1
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Wellhausen N, Baek J, Gill SI, June CH. Enhancing cellular immunotherapies in cancer by engineering selective therapeutic resistance. Nat Rev Cancer 2024:10.1038/s41568-024-00723-5. [PMID: 39048767 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00723-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapies engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) or transgenic T cell receptors (TCRs) to recognize and eliminate cancer cells have emerged as a promising approach for achieving long-term remissions in patients with cancer. To be effective, the engineered cells must persist at therapeutically relevant levels while avoiding off-tumour toxicities, which has been challenging to realize outside of B cell and plasma cell malignancies. This Review discusses concepts to enhance the efficacy, safety and accessibility of cellular immunotherapies by endowing cells with selective resistance to small-molecule drugs or antibody-based therapies to facilitate combination therapies with substances that would otherwise interfere with the functionality of the effector cells. We further explore the utility of engineering healthy haematopoietic stem cells to confer resistance to antigen-directed immunotherapies and small-molecule targeted therapies to expand the therapeutic index of said targeted anticancer agents as well as to facilitate in vivo selection of gene-edited haematopoietic stem cells for non-malignant applications. Lastly, we discuss approaches to evade immune rejection, which may be required in the setting of allogeneic cell therapies. Increasing confidence in the tools and outcomes of genetically modified cell therapy now paves the way for rational combinations that will open new therapeutic horizons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Wellhausen
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joanne Baek
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Saar I Gill
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Carl H June
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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2
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Mosna F. The Immunotherapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Clinical Point of View. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2359. [PMID: 39001421 PMCID: PMC11240611 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The potential of the immune system to eradicate leukemic cells has been consistently demonstrated by the Graft vs. Leukemia effect occurring after allo-HSCT and in the context of donor leukocyte infusions. Various immunotherapeutic approaches, ranging from the use of antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific T-cell engagers, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, and therapeutic infusions of NK cells, are thus currently being tested with promising, yet conflicting, results. This review will concentrate on various types of immunotherapies in preclinical and clinical development, from the point of view of a clinical hematologist. The most promising therapies for clinical translation are the use of bispecific T-cell engagers and CAR-T cells aimed at lineage-restricted antigens, where overall responses (ORR) ranging from 20 to 40% can be achieved in a small series of heavily pretreated patients affected by refractory or relapsing leukemia. Toxicity consists mainly in the occurrence of cytokine-release syndrome, which is mostly manageable with step-up dosing, the early use of cytokine-blocking agents and corticosteroids, and myelosuppression. Various cytokine-enhanced natural killer products are also being tested, mainly as allogeneic off-the-shelf therapies, with a good tolerability profile and promising results (ORR: 20-37.5% in small trials). The in vivo activation of T lymphocytes and NK cells via the inhibition of their immune checkpoints also yielded interesting, yet limited, results (ORR: 33-59%) but with an increased risk of severe Graft vs. Host disease in transplanted patients. Therefore, there are still several hurdles to overcome before the widespread clinical use of these novel compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Mosna
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit (BMTU), Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 39100 Bolzano, Italy
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3
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Garaudé S, Marone R, Lepore R, Devaux A, Beerlage A, Seyres D, Dell' Aglio A, Juskevicius D, Zuin J, Burgold T, Wang S, Katta V, Manquen G, Li Y, Larrue C, Camus A, Durzynska I, Wellinger LC, Kirby I, Van Berkel PH, Kunz C, Tamburini J, Bertoni F, Widmer CC, Tsai SQ, Simonetta F, Urlinger S, Jeker LT. Selective haematological cancer eradication with preserved haematopoiesis. Nature 2024; 630:728-735. [PMID: 38778101 PMCID: PMC11186773 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07456-3] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for a broad range of haematological malignancies, but the standard of care relies on untargeted chemotherapies and limited possibilities to treat malignant cells after HSCT without affecting the transplanted healthy cells1. Antigen-specific cell-depleting therapies hold the promise of much more targeted elimination of diseased cells, as witnessed in the past decade by the revolution of clinical practice for B cell malignancies2. However, target selection is complex and limited to antigens expressed on subsets of haematopoietic cells, resulting in a fragmented therapy landscape with high development costs2-5. Here we demonstrate that an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting the pan-haematopoietic marker CD45 enables the antigen-specific depletion of the entire haematopoietic system, including HSCs. Pairing this ADC with the transplantation of human HSCs engineered to be shielded from the CD45-targeting ADC enables the selective eradication of leukaemic cells with preserved haematopoiesis. The combination of CD45-targeting ADCs and engineered HSCs creates an almost universal strategy to replace a diseased haematopoietic system, irrespective of disease aetiology or originating cell type. We propose that this approach could have broad implications beyond haematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Garaudé
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Romina Marone
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rosalba Lepore
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- Cimeio Therapeutics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Devaux
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Astrid Beerlage
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Hematology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Denis Seyres
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Dell' Aglio
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Darius Juskevicius
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Hematology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Zuin
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Burgold
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sisi Wang
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Varun Katta
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Garret Manquen
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yichao Li
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Clément Larrue
- Translational Research Center for Oncohematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jérôme Tamburini
- Translational Research Center for Oncohematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Bertoni
- Institute of Oncology Research, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, USI, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Corinne C Widmer
- Department of Hematology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Hematology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shengdar Q Tsai
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Translational Research Center for Oncohematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Lukas T Jeker
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Transplantation Immunology & Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
- Innovation Focus Cell Therapy, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
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4
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Naik S, Velasquez MP, Gottschalk S. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in childhood acute myeloid leukemia: how far are we from a clinical application? Haematologica 2024; 109:1656-1667. [PMID: 38832421 PMCID: PMC11141645 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.283817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Recurrent and/or refractory (R/R) pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a recalcitrant disease with poor outcomes. Cell therapy with genetically modified immune effector cells holds the promise to improve outcomes for R/R AML since it relies on cytotoxic mechanisms that are distinct from chemotherapeutic agents. While T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR T cells) showed significant anti-AML activity in preclinical models, early phase clinical studies have demonstrated limited activity, irrespective of the targeted AML antigen. Lack of efficacy is most likely multifactorial, including: (i) a limited array of AML-specific targets and target antigen heterogeneity; (ii) the aggressive nature of R/R AML and heavy pretreatment of patients; (iii) T-cell product manufacturing, and (iv) limited expansion and persistence of the CAR T cells, which is in part driven by the immunosuppressive AML microenvironment. Here we review the results of early phase clinical studies with AML-specific CAR T cells, and avenues investigators are exploring to improve their effector function.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Child
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Treatment Outcome
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
- Animals
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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5
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Freeman R, Shahid S, Khan AG, Mathew SC, Souness S, Burns ER, Um JS, Tanaka K, Cai W, Yoo S, Dunbar A, Park Y, McAvoy D, Hosszu KK, Levine RL, Boelens JJ, Lorenz IC, Brentjens RJ, Daniyan AF. Developing a membrane-proximal CD33-targeting CAR T cell. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009013. [PMID: 38772686 PMCID: PMC11110598 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009013] [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] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CD33 is a tractable target in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, but clinical success is lacking. METHODS We developed 3P14HLh28Z, a novel CD33-directed CD28/CD3Z-based CAR T cell derived from a high-affinity binder obtained through membrane-proximal fragment immunization in humanized mice. RESULTS We found that immunization exclusively with the membrane-proximal domain of CD33 is necessary for identification of membrane-proximal binders in humanized mice. Compared with clinically validated lintuzumab-based CAR T cells targeting distal CD33 epitopes, 3P14HLh28Z showed enhanced in vitro functionality as well as superior tumor control and increased overall survival in both low antigen density and clinically relevant patient-derived xenograft models. Increased activation and enhanced polyfunctionality led to enhanced efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Showing for the first time that a membrane-proximal CAR is superior to a membrane-distal one in the setting of CD33 targeting, our results demonstrate the rationale for targeting membrane-proximal epitopes with high-affinity binders. We also demonstrate the importance of optimizing CAR T cells for functionality in settings of both low antigen density and clinically relevant patient-derived models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby Freeman
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sanam Shahid
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Abdul G Khan
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Serena C Mathew
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sydney Souness
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Erin R Burns
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jasmine S Um
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kento Tanaka
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Winson Cai
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sarah Yoo
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrew Dunbar
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Young Park
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Devin McAvoy
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kinga K Hosszu
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ross L Levine
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Ivo C Lorenz
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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6
