1
|
Greenman R, Pizem Y, Haus-Cohen M, Goor A, Horev G, Denkberg G, Sinik K, Elbaz Y, Bronner V, Levin AG, Horn G, Shen-Orr S, Reiter Y. Shaping Functional Avidity of CAR T Cells: Affinity, Avidity, and Antigen Density That Regulate Response. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:872-884. [PMID: 33649106 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-1109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are immunoreceptors that redirect T cells to selectively kill tumor cells. Given their clinical successes in hematologic malignancies, there is a strong aspiration to advance this immunotherapy for solid cancers; hence, molecular CAR design and careful target choice are crucial for their function. To evaluate the functional significance of the biophysical properties of CAR binding (i.e., affinity, avidity, and antigen density), we generated an experimental system in which these properties are controllable. We constructed and characterized a series of CARs, which target the melanoma tumor-associated antigen Tyr/HLA-A2, and in which the affinity of the single-chain Fv binding domains ranged in KD from 4 to 400 nmol/L. These CARs were transduced into T cells, and each CAR T-cell population was sorted by the level of receptor expression. Finally, the various CAR T cells were encountered with target cells that present different levels of the target antigen. We detected nonmonotonic behaviors of affinity and antigen density, and an interrelation between avidity and antigen density. Antitumor activity measurements in vitro and in vivo corroborated these observations. Our study contributes to the understanding of CAR T-cell function and regulation, having the potential to improve therapies by the rational design of CAR T cells.See related article on p. 946.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raanan Greenman
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yoav Pizem
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Maya Haus-Cohen
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Alona Goor
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Guy Horev
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Galit Horn
- Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (TASMC), Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shai Shen-Orr
- Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yoram Reiter
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Andrea AE, Chiron A, Bessoles S, Hacein-Bey-Abina S. Engineering Next-Generation CAR-T Cells for Better Toxicity Management. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8620. [PMID: 33207607 PMCID: PMC7696189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunoadoptive therapy with genetically modified T lymphocytes expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has revolutionized the treatment of patients with hematologic cancers. Although clinical outcomes in B-cell malignancies are impressive, researchers are seeking to enhance the activity, persistence, and also safety of CAR-T cell therapy-notably with a view to mitigating potentially serious or even life-threatening adverse events like on-target/off-tumor toxicity and (in particular) cytokine release syndrome. A variety of safety strategies have been developed by replacing or adding various components (such as OFF- and ON-switch CARs) or by combining multi-antigen-targeting OR-, AND- and NOT-gate CAR-T cells. This research has laid the foundations for a whole new generation of therapeutic CAR-T cells. Here, we review the most promising CAR-T cell safety strategies and the corresponding preclinical and clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alain E. Andrea
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Thérapies Moléculaires, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Saint Joseph de Beyrouth, Beirut 1100, Lebanon;
| | - Andrada Chiron
- Université de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, UTCBS, Unité des Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, F-75006 Paris, France; (A.C.); (S.B.)
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Hôpital Kremlin-Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94275 Le-Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Stéphanie Bessoles
- Université de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, UTCBS, Unité des Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, F-75006 Paris, France; (A.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Salima Hacein-Bey-Abina
- Université de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, UTCBS, Unité des Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, F-75006 Paris, France; (A.C.); (S.B.)
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Hôpital Kremlin-Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94275 Le-Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Uteng M, Urban L, Brees D, Muller PY, Kullak-Ublick GA, Bouchard P, Tougas G, Chibout SD. Safety differentiation: emerging competitive edge in drug development. Drug Discov Today 2018; 24:285-292. [PMID: 30244081 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
With increasing expectations to provide evidence of drug efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, best-in-class drugs are a major value driver for the pharmaceutical industry. Superior safety is a key differentiation criterion that could be achieved through better risk:benefit profiles, safety margins, fewer contraindications, and improved patient compliance. To accomplish this, comparative safety assessments using innovative and adaptive nonclinical and clinical outcome-based approaches should be undertaken, and continuous strategic adjustments must be made as the risk:benefit profiles evolve. Key success criteria include scientific expertise and integration between all disciplines during the full extent of the drug development process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Uteng
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Translational Medicine, Pre-Clinical Safety, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Laszlo Urban
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Translational Medicine, Pre-Clinical Safety, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dominique Brees
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Translational Medicine, Pre-Clinical Safety, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Gerd A Kullak-Ublick
- Novartis Pharma AG, Global Drug Development, Chief Medical Office and Patient Safety, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Page Bouchard
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Translational Medicine, Pre-Clinical Safety, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gervais Tougas
- Novartis Pharma AG, Global Drug Development, Chief Medical Office and Patient Safety, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Salah-Dine Chibout
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Translational Medicine, Pre-Clinical Safety, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
D'Aloia MM, Zizzari IG, Sacchetti B, Pierelli L, Alimandi M. CAR-T cells: the long and winding road to solid tumors. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:282. [PMID: 29449531 PMCID: PMC5833816 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0278-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy of solid tumors with reprogrammed T cells can be considered the “next generation” of cancer hallmarks. CAR-T cells fail to be as effective as in liquid tumors for the inability to reach and survive in the microenvironment surrounding the neoplastic foci. The intricate net of cross-interactions occurring between tumor components, stromal and immune cells leads to an ineffective anergic status favoring the evasion from the host’s defenses. Our goal is hereby to trace the road imposed by solid tumors to CAR-T cells, highlighting pitfalls and strategies to be developed and refined to possibly overcome these hurdles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Michela D'Aloia
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Luca Pierelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Alimandi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|