of CD19, the last decade has shown an explosion of new targetable biomarkers on a range of human malignancies. These surface targets have made it possible to provide directed, specific therapy that reduces healthy tissue destruction and preserves the patient's immune system during treatment. As of May 2018, there are over 100 clinical trials underway that target over 25 different surface biomarkers in almost every human tissue. This expansion has led to not only promising results in terms of patient outcome, but has also led to an exponential growth in the investigation of new biomarkers that could potentially be utilized in CAR T cell therapy for treating patients. In this review, we discuss the biomarkers currently under investigation and point out several promising biomarkers in the preclinical stage of development that may be useful as targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle H. Townsend
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, 3142 LSB, Provo, UT 84602 USA
| | - Gajendra Shrestha
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, 3142 LSB, Provo, UT 84602 USA
- Thunder Biotech, Highland, UT USA
| | - Richard A. Robison
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, 3142 LSB, Provo, UT 84602 USA
| | - Kim L. O’Neill
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, 3142 LSB, Provo, UT 84602 USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Krebs S, Ahad A, Carter LM, Eyquem J, Brand C, Bell M, Ponomarev V, Reiner T, Meares CF, Gottschalk S, Sadelain M, Larson SM, Weber WA. Antibody with Infinite Affinity for In Vivo Tracking of Genetically Engineered Lymphocytes. J Nucl Med 2018; 59:1894-1900. [PMID: 29903928 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.118.208041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There remains an urgent need for the noninvasive tracking of transfused chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to determine their biodistribution, viability, expansion, and antitumor functionality. DOTA antibody reporter 1 (DAbR1) comprises a single-chain fragment of the antilanthanoid-DOTA antibody 2D12.5/G54C fused to the human CD4-transmembrane domain and binds irreversibly to lanthanoid (S)-2-(4-acrylamidobenzyl)-DOTA (AABD). The aim of this study was to investigate whether DAbR1 can be expressed on lymphocytes and used as a reporter gene as well as a suicide gene for therapy of immune-related adverse effects. Methods: DAbR1 was subcloned together with green fluorescent protein into an SFG-retroviral vector and used to transduce CD3/CD28-activated primary human T cells and second-generation 1928z (CAR) T cells. Cell surface expression of DAbR1 was confirmed by cell uptake studies with radiolabeled AABD. In addition, the feasibility of imaging of DAbR1-positive T cells in vivo after intravenous injection of 86Y/177Lu-AABD was studied and radiation doses determined. Results: A panel of DAbR1-expressing T cells and CAR T cells exhibited greater than 8-fold increased uptake of 86Y-AABD in vitro when compared with nontransduced cells. Imaging studies showed 86Y-AABD was retained by DAbR1-positive T cells while it continuously cleared from normal tissues, allowing for in vivo tracking of intravenously administered CAR T cells. Normal-organ dose estimates were favorable for repeated PET/CT studies. Selective T cell ablation in vivo with 177Lu-AABD seems feasible for clustered T-cell populations. Conclusion: We have demonstrated for the first time that T cells can be modified with DAbR1, enabling their in vivo tracking via PET and SPECT. The favorable biodistribution and high image contrast observed warrant further studies of this new reporter gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Krebs
- Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Afruja Ahad
- Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Lukas M Carter
- Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Sciences Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Justin Eyquem
- Center for Cell Engineering and Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York
| | - Christian Brand
- Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Sciences Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Meghan Bell
- Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Vladimir Ponomarev
- Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Sciences Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Thomas Reiner
- Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Sciences Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Claude F Meares
- Chemistry Department, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee; and
| | - Michel Sadelain
- Center for Cell Engineering and Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York
| | - Steven M Larson
- Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Wolfgang A Weber
- Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Prinzing BL, Gottschalk SM, Krenciute G. CAR T-cell therapy for glioblastoma: ready for the next round of clinical testing? Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2018; 18:451-461. [PMID: 29533108 PMCID: PMC6191291 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2018.1451749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The outcome for patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains poor, and there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic approaches. T cells genetically modified with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) hold the promise to improve outcomes since they recognize and kill cells through different mechanisms than conventional therapeutics. Areas covered: This article reviews CAR design, tumor associated antigens expressed by GBMs that can be targeted with CAR T cells, preclinical and clinical studies conducted with CAR T cells, and genetic approaches to enhance their effector function. Expert commentary: While preclinical studies have highlighted the potent anti-GBM activity of CAR T cells, the initial foray of CAR T-cell therapies into the clinic resulted only in limited benefits for GBM patients. Additional genetic modification of CAR T cells has resulted in a significant increase in their anti-GBM activity in preclinical models. We are optimistic that clinical testing of these enhanced CAR T cells will be safe and result in improved anti-glioma activity in GBM patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke L. Prinzing
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Science Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Stephen M. Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Giedre Krenciute
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Nellan A, Rota C, Majzner R, Lester-McCully CM, Griesinger AM, Mulcahy Levy JM, Foreman NK, Warren KE, Lee DW. Durable regression of Medulloblastoma after regional and intravenous delivery of anti-HER2 chimeric antigen receptor T cells. J Immunother Cancer 2018; 6:30. [PMID: 29712574 PMCID: PMC5925833 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-018-0340-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Standard-of-care therapies for treating pediatric medulloblastoma have long-term side effects, even in children who are cured. One emerging modality of cancer therapy that could be equally effective without such side effects would be chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Knowing that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in many medulloblastomas and has been used as a CAR T target before, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of more sophisticated anti-HER2 CAR T cells, as well as the feasibility and efficacy of different routes of delivering these cells, for the treatment of pediatric medulloblastoma. Methods Daoy, D283 and D425 medulloblastoma cell lines were characterized by flow cytometry to evaluate HER2 expression. Anti-tumor efficacy of HER2-BBz-CAR T cells in vitro was performed using cytokine release and immune cytotoxicity assays compared to control CD19 CAR T cells. In vivo, Daoy and D283 tumor cells were orthotopically implanted in the posterior fossa of NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice and treated with regional or intravenous HER2-BBz-CAR T cells or control CD19 CAR T cells. Non-human primates (NHPs) bearing ventricular and lumbar reservoirs were treated with target autologous cells bearing extracellular HER2 followed by autologous HER2-CAR T cells intraventricularly. Cerebrospinal fluid and blood were collected serially to measure the persistence of delivered cells and cytokines. Results HER2-BBz-CAR T cells effectively clear medulloblastoma orthotopically implanted in the posterior fossa of NSG mice via both regional and intravenous delivery in xenograft models. Intravenous delivery requires a log higher dose compared to regional delivery. NHPs tolerated intraventricular delivery of autologous cells bearing extracellular HER2 followed by HER2-BBz-CAR T cells without experiencing any systemic toxicity. Conclusions HER2-BBz-CAR T cells show excellent pre-clinical efficacy in vitro and in mouse medulloblastoma models, and their intraventricular delivery is feasible and safe in NHPs. A clinical trial of HER2-BBz-CAR T cells directly delivered into cerebrospinal fluid should be designed for patients with relapsed medulloblastoma. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40425-018-0340-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anandani Nellan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christopher Rota
- Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robbie Majzner
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia M Lester-McCully
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrea M Griesinger
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jean M Mulcahy Levy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Katherine E Warren
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel W Lee
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, PO Box 800386, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
CAR-T Cells: Next Generation Cancer Therapeutics. J Indian Inst Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s41745-018-0062-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|