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Lee BC, Gin A, Wu C, Singh K, Grice M, Mortlock R, Abraham D, Fan X, Zhou Y, AlJanahi A, Choi U, DeRavin SS, Shin T, Hong S, Dunbar CE. Impact of CRISPR/HDR editing versus lentiviral transduction on long-term engraftment and clonal dynamics of HSPCs in rhesus macaques. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:455-466.e4. [PMID: 38508195 PMCID: PMC10997443 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
For precise genome editing via CRISPR/homology-directed repair (HDR), effective and safe editing of long-term engrafting hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) is required. The impact of HDR on true LT-HSC clonal dynamics in a relevant large animal model has not been studied. To track the output and clonality of HDR-edited cells and to provide a comparison to lentivirally transduced HSCs in vivo, we developed a competitive rhesus macaque (RM) autologous transplantation model, co-infusing HSCs transduced with a barcoded GFP-expressing lentiviral vector (LV) and HDR edited at the CD33 locus. CRISPR/HDR-edited cells showed a two-log decrease by 2 months following transplantation, with little improvement via p53 inhibition, in comparison to minimal loss of LV-transduced cells long term. HDR long-term clonality was oligoclonal in contrast to highly polyclonal LV-transduced HSCs. These results suggest marked clinically relevant differences in the impact of current genetic modification approaches on HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung-Chul Lee
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea; Research Institute of Women's Health, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Ashley Gin
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Chuanfeng Wu
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Komudi Singh
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Max Grice
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ryland Mortlock
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Diana Abraham
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xing Fan
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yifan Zhou
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, UK; Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Aisha AlJanahi
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Uimook Choi
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Suk See DeRavin
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Taehoon Shin
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, Korea
| | - Sogun Hong
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Cynthia E Dunbar
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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7
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Stucchi A, Maspes F, Montee-Rodrigues E, Fousteri G. Engineered Treg cells: The heir to the throne of immunotherapy. J Autoimmun 2024; 144:102986. [PMID: 36639301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Recently, increased interest in the use of Tregs as adoptive cell therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection had led to several advances in the field. However, Treg cell therapies, while constantly advancing, indiscriminately suppress the immune system without the permanent stabilization of certain diseases. Genetically modified Tregs hold great promise towards solving these problems, but, challenges in identifying the most potent Treg subtype, accompanied by the ambiguity involved in identifying the optimal Treg source, along with its expansion and engineering in a clinical-grade setting remain paramount. This review highlights the recent advances in methodologies for the development of genetically engineered Treg cell-based treatments for autoimmune, inflammatory diseases, and organ rejection. Additionally, it provides a systematized guide to all the recent progress in the field and informs the readers of the feasibility and safety of engineered adoptive Treg cell therapy, with the aim to provide a framework for researchers involved in the development of engineered Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Stucchi
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Maspes
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Ely Montee-Rodrigues
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Cambridge Epigenetix, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Georgia Fousteri
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
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8
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Derigs P, Müller-Tidow C. Genome editing in clinical practice: A model study for next-gen hematopoietic cell transplants in hematologic malignancies. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101210. [PMID: 38435129 PMCID: PMC10907159 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Derigs
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- DNA Vector Lab, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)/National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
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9
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Mueller J, Schimmer RR, Koch C, Schneiter F, Fullin J, Lysenko V, Pellegrino C, Klemm N, Russkamp N, Myburgh R, Volta L, Theocharides AP, Kurppa KJ, Ebert BL, Schroeder T, Manz MG, Boettcher S. Targeting the mevalonate or Wnt pathways to overcome CAR T-cell resistance in TP53-mutant AML cells. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:445-474. [PMID: 38355749 PMCID: PMC10940689 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00024-2] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
TP53-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) are characterized by chemotherapy resistance and represent an unmet clinical need. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells might be a promising therapeutic option for TP53-mutant AML/MDS. However, the impact of TP53 deficiency in AML cells on the efficacy of CAR T-cells is unknown. We here show that CAR T-cells engaging TP53-deficient leukemia cells exhibit a prolonged interaction time, upregulate exhaustion markers, and are inefficient to control AML cell outgrowth in vitro and in vivo compared to TP53 wild-type cells. Transcriptional profiling revealed that the mevalonate pathway is upregulated in TP53-deficient AML cells under CAR T-cell attack, while CAR T-cells engaging TP53-deficient AML cells downregulate the Wnt pathway. In vitro rational targeting of either of these pathways rescues AML cell sensitivity to CAR T-cell-mediated killing. We thus demonstrate that TP53 deficiency confers resistance to CAR T-cell therapy and identify the mevalonate pathway as a therapeutic vulnerability of TP53-deficient AML cells engaged by CAR T-cells, and the Wnt pathway as a promising CAR T-cell therapy-enhancing approach for TP53-deficient AML/MDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Mueller
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roman R Schimmer
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Koch
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Florin Schneiter
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Fullin
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Veronika Lysenko
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Pellegrino
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nancy Klemm
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Norman Russkamp
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Renier Myburgh
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Laura Volta
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Pa Theocharides
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kari J Kurppa
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Timm Schroeder
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus G Manz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Steffen Boettcher
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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10
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Casirati G. Stem cells in disguise. Science 2024; 383:714. [PMID: 38359127 DOI: 10.1126/science.adn9409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Epitope editing can empower targeted cancer immunotherapies.
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11
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Liu J, Gao Y, Song C, Liao W, Meng L, Yang S, Xiong Y. Immunotherapeutic prospects and progress in bladder cancer. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18101. [PMID: 38165009 PMCID: PMC10902563 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours of the urogenital system, with high morbidity and mortality. In most cases, surgery is considered the first choice of treatment, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. However, the 5-year recurrence rate is still as high as 65% in patients with non-invasive or in situ tumours and up to 73% in patients with slightly more advanced disease at initial diagnosis. Various treatment methods for bladder cancer have been developed, and hundreds of new immunotherapies are being tested. To date, only a small percentage of people have had success with new treatments, though studies have suggested that the combination of immunotherapy with other therapies improves treatment efficiency and positive outcomes for individuals, with great hopes for the future. In this article, we summarize the origins, therapeutic mechanisms and current status of research on immunotherapeutic agents for bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwei Liu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yue Gao
- Department of Party and Administration, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Chao Song
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wenbiao Liao
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lingchao Meng
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Sixing Yang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yunhe Xiong
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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12
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Boucher JC, Shrestha B, Vishwasrao P, Leick M, Cervantes EV, Ghafoor T, Reid K, Spitler K, Yu B, Betts BC, Guevara-Patino JA, Maus MV, Davila ML. Bispecific CD33/CD123 targeted chimeric antigen receptor T cells for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 31:100751. [PMID: 38075241 PMCID: PMC10701585 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.100751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
CD33 and CD123 are expressed on the surface of human acute myeloid leukemia blasts and other noncancerous tissues such as hematopoietic stem cells. On-target off-tumor toxicities may limit chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies that target both CD33 and CD123. To overcome this limitation, we developed bispecific human CD33/CD123 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells with an "AND" logic gate. We produced novel CD33 and CD123 scFvs from monoclonal antibodies that bound CD33 and CD123 and activated T cells. Screening of CD33 and CD123 CAR T cells for cytotoxicity, cytokine production, and proliferation was performed, and we selected scFvs for CD33/CD123 bispecific CARs. The bispecific CARs split 4-1BB co-stimulation on one scFv and CD3ζ on the other. In vitro testing of cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity resulted in selecting bispecific CAR 1 construct for in vivo analysis. The CD33/CD123 bispecific CAR T cells were able to control acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a xenograft AML mouse model similar to monospecific CD33 and CD123 CAR T cells while showing no on-target off-tumor effects. Based on our findings, human CD33/CD123 bispecific CAR T cells are a promising cell-based approach to prevent AML and support clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin C. Boucher
- Department of Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, Division of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Bishwas Shrestha
- Department of Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, Division of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Paresh Vishwasrao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
- Department of Hematology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Leick
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program. Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | | | - Kayla Reid
- Department of Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, Division of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Kristen Spitler
- Department of Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, Division of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Bin Yu
- Department of Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, Division of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Brian C. Betts
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplant, Department of Medicine, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | - Marcela V. Maus
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program. Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Marco L. Davila
- Department of Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, Division of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Department of Medicine and Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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13
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Petty NE, Radtke S, Fields E, Humbert O, Llewellyn MJ, Laszlo GS, Zhu H, Jerome KR, Walter RB, Kiem HP. Efficient long-term multilineage engraftment of CD33-edited hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in nonhuman primates. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101121. [PMID: 37868209 PMCID: PMC10585325 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Current immunotherapeutic targets are often shared between neoplastic and normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), leading to unwanted on-target, off-tumor toxicities. Deletion or modification of such targets to protect normal HSPCs is, therefore, of great interest. Although HSPC modifications commonly aim to mimic naturally occurring phenotypes, the long-term persistence and safety of gene-edited cells need to be evaluated. Here, we deleted the V-set domain of CD33, the immune-dominant domain targeted by most anti-CD33 antibodies used to treat CD33-positive malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia, in the HSPCs of two rhesus macaques, performed autologous transplantation after myeloablative conditioning, and followed the animals for up to 3 years. CD33-edited HSPCs engrafted without any delay in recovery of neutrophils, the primary cell type expressing CD33. No impact on the blood composition, reconstitution of the bone marrow stem cell compartment, or myeloid differentiation potential was observed. Up to 20% long-term gene editing in HSPCs and blood cell lineages was seen with robust loss of CD33 detection on myeloid lineages. In conclusion, deletion of the V-set domain of CD33 on HSPCs, progenitors, and myeloid lineages did not show any adverse effects on their homing and engraftment potential or the differentiation and functionality of myeloid progenitors and lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E. Petty
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Stefan Radtke
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Emily Fields
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Olivier Humbert
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Mallory J. Llewellyn
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - George S. Laszlo
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Haiying Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Keith R. Jerome
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Roland B. Walter
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Hans-Peter Kiem
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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14
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Lydeard JR, Lin MI, Ge HG, Halfond A, Wang S, Jones MB, Etchin J, Angelini G, Xavier-Ferrucio J, Lisle J, Salvadore K, Keschner Y, Mager H, Scherer J, Hu J, Mukherjee S, Chakraborty T. Development of a gene edited next-generation hematopoietic cell transplant to enable acute myeloid leukemia treatment by solving off-tumor toxicity. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101135. [PMID: 38027064 PMCID: PMC10643325 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been challenging because the lack of tumor-specific antigens results in "on-target, off-tumor" toxicity. To unlock the full potential of AML therapies, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically ablate the myeloid protein CD33 from healthy donor hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), creating tremtelectogene empogeditemcel (trem-cel). Trem-cel is a HSPC transplant product designed to provide a reconstituted hematopoietic compartment that is resistant to anti-CD33 drug cytotoxicity. Here, we describe preclinical studies and process development of clinical-scale manufacturing of trem-cel. Preclinical data showed proof-of-concept with loss of CD33 surface protein and no impact on myeloid cell differentiation or function. At clinical scale, trem-cel could be manufactured reproducibly, routinely achieving >70% CD33 editing with no effect on cell viability, differentiation, and function. Trem-cel pharmacology studies using mouse xenograft models showed long-term engraftment, multilineage differentiation, and persistence of gene editing. Toxicology assessment revealed no adverse findings, and no significant or reproducible off-target editing events. Importantly, CD33-knockout myeloid cells were resistant to the CD33-targeted agent gemtuzumab ozogamicin in vitro and in vivo. These studies supported the initiation of the first-in-human, multicenter clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of trem-cel in patients with AML (NCT04849910).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shu Wang
- Vor Biopharma, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Siddhartha Mukherjee
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Cancer Research Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Edward P. Evans Center for Myelodysplastic Syndromes at Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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15
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Lee BC, Gin A, Wu C, Singh K, Grice M, Mortlock R, Abraham D, Fan X, Zhou Y, AlJanahi A, Choi U, de Ravin SS, Shin T, Hong S, Dunbar CE. Impact of CRISPR/HDR-editing versus lentiviral transduction on long-term engraftment and clonal dynamics of HSPCs in rhesus macaques. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.13.571396. [PMID: 38168153 PMCID: PMC10760194 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.13.571396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
For precise genome editing via CRISPR/homology-directed repair (HDR), effective and safe editing of long-term engrafting hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) requires both sufficient HDR efficiency and protection of LT-HSC function and number. The impact of HDR on true LT-HSCs clonal dynamics in a relevant large animal model has not previously been studied. To track the HDR-edited cells, autologous rhesus macaque (RM) CD34 + cells were electroporated with the gRNA/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) and HDR cassette barcode library structure and reinfused into RMs following myeloablation. For competitive model animals, fractionated CD34 + cells were transduced with a barcoded GFP-expressing lentiviral vector (LV) and electroporated via HDR machinery, respectively. CD33 knockout (KO) neutrophils were prevalent early following engraftment and then rapidly decreased, resulting in less than 1% total editing efficiency. Interestingly, in competitive animals, a higher concentration of i53 mRNA result in a less steep reduction in CD33 KO cells, presented a modest decrease in HDR rate (0.1-0.2%) and total indels (1.5-6.5%). In contrast, the drop off of LV-transduced GFP + cells stabilized at 20% after 2 months. We next retrieved embedded barcodes and revealed that various clones contributed to early hematopoietic reconstitution, then after dominant clones appeared at steady state throughout the animals. In conclusion, CRISPR/HDR edited cells disappeared rapidly after the autologous transplantation in RM despite substantial gene editing outcome, whereas LV-transduced cells were relatively well maintained. Clonality of HDR-edited cells drastically shrank at early stage and then relied on several dominant clones, which can be mildly mitigated by the introduction of i53 mRNA.
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16
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Marone R, Landmann E, Devaux A, Lepore R, Seyres D, Zuin J, Burgold T, Engdahl C, Capoferri G, Dell’Aglio A, Larrue C, Simonetta F, Rositzka J, Rhiel M, Andrieux G, Gallagher DN, Schröder MS, Wiederkehr A, Sinopoli A, Do Sacramento V, Haydn A, Garcia-Prat L, Divsalar C, Camus A, Xu L, Bordoli L, Schwede T, Porteus M, Tamburini J, Corn JE, Cathomen T, Cornu TI, Urlinger S, Jeker LT. Epitope-engineered human hematopoietic stem cells are shielded from CD123-targeted immunotherapy. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20231235. [PMID: 37773046 PMCID: PMC10541312 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20231235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted eradication of transformed or otherwise dysregulated cells using monoclonal antibodies (mAb), antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), T cell engagers (TCE), or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cells is very effective for hematologic diseases. Unlike the breakthrough progress achieved for B cell malignancies, there is a pressing need to find suitable antigens for myeloid malignancies. CD123, the interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor alpha-chain, is highly expressed in various hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, shared CD123 expression on healthy hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) bears the risk for myelotoxicity. We demonstrate that epitope-engineered HSPCs were shielded from CD123-targeted immunotherapy but remained functional, while CD123-deficient HSPCs displayed a competitive disadvantage. Transplantation of genome-edited HSPCs could enable tumor-selective targeted immunotherapy while rebuilding a fully functional hematopoietic system. We envision that this approach is broadly applicable to other targets and cells, could render hitherto undruggable targets accessible to immunotherapy, and will allow continued posttransplant therapy, for instance, to treat minimal residual disease (MRD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Marone
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuelle Landmann
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Devaux
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rosalba Lepore
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- Cimeio Therapeutics AG, Basel, Switzerland
- Ridgeline Discovery GmbH, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Denis Seyres
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Zuin
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Burgold
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Corinne Engdahl
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppina Capoferri
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Dell’Aglio
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Clément Larrue
- Translational Research Centre in Onco-Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, and Swiss Cancer Center Leman, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Medicine, Translational Research Center for Onco-Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julia Rositzka
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Manuel Rhiel
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Geoffroy Andrieux
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Danielle N. Gallagher
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Markus S. Schröder
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Anna Haydn
- Ridgeline Discovery GmbH, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Anna Camus
- Cimeio Therapeutics AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Liwen Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lorenza Bordoli
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Torsten Schwede
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthew Porteus
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jérôme Tamburini
- Department of Medicine, Translational Research Center for Onco-Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jacob E. Corn
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tatjana I. Cornu
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Urlinger
- Cimeio Therapeutics AG, Basel, Switzerland
- Ridgeline Discovery GmbH, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lukas T. Jeker
- Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
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17
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Volta L, Manz MG. Twisted: Escape of epitope-edited healthy cells from immune attack. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20231635. [PMID: 37819374 PMCID: PMC10565509 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20231635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell-derived neoplasia is challenging to target by cell surface-directed immunotherapy due to lack of tumor cell-specific antigen identification. Marone et al. (2023. J. Exp. Med.https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20231235) provide a solution by target-epitope resistance editing in healthy hematopoietic stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Volta
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus G. Manz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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18
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Kim MY. Making normal hematopoiesis invisible to CAR T cells. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:983-984. [PMID: 37863719 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.10.001] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Two recent studies, by Casirati et al. and Wellhausen et al., report genetically engineering normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to be resistant to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, by changing a single amino acid in the target protein that abrogates CAR binding, without compromising protein function. This allows for selective targeting of cancer cells without harming normal hematopoietic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Y Kim
- Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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19
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Smith EL. The Future of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2023; 37:1215-1219. [PMID: 37442674 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2023.06.005] [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] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Over the last 10 years CAR T cell therapies have been shown to be transformative for B- and plasma-cell malignancies, however the field is only beginning to realize the potential benefit to patients of such therapies. Over the next 10 years it is expected that advances will be made in durable response rates for patients with B/plasma cell malignancies; expansion to T-cell, myeloid, and solid malignancies; and in delivery and manufacturing to transform the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric L Smith
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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20
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Karsten H, Matrisch L, Cichutek S, Fiedler W, Alsdorf W, Block A. Broadening the horizon: potential applications of CAR-T cells beyond current indications. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1285406. [PMID: 38090582 PMCID: PMC10711079 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1285406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineering immune cells to treat hematological malignancies has been a major focus of research since the first resounding successes of CAR-T-cell therapies in B-ALL. Several diseases can now be treated in highly therapy-refractory or relapsed conditions. Currently, a number of CD19- or BCMA-specific CAR-T-cell therapies are approved for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), multiple myeloma (MM), and follicular lymphoma (FL). The implementation of these therapies has significantly improved patient outcome and survival even in cases with previously very poor prognosis. In this comprehensive review, we present the current state of research, recent innovations, and the applications of CAR-T-cell therapy in a selected group of hematologic malignancies. We focus on B- and T-cell malignancies, including the entities of cutaneous and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (T-ALL, PTCL, CTCL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), classical Hodgkin-Lymphoma (HL), Burkitt-Lymphoma (BL), hairy cell leukemia (HCL), and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM). While these diseases are highly heterogenous, we highlight several similarly used approaches (combination with established therapeutics, target depletion on healthy cells), targets used in multiple diseases (CD30, CD38, TRBC1/2), and unique features that require individualized approaches. Furthermore, we focus on current limitations of CAR-T-cell therapy in individual diseases and entities such as immunocompromising tumor microenvironment (TME), risk of on-target-off-tumor effects, and differences in the occurrence of adverse events. Finally, we present an outlook into novel innovations in CAR-T-cell engineering like the use of artificial intelligence and the future role of CAR-T cells in therapy regimens in everyday clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Karsten
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ludwig Matrisch
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sophia Cichutek
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Division of Pneumology, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Walter Fiedler
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Division of Pneumology, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Winfried Alsdorf
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Division of Pneumology, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Block
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Division of Pneumology, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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21
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Chen C, Wang Z, Qin Y. CRISPR/Cas9 system: recent applications in immuno-oncology and cancer immunotherapy. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:95. [PMID: 37964355 PMCID: PMC10647168 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00457-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) is essentially an adaptive immunity weapon in prokaryotes against foreign DNA. This system inspires the development of genome-editing technology in eukaryotes. In biomedicine research, CRISPR has offered a powerful platform to establish tumor-bearing models and screen potential targets in the immuno-oncology field, broadening our insights into cancer genomics. In translational medicine, the versatile CRISPR/Cas9 system exhibits immense potential to break the current limitations of cancer immunotherapy, thereby expanding the feasibility of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) in treating solid tumors. Herein, we first explain the principles of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology and introduce CRISPR as a tool in tumor modeling. We next focus on the CRISPR screening for target discovery that reveals tumorigenesis, immune evasion, and drug resistance mechanisms. Moreover, we discuss the recent breakthroughs of genetically modified ACT using CRISPR/Cas9. Finally, we present potential challenges and perspectives in basic research and clinical translation of CRISPR/Cas9. This review provides a comprehensive overview of CRISPR/Cas9 applications that advance our insights into tumor-immune interaction and lay the foundation to optimize cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanru Qin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
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22
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Haubner S, Mansilla-Soto J, Nataraj S, Kogel F, Chang Q, de Stanchina E, Lopez M, Ng MR, Fraser K, Subklewe M, Park JH, Wang X, Rivière I, Sadelain M. Cooperative CAR targeting to selectively eliminate AML and minimize escape. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:1871-1891.e6. [PMID: 37802054 PMCID: PMC11006543 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) poses a singular challenge for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy owing to its phenotypic heterogeneity and similarity to normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). Here we expound a CAR strategy intended to efficiently target AML while minimizing HSPC toxicity. Quantification of target expression in relapsed/refractory patient samples and normal HSPCs reveals a therapeutic window for gated co-targeting of ADGRE2 and CLEC12A: We combine an attenuated ADGRE2-CAR with a CLEC12A-chimeric costimulatory receptor (ADCLEC.syn1) to preferentially engage ADGRE2posCLEC12Apos leukemic stem cells over ADGRE2lowCLEC12Aneg normal HSPCs. ADCLEC.syn1 prevents antigen escape in AML xenograft models, outperforms the ADGRE2-CAR alone and eradicates AML despite proximate myelopoiesis in humanized mice. Off-target HSPC toxicity is similar to that of a CD19-CAR and can be mitigated by reducing CAR T cell-derived interferon-γ. Overall, we demonstrate the ability of target density-adapted cooperative CAR targeting to selectively eliminate AML and potentially obviate the need for hematopoietic rescue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Haubner
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jorge Mansilla-Soto
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sarah Nataraj
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Friederike Kogel
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Qing Chang
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michael Lopez
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mei Rosa Ng
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Lexington, MA 02421, USA
| | - Kathryn Fraser
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Lexington, MA 02421, USA
| | - Marion Subklewe
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Jae H Park
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cellular Therapy Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xiuyan Wang
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Michael G. Harris Cell Therapy and Cell Engineering Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Isabelle Rivière
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Michael G. Harris Cell Therapy and Cell Engineering Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michel Sadelain
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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23
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Petty NE, Thomas J, Radtke S, Kiem HP. Now you see me, now you don't: New approaches to sparing nonmalignant cells from CAR T cell therapies. MED 2023; 4:749-751. [PMID: 37951207 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
While new immunotherapies have revolutionized the field of oncology, they have been limited by their inability to distinguish between cancerous cells and healthy HSPCs. Work by Casirati et al.1 and Wellhausen et al.2 in epitope editing antigens commonly expressed on AML and HSPCs has unlocked several new targets for immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E Petty
- Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Justin Thomas
- Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Stefan Radtke
- Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Hans-Peter Kiem
- Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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24
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Saniei S, Wagenblast E. Epitope base editing: Non-malignant stem cells are going undercover. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:1400-1402. [PMID: 37922877 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Engineered hematopoietic stem cells can be shielded from targeted immunotherapy. Recently published in Nature, Casirati et al. utilized single-base editing of epitopes implicated in acute myeloid leukemia and healthy hematopoiesis to alter their antibody and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T recognition while preserving their ligand binding and enzymatic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Saniei
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Mindich Child Health & Development Institute and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Elvin Wagenblast
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Mindich Child Health & Development Institute and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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25
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Moço PD, Farnós O, Sharon D, Kamen AA. Targeted Delivery of Chimeric Antigen Receptor into T Cells via CRISPR-Mediated Homology-Directed Repair with a Dual-AAV6 Transduction System. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:7705-7720. [PMID: 37886930 PMCID: PMC10605174 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45100486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
CAR-T cell therapy involves genetically engineering T cells to recognize and attack tumour cells by adding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to their surface. In this study, we have used dual transduction with AAV serotype 6 (AAV6) to integrate an anti-CD19 CAR into human T cells at a known genomic location. The first viral vector expresses the Cas9 endonuclease and a guide RNA (gRNA) targeting the T cell receptor alpha constant locus, while the second vector carries the DNA template for homology-mediated CAR insertion. We evaluated three gRNA candidates and determined their efficiency in generating indels. The AAV6 successfully delivered the CRISPR/Cas9 machinery in vitro, and molecular analysis of the dual transduction showed the integration of the CAR transgene into the desired location. In contrast to the random integration methods typically used to generate CAR-T cells, targeted integration into a known genomic locus can potentially lower the risk of insertional mutagenesis and provide more stable levels of CAR expression. Critically, this method also results in the knockout of the endogenous T cell receptor, allowing target cells to be derived from allogeneic donors. This raises the exciting possibility of "off-the-shelf" universal immunotherapies that would greatly simplify the production and administration of CAR-T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Amine A. Kamen
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0E9, Canada; (P.D.M.)
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26
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Wellhausen N, O’Connell RP, Lesch S, Engel NW, Rennels AK, Gonzales D, Herbst F, Young RM, Garcia KC, Weiner D, June CH, Gill SI. Epitope base editing CD45 in hematopoietic cells enables universal blood cancer immune therapy. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadi1145. [PMID: 37651540 PMCID: PMC10682510 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi1145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
In the absence of cell surface cancer-specific antigens, immunotherapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, monoclonal antibodies, or bispecific T cell engagers typically target lineage antigens. Currently, such immunotherapies are individually designed and tested for each disease. This approach is inefficient and limited to a few lineage antigens for which the on-target/off-tumor toxicities are clinically tolerated. Here, we sought to develop a universal CAR T cell therapy for blood cancers directed against the pan-leukocyte marker CD45. To protect healthy hematopoietic cells, including CAR T cells, from CD45-directed on-target/off-tumor toxicity while preserving the essential functions of CD45, we mapped the epitope on CD45 that is targeted by the CAR and used CRISPR adenine base editing to install a function-preserving mutation sufficient to evade CAR T cell recognition. Epitope-edited CD45 CAR T cells were fratricide resistant and effective against patient-derived acute myeloid leukemia, B cell lymphoma, and acute T cell leukemia. Epitope-edited hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were protected from CAR T cells and, unlike CD45 knockout cells, could engraft, persist, and differentiate in vivo. Ex vivo epitope editing in HSCs and T cells enables the safe and effective use of CD45-directed CAR T cells and bispecific T cell engagers for the universal treatment of hematologic malignancies and might be exploited for other diseases requiring intensive hematopoietic ablation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Wellhausen
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Ryan P. O’Connell
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stefanie Lesch
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Nils W. Engel
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Austin K. Rennels
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Donna Gonzales
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Friederike Herbst
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Regina M. Young
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - K. Christopher Garcia
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David Weiner
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Carl H. June
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Saar I. Gill
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, 19104, USA
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27
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Chen EC, Garcia JS. Immunotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Current Trends, Challenges, and Strategies. Acta Haematol 2023; 147:198-218. [PMID: 37673048 DOI: 10.1159/000533990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past decade, there have been significant breakthroughs in immunotherapies for B-cell lymphoid malignancies and multiple myeloma, but progress has been much less for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Nevertheless, challenge begets innovation and several therapeutic strategies are under investigation. SUMMARY In this review, we review the state of the art in AML immunotherapy including CD33- and CD123-targeted agents, immune checkpoint inhibition, and adoptive cell therapy strategies. We also share conceptual frameworks for approaching the growing catalog of investigational AML immunotherapies and propose future directions for the field. KEY MESSAGES Immunotherapies for AML face significant challenges but novel strategies are in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan C Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Division of Leukemia, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jacqueline S Garcia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Division of Leukemia, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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28
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Vanhooren J, Dobbelaere R, Derpoorter C, Deneweth L, Van Camp L, Uyttebroeck A, De Moerloose B, Lammens T. CAR-T in the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Barriers and How to Overcome Them. Hemasphere 2023; 7:e937. [PMID: 37674860 PMCID: PMC10479376 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are characterized by high rates of relapse, severe toxicities, and poor overall survival rates. Thus, the development of new therapeutic strategies is crucial for improving the survival and quality of life of AML patients. CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy has been extremely successful in the treatment of B-cell acute lymphoid leukemia and several mature B-cell lymphomas. However, the use of CAR T-cell therapy for AML is currently prevented due to the lack of a myeloid equivalent to CD19, as currently known cell surface targets on leukemic blasts are also expressed on healthy hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells as well as their progeny. In addition, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment has a dampening effect on the antitumor activity of CAR-T cells. Here, we review the therapeutic challenges limiting the use of CAR T-cell therapy for AML and discuss promising novel strategies to overcome them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien Vanhooren
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rani Dobbelaere
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Derpoorter
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Belgium
| | - Larissa Deneweth
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laurens Van Camp
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anne Uyttebroeck
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Barbara De Moerloose
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim Lammens
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Belgium
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29
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Casirati G, Cosentino A, Mucci A, Salah Mahmoud M, Ugarte Zabala I, Zeng J, Ficarro SB, Klatt D, Brendel C, Rambaldi A, Ritz J, Marto JA, Pellin D, Bauer DE, Armstrong SA, Genovese P. Epitope editing enables targeted immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukaemia. Nature 2023; 621:404-414. [PMID: 37648862 PMCID: PMC10499609 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06496-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite the considerable efficacy observed when targeting a dispensable lineage antigen, such as CD19 in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia1,2, the broader applicability of adoptive immunotherapies is hampered by the absence of tumour-restricted antigens3-5. Acute myeloid leukaemia immunotherapies target genes expressed by haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) or differentiated myeloid cells, resulting in intolerable on-target/off-tumour toxicity. Here we show that epitope engineering of donor HSPCs used for bone marrow transplantation endows haematopoietic lineages with selective resistance to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells or monoclonal antibodies, without affecting protein function or regulation. This strategy enables the targeting of genes that are essential for leukaemia survival regardless of shared expression on HSPCs, reducing the risk of tumour immune escape. By performing epitope mapping and library screenings, we identified amino acid changes that abrogate the binding of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting FLT3, CD123 and KIT, and optimized a base-editing approach to introduce them into CD34+ HSPCs, which retain long-term engraftment and multilineage differentiation ability. After CAR T cell treatment, we confirmed resistance of epitope-edited haematopoiesis and concomitant eradication of patient-derived acute myeloid leukaemia xenografts. Furthermore, we show that multiplex epitope engineering of HSPCs is feasible and enables more effective immunotherapies against multiple targets without incurring overlapping off-tumour toxicities. We envision that this approach will provide opportunities to treat relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukaemia and enable safer non-genotoxic conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Casirati
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Milano-Bicocca University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Andrea Cosentino
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Milan and Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Adele Mucci
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Mohammed Salah Mahmoud
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Iratxe Ugarte Zabala
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jing Zeng
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Scott B Ficarro
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Denise Klatt
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Christian Brendel
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alessandro Rambaldi
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Milan and Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Jerome Ritz
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Connell and O'Reilly Families Cell Manipulation Core Facility, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
| | - Jarrod A Marto
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Blais Proteomics Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Emergent Drug Targets, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Danilo Pellin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel E Bauer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott A Armstrong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pietro Genovese
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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30
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Berner J, Miebach L, Kordt M, Seebauer C, Schmidt A, Lalk M, Vollmar B, Metelmann HR, Bekeschus S. Chronic oxidative stress adaptation in head and neck cancer cells generates slow-cyclers with decreased tumour growth in vivo. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:869-883. [PMID: 37460712 PMCID: PMC10449771 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02343-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in cancer therapy and as drivers of microenvironmental tumour cell adaptations. Medical gas plasma is a multi-ROS generating technology that has been shown effective for palliative tumour control in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients before tumour cells adapted to the oxidative stress and growth regressed fatally. METHODS In a bedside-to-bench approach, we sought to explore the oxidative stress adaptation in two human squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Gas plasma was utilised as a putative therapeutic agent and chronic oxidative stress inducer. RESULTS Cellular responses of single and multiple treated cells were compared regarding sensitivity, cellular senescence, redox state and cytokine release. Whole transcriptome analysis revealed a strong correlation of cancer cell adaption with increased interleukin 1 receptor type 2 (IL1R2) expression. Using magnetic resonance imaging, tumour growth and gas plasma treatment responses of wild-type (WT) and repeatedly exposed (RE) A431 cells were further investigated in a xenograft model in vivo. RE cells generated significantly smaller tumours with suppressed inflammatory secretion profiles and increased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activity showing significantly lower gas plasma sensitivity until day 8. CONCLUSIONS Clinically, combination treatments together with cetuximab, an EGFR inhibitor, may overcome acquired oxidative stress resistance in HNC.
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Grants
- This study was funded by the joint research project ONKOTHER-H is supported by the European Social Fund (ESF, grant numbers ESF/14-BM-A55-0003/18, ESF/14-BM-A55-0005/18, and ESF/14-BM-A55-0006/18) and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, as well as the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, grant numbers 03Z22DN11 and 03Z22Di1).
- This study was funded by the joint research project ONKOTHER-H is supported by the European Social Fund (ESF, grant numbers ESF/14-BM-A55-0005/18).
- Gerhard-Domagk-Foundation Greifswald (Germany).
- This study was funded by the joint research project ONKOTHER-H is supported by the European Social Fund (ESF, grant numbers ESF/14-BM-A55-0003/18).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Berner
- Department of Oral, Maxillofacial, and Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lea Miebach
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marcel Kordt
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 69a, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Christian Seebauer
- Department of Oral, Maxillofacial, and Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anke Schmidt
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Lalk
- Institute for Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 4, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Brigitte Vollmar
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 69a, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Hans-Robert Metelmann
- Department of Oral, Maxillofacial, and Plastic Surgery, Greifswald University Medical Center, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Str, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
- Clinic and Policlinic for Dermatology and Venerology, Rostock University Medical Center, Strempelstr. 13, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
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31
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Spillane DR, Assouline S. Immunotherapy for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia: where do we stand? Expert Rev Hematol 2023; 16:819-834. [PMID: 37819154 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2023.2268273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are generally characterized by a poor prognosis with currently available therapies. Immunotherapies have already seen success in treating a variety of malignant disorders, and their role in managing myeloid cancers is evolving rapidly. AREAS COVERED This is a review of the immunotherapies tested in MDS and AML, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, and cell therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, T cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, with a focus on clinical trials conducted to date and future directions. EXPERT OPINION Initial clinical trials exploring checkpoint inhibitors in MDS and AML have demonstrated high toxicity and disappointing efficacy. However, ongoing trials adding novel checkpoint inhibitors to standard therapy are more promising. Technological advances are improving the outlook for bispecific antibodies, and cellular therapies like adoptive NK cell infusion have favorable efficacy and tolerability in early trials. As our understanding of the immune microenvironment in MDS and AML improves, the role for immunotherapy in the treatment of these diseases will become clearer.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Spillane
- Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sarit Assouline
- Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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Shao R, Li Z, Xin H, Jiang S, Zhu Y, Liu J, Huang R, Xu K, Shi X. Biomarkers as targets for CAR-T/NK cell therapy in AML. Biomark Res 2023; 11:65. [PMID: 37330575 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00501-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The most common kind of acute leukemia in adults is acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is often treated with induction chemotherapy regimens followed by consolidation or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, some patients continue to develop relapsed or refractory AML (R/R-AML). Small molecular targeted drugs require long-time administration. Not all the patients hold molecular targets. Novel medicines are therefore needed to enhance treatment outcomes. T cells and natural killer (NK) cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target antigens associated with AML have recently been produced and are currently being tested in both pre-clinical and clinical settings. This review provides an overview of CAR-T/NK treatments for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruonan Shao
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.262, North Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zijian Li
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.262, North Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Honglei Xin
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.262, North Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Suyu Jiang
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.262, North Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yilin Zhu
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.262, North Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingan Liu
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.262, North Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Huang
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.262, North Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kailin Xu
- Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Shi
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No.262, North Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210003, Jiangsu, China.
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Martin-Rufino JD, Castano N, Pang M, Grody EI, Joubran S, Caulier A, Wahlster L, Li T, Qiu X, Riera-Escandell AM, Newby GA, Al'Khafaji A, Chaudhary S, Black S, Weng C, Munson G, Liu DR, Wlodarski MW, Sims K, Oakley JH, Fasano RM, Xavier RJ, Lander ES, Klein DE, Sankaran VG. Massively parallel base editing to map variant effects in human hematopoiesis. Cell 2023; 186:2456-2474.e24. [PMID: 37137305 PMCID: PMC10225359 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Systematic evaluation of the impact of genetic variants is critical for the study and treatment of human physiology and disease. While specific mutations can be introduced by genome engineering, we still lack scalable approaches that are applicable to the important setting of primary cells, such as blood and immune cells. Here, we describe the development of massively parallel base-editing screens in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Such approaches enable functional screens for variant effects across any hematopoietic differentiation state. Moreover, they allow for rich phenotyping through single-cell RNA sequencing readouts and separately for characterization of editing outcomes through pooled single-cell genotyping. We efficiently design improved leukemia immunotherapy approaches, comprehensively identify non-coding variants modulating fetal hemoglobin expression, define mechanisms regulating hematopoietic differentiation, and probe the pathogenicity of uncharacterized disease-associated variants. These strategies will advance effective and high-throughput variant-to-function mapping in human hematopoiesis to identify the causes of diverse diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge D Martin-Rufino
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; PhD Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nicole Castano
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Michael Pang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Samantha Joubran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Chemical Biology PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alexis Caulier
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Lara Wahlster
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Tongqing Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Xiaojie Qiu
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Gregory A Newby
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Aziz Al'Khafaji
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Susan Black
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Chen Weng
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Glen Munson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Marcin W Wlodarski
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Kacie Sims
- St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, USA
| | - Jamie H Oakley
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ross M Fasano
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ramnik J Xavier
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, and Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Eric S Lander
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Daryl E Klein
- Department of Pharmacology and Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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CD33 isoforms in microglia and Alzheimer's disease: Friend and foe. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 90:101111. [PMID: 35940942 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2022.101111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of neurodegenerative disease and is considered the main cause of dementia worldwide. Genome-wide association studies combined with integrated analysis of functional datasets support a critical role for microglia in AD pathogenesis, identifying them as important potential therapeutic targets. The ability of immunomodulatory receptors on microglia to control the response to pathogenic amyloid-β aggregates has gained significant interest. Siglec-3, also known as CD33, is one of these immunomodulatory receptors expressed on microglia that has been identified as an AD susceptibility factor. Here, we review recent advances made in understanding the multifaceted roles that CD33 plays in microglia with emphasis on two human-specific CD33 isoforms that differentially correlate with AD susceptibility. We also describe several different therapeutic approaches for targeting CD33 that have been advanced for the purpose of skewing microglial cell responses.
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Borot F, Humbert O, Newby GA, Fields E, Kohli S, Radtke S, Laszlo GS, Mayuranathan T, Ali AM, Weiss MJ, Yen JS, Walter RB, Liu DR, Mukherjee S, Kiem HP. Multiplex Base Editing to Protect from CD33-Directed Therapy: Implications for Immune and Gene Therapy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.23.529353. [PMID: 36865281 PMCID: PMC9980058 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.23.529353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
On-target toxicity to normal cells is a major safety concern with targeted immune and gene therapies. Here, we developed a base editing (BE) approach exploiting a naturally occurring CD33 single nucleotide polymorphism leading to removal of full-length CD33 surface expression on edited cells. CD33 editing in human and nonhuman primate (NHP) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) protects from CD33-targeted therapeutics without affecting normal hematopoiesis in vivo , thus demonstrating potential for novel immunotherapies with reduced off-leukemia toxicity. For broader applications to gene therapies, we demonstrated highly efficient (>70%) multiplexed adenine base editing of the CD33 and gamma globin genes, resulting in long-term persistence of dual gene-edited cells with HbF reactivation in NHPs. In vitro , dual gene-edited cells could be enriched via treatment with the CD33 antibody-drug conjugate, gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO). Together, our results highlight the potential of adenine base editors for improved immune and gene therapies. Graphical abstract
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Tang L, Kong Y, Wang H, Zou P, Sun T, Liu Y, Zhang J, Jin N, Mao H, Zhu X, Wang J, Meng F, You Y. Demethylating therapy increases cytotoxicity of CD44v6 CAR-T cells against acute myeloid leukemia. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1145441. [PMID: 37180104 PMCID: PMC10174291 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1145441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background CD44v6 chimeric antigen receptor T (CD44v6 CAR-T) cells demonstrate strong anti-tumor ability and safety in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the expression of CD44v6 on T cells leads to transient fratricide and exhaustion of CD44v6 CAR-T cells, which affect the application of CD44v6 CAR-T. The exhaustion and function of T cells and CD44v6 expression of AML cells are associated with DNA methylation. Hypomethylating agents (HAMs) decitabine (Dec) and azacitidine (Aza) have been widely used to treat AML. Therefore, there may be synergy between CD44v6 CAR-T cells and HAMs in the treatment of AML. Methods CD44v6 CAR-T cells pretreated with Dec or Aza were co-cultured with CD44v6+ AML cells. Dec or aza pretreated AML cells were co-cultured with CD44v6 CAR-T cells. The cytotoxicity, exhaustion, differentiation and transduction efficiency of CAR-T cells, and CD44v6 expression and apoptosis in AML cells were detected by flow cytometry. The subcutaneous tumor models were used to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of CD44v6 CAR-T cells combined with Dec in vivo. The effects of Dec or Aza on gene expression profile of CD44v6 CAR-T cells were analyzed by RNA-seq. Results Our results revealed that Dec and Aza improved the function of CD44v6 CAR-T cells through increasing the absolute output of CAR+ cells and persistence, promoting activation and memory phenotype of CD44v6 CAR-T cells, and Dec had a more pronounced effect. Dec and Aza promoted the apoptosis of AML cells, particularly with DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) mutation. Dec and Aza also enhanced the CD44v6 CAR-T response to AML by upregulating CD44v6 expression of AML cells regardless of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) or DNMT3A mutations. The combination of Dec or Aza pretreated CD44v6 CAR-T with pretreated AML cells demonstrated the most potent anti-tumor ability against AML. Conclusion Dec or Aza in combination with CD44v6 CAR-T cells is a promising combination therapy for AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Tang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingjie Kong
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haobing Wang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ping Zou
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting Sun
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of R&D, Wuhan Biological Sample Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Department of R&D, Wuhan Biological Sample Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China
| | - Na Jin
- Department of Oncology, The First People’s Hospital of Jiangxia District, Wuhan City and Union Jiangnan Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hanwen Mao
- Oncology Department, Wuhan Dongxihu District People’s Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojian Zhu
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jue Wang
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Fankai Meng, ; Jue Wang, ; Yong You,
| | - Fankai Meng
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Fankai Meng, ; Jue Wang, ; Yong You,
| | - Yong You
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Fankai Meng, ; Jue Wang, ; Yong You,
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A novel therapeutic bispecific format based on synthetic orthogonal heterodimers enables T cell activity against Acute myeloid leukemia. Oncogene 2023; 42:26-34. [PMID: 36357573 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02532-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Many therapeutic bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) are in clinical trials. A modular and efficient process to create BiTEs would accelerate their development and clinical applicability. In this study, we present the design, production, and functional activity of a novel bispecific format utilizing synthetic orthogonal heterodimers to form a multichain modular design. Further addition of an immunoglobulin hinge region allowed a stable covalent linkage between the heterodimers. As proof-of-concept, we utilized CD33 and CD3 binding scFvs to engage leukemia cells and T-cells respectively. We provide evidence that this novel bispecific T-cell engager (termed IgGlue-BiTE) could bind both CD3+ and CD33+ cells and facilitates robust T-cell mediated cytotoxicity on AML cells in vitro. In a mouse model of minimal residual disease, we showed that the novel IgGlue-BiTE greatly extended survival, and mice of this treatment group were free of leukemia in the bone marrow. These findings suggest that the IgGlue-BiTE allows for robust simultaneous engagement with both antigens of interest in a manner conducive to T cell cytotoxicity against AML. These results suggest a compelling modular system for bispecific antibodies, as the CD3- and CD33-binding domains can be readily swapped with domains binding to other cancer- or immune cell-specific antigens.
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Qiu HY, Ji RJ, Zhang Y. Current advances of CRISPR-Cas technology in cell therapy. CELL INSIGHT 2022; 1:100067. [PMID: 37193354 PMCID: PMC10120314 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2022.100067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas is a versatile genome editing technology that has been broadly applied in both basic research and translation medicine. Ever since its discovery, the bacterial derived endonucleases have been engineered to a collection of robust genome-editing tools for introducing frameshift mutations or base conversions at site-specific loci. Since the initiation of first-in-human trial in 2016, CRISPR-Cas has been tested in 57 cell therapy trials, 38 of which focusing on engineered CAR-T cells and TCR-T cells for cancer malignancies, 15 trials of engineered hematopoietic stem cells treating hemoglobinopathies, leukemia and AIDS, and 4 trials of engineered iPSCs for diabetes and cancer. Here, we aim to review the recent breakthroughs of CRISPR technology and highlight their applications in cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hou-Yuan Qiu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Rui-Jin Ji
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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Wang D, Gu W, Chen W, Zhou J, Yu L, Kook Kim B, Zhang X, Seung Kim J. Advanced nanovaccines based on engineering nanomaterials for accurately enhanced cancer immunotherapy. Coord Chem Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Huang J, Huang X, Huang J. CAR-T cell therapy for hematological malignancies: Limitations and optimization strategies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1019115. [PMID: 36248810 PMCID: PMC9557333 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1019115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, the emergence of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has led to a cellular immunotherapy revolution against various cancers. Although CAR-T cell therapies have demonstrated remarkable efficacy for patients with certain B cell driven hematological malignancies, further studies are required to broaden the use of CAR-T cell therapy against other hematological malignancies. Moreover, treatment failure still occurs for a significant proportion of patients. CAR antigen loss on cancer cells is one of the most common reasons for cancer relapse. Additionally, immune evasion can arise due to the hostile immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and the impaired CAR-T cells in vivo persistence. Other than direct antitumor activity, the adverse effects associated with CAR-T cell therapy are another major concern during treatment. As a newly emerged treatment approach, numerous novel preclinical studies have proposed different strategies to enhance the efficacy and attenuate CAR-T cell associated toxicity in recent years. The major obstacles that impede promising outcomes for patients with hematological malignancies during CAR-T cell therapy have been reviewed herein, along with recent advancements being made to surmount them.
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Tang L, Huang H, Tang Y, Li Q, Wang J, Li D, Zhong Z, Zou P, You Y, Cao Y, Kong Y, Guo A, Zhou S, Li H, Meng F, Xiao Y, Zhu X. CD44v6 chimeric antigen receptor T cell specificity towards AML with FLT3 or DNMT3A mutations. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e1043. [PMID: 36163632 PMCID: PMC9513046 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell (CAR‐T) therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has thus far been elusive, in part due to target restriction and phenotypic heterogeneity of AML cells. Mutations of the FMS‐like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) genes are common driver mutations that present with a poor prognosis in AML patients. We found that AML patients with FLT3 or DNMT3A mutations had higher expression of CD44 isoform 6 (CD44v6) compared to normal specimens. Therefore, we intended to demonstrate CD44v6 could be a specific option for AML with FLT3 or DNMT3A mutations. Methods Internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations of FLT3 (FLT3/ITD) knock‐in clone and DNMT3A‐R882H mutant clones of SKM‐1 cells were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 and lentiviral transfection, respectively. CD44v6 CAR‐T cells were constructed by transfecting T cells with lentivirus containing CD44v6 CAR. CD44v6 expression in AML cell lines, AML patients and healthy donors was evaluated by flow cytometry. DNA methylation assays were used to analyse the mechanisms of FLT3 and DNMT3A mutations affecting CD44v6 expression. Results Aberrant overexpression of CD44v6 was observed in AML cell lines with FLT3 or DNMT3A mutations compared to the wild‐type SKM‐1 or K562 cells. AML patients with FLT3 or DNMT3A mutations had higher expression of CD44v6 compared to normal specimens. Then we constructed CD44v6 CAR‐T cells and found that CD44v6 CAR‐T specifically lysed CD44v6+ cells, accompanied by cytokines release. No significant killing effect was observed from CD44v6‐ AML cells and normal cells after co‐culture with CD44v6 CAR‐T. These results were also observed in vivo. Furthermore, we found that FLT3 or DNMT3A mutations induced CD44v6 overexpression by downregulating the CpG methylation of CD44 promoter. Conclusions Collectively, CD44v6 is a promising target of CAR‐T for AML patients with FLT3 or DNMT3A mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Tang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongming Huang
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yutong Tang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Hematology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jue Wang
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dengju Li
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhaodong Zhong
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ping Zou
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong You
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingjie Kong
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Anyuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shu Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huimin Li
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fankai Meng
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojian Zhu
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Wang Z, Yang S, Koga Y, Corbett SE, Shea C, Johnson W, Yajima M, Campbell JD. Celda: a Bayesian model to perform co-clustering of genes into modules and cells into subpopulations using single-cell RNA-seq data. NAR Genom Bioinform 2022; 4:lqac066. [PMID: 36110899 PMCID: PMC9469931 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqac066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful technique to quantify gene expression in individual cells and to elucidate the molecular and cellular building blocks of complex tissues. We developed a novel Bayesian hierarchical model called Cellular Latent Dirichlet Allocation (Celda) to perform co-clustering of genes into transcriptional modules and cells into subpopulations. Celda can quantify the probabilistic contribution of each gene to each module, each module to each cell population and each cell population to each sample. In a peripheral blood mononuclear cell dataset, Celda identified a subpopulation of proliferating T cells and a plasma cell which were missed by two other common single-cell workflows. Celda also identified transcriptional modules that could be used to characterize unique and shared biological programs across cell types. Finally, Celda outperformed other approaches for clustering genes into modules on simulated data. Celda presents a novel method for characterizing transcriptional programs and cellular heterogeneity in scRNA-seq data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shiyi Yang
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yusuke Koga
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sean E Corbett
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Conor V Shea
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - W Evan Johnson
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Masanao Yajima
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua D Campbell
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Angenendt L, Mikesch JH, Schliemann C. Emerging antibody-based therapies for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Treat Rev 2022; 108:102409. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Thomas X, Elhamri M, Deloire A, Heiblig M. Antibody-based therapy for acute myeloid leukemia: a review of phase 2 and 3 trials. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2022; 27:169-185. [PMID: 35749672 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2022.2094365] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite recent advances in the treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the clinical outcome of patients continues to be unsatisfactory especially among older patients, those with a high-risk profile, and in the relapsed/refractory setting. For this reason, recent clinical trials have explored novel therapeutic agents either used alone or in combination with intensive chemotherapy or low-intensity treatments. AREAS COVERED The current paper reviews the clinical development of monoclonal antibody-based therapies in AML, their current status and phases 2 and 3 prospective trials. EXPERT OPINION Monoclonal antibody-based therapies demonstrated efficacy and tolerability in several clinical trials, especially when used in combination either with '3+7' chemotherapy or with low-intensity treatments. Additional studies are needed to determine new antigens for antibody-based therapies that target leukemia stem cells and spare normal hematopoiesis. Phase 2 and 3 additional clinical trial data are needed to assess the promise of first trials, especially regarding chimeric antigen receptor T cells redirected against myeloid antigens and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Thomas
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Bénite, France
| | - Mohamed Elhamri
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Bénite, France
| | - Alexandre Deloire
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Bénite, France
| | - Maël Heiblig
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Bénite, France
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Perna F, Espinoza-Gutarra MR, Bombaci G, Farag SS, Schwartz JE. Immune-Based Therapeutic Interventions for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Treat Res 2022; 183:225-254. [PMID: 35551662 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-96376-7_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive, clonally heterogeneous, myeloid malignancy, with a 5-year overall survival of approximately 27%. It constitutes the most common acute leukemia in adults, with an incidence of 3-5 cases per 100,000 in the United States. Despite great advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning leukemogenesis, the past several decades had seen little change to the backbone of therapy, comprised of an anthracycline-based induction regimen for those who are fit enough to receive it, followed by risk-stratified post-remission therapy with consolidation cytarabine or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Allo-SCT is the most fundamental form of immunotherapy in which donor cytotoxic T and NK cells recognize and eradicate residual AML in the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect. Building on that, several alternative or synergistic approaches to exploit both self and foreign immunity against AML have been developed. Checkpoint inhibitors, for example, CTLA-4 inhibitors, PD-1 inhibitors, and PD-L1 inhibitors block proteins found on T cells or cancer cells that stop the immune system from attacking the cancer cells. They have been used with limited success in both the AML relapsed/refractory (R/R) and post SCT settings. AML tumor mutational burden is low compared to solid tumors and thus, it is less likely to generate neoantigens and respond to antibody-mediated checkpoint blockade that has shown unprecedented results in solid tumors. Therefore, alternative therapeutic strategies that work independently of the T cell receptor (TCR) specificity have been developed. They include bispecific antibodies, which recruit T cells through CD3 engagement, and in AML have shown an overall response rate ranging between 14 and 30% in early phase trials. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is a type of treatment in which T cells are genetically engineered to produce a recombinant receptor that redirects the specificity and function of T lymphocytes. However, lack of cell surface targets exclusively expressed on AML cells including Leukemic Stem Cells (LSCs) combined with clonal heterogeneity represents the biggest challenge in developing CAR therapy for AML. Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADC) constitute the only FDA-approved immunotherapy to treat AML with Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin, a CD33-specific ADC used in CEBPα-mutated AML. The identification of additional cell surface targets is critical for the development of other ADC's potentially useful in the induction and maintenance regimens, given the ease at which these reagents can be generated and managed. Here, we will review those immune-based therapeutic interventions and highlight active areas of research investigations toward fulfillment of the great promise of immunotherapy to AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Perna
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
| | - Manuel R Espinoza-Gutarra
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Giuseppe Bombaci
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Sherif S Farag
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Jennifer E Schwartz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
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Worthington AK, Forsberg EC. A CRISPR view of hematopoietic stem cells: Moving innovative bioengineering into the clinic. Am J Hematol 2022; 97:1226-1235. [PMID: 35560111 PMCID: PMC9378712 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas genome engineering has emerged as a powerful tool to modify precise genomic sequences with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency. Major advances in CRISPR technologies over the last 5 years have fueled the development of novel techniques in hematopoiesis research to interrogate the complexities of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology. In particular, high throughput CRISPR based screens using various "flavors" of Cas coupled with sequencing and/or functional outputs are becoming increasingly efficient and accessible. In this review, we discuss recent achievements in CRISPR-mediated genomic engineering and how these new tools have advanced the understanding of HSC heterogeneity and function throughout life. Additionally, we highlight how these techniques can be used to answer previously inaccessible questions and the challenges to implement them. Finally, we focus on their translational potential to both model and treat hematological diseases in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atesh K. Worthington
- Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells University of California‐Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California USA
- Program in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology University of California‐Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California USA
| | - E. Camilla Forsberg
- Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells University of California‐Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California USA
- Biomolecular Engineering University of California‐Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California USA
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Young RM, Engel NW, Uslu U, Wellhausen N, June CH. Next-Generation CAR T-cell Therapies. Cancer Discov 2022; 12:1625-1633. [PMID: 35417527 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-21-1683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY CD19- and B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have enabled unprecedented responses in a subset of refractory patients with B-cell and plasma cell malignancies, leading to their approval by the FDA for the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. These "living drugs" can become part of a synthetic immune system, persisting at least a decade in some patients. However, despite this tremendous impact, significant unmet treatment needs remain for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid cancers. In this perspective, we highlight recent innovations that advance the field toward production of a more potent and universal cellular immunotherapy of the future. Next-generation CAR T cells will incorporate advances in gene engineering and synthetic biology to enhance functionality and persistence, and reduce treatment-associated toxicities. The combination of autologous CAR T cells with various allogeneic cell treatment strategies designed to target the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment will broaden the impact of future CAR T-cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina M Young
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nils W Engel
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ugur Uslu
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nils Wellhausen
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Carl H June
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Xin T, Cheng L, Zhou C, Zhao Y, Hu Z, Wu X. In-Vivo Induced CAR-T Cell for the Potential Breakthrough to Overcome the Barriers of Current CAR-T Cell Therapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:809754. [PMID: 35223491 PMCID: PMC8866962 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.809754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T cell) therapy has shown impressive success in the treatment of hematological malignancies, but the systemic toxicity and complex manufacturing process of current autologous CAR-T cell therapy hinder its broader applications. Universal CAR-T cells have been developed to simplify the production process through isolation and editing of allogeneic T cells from healthy persons, but the allogeneic CAR-T cells have recently encountered safety concerns, and clinical trials have been halted by the FDA. Thus, there is an urgent need to seek new ways to overcome the barriers of current CAR-T cell therapy. In-vivo CAR-T cells induced by nanocarriers loaded with CAR-genes and gene-editing tools have shown efficiency for regressing leukemia and reducing systemic toxicity in a mouse model. The in-situ programming of autologous T-cells avoids the safety concerns of allogeneic T cells, and the manufacture of nanocarriers can be easily standardized. Therefore, the in-vivo induced CAR-T cells can potentially overcome the abovementioned limitations of current CAR-T cell therapy. Here, we provide a review on CAR structures, gene-editing tools, and gene delivery techniques applied in immunotherapy to help design and develop new in-vivo induced CAR-T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqing Xin
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Cheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuchao Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yimeng Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhenhua Hu
- Department of Health and Nursing, Nanfang College of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Maganti HB, Kirkham AM, Bailey AJ, Shorr R, Kekre N, Pineault N, Allan DS. Use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to improve chimeric antigen-receptor T cell therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies. Cytotherapy 2022; 24:405-412. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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50
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Current Limitations and Perspectives of Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T-Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246157. [PMID: 34944782 PMCID: PMC8699597 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most frequent type of acute leukemia in adults. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) has been the only potentially curative treatment for the majority of patients. The ability of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cell therapy directed against the CD19 antigen to induce durable remissions in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has provided optimism that this novel treatment paradigm can be extrapolated to AML. In this review, we provide an overview of candidate target antigens for CAR-T-cells in AML, an update on recent progress in preclinical and clinical development of investigational CAR-T-cell products, and discuss challenges for the clinical implementation of CAR-T-cell therapy in AML. Abstract Adoptive transfer of gene-engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cells has emerged as a powerful immunotherapy for combating hematologic cancers. Several target antigens that are prevalently expressed on AML cells have undergone evaluation in preclinical CAR-T-cell testing. Attributes of an ‘ideal’ target antigen for CAR-T-cell therapy in AML include high-level expression on leukemic blasts and leukemic stem cells (LSCs), and absence on healthy tissues, normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). In contrast to other blood cancer types, where CAR-T therapies are being similarly studied, only a rather small number of AML patients has received CAR-T-cell treatment in clinical trials, resulting in limited clinical experience for this therapeutic approach in AML. For curative AML treatment, abrogation of bulk blasts and LSCs is mandatory with the need for hematopoietic recovery after CAR-T administration. Herein, we provide a critical review of the current pipeline of candidate target antigens and corresponding CAR-T-cell products in AML, assess challenges for clinical translation and implementation in routine clinical practice, as well as perspectives for overcoming them.
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