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Sharma A, Ren X, Rosato A, Sangiolo D, Wang Z, Tettamanti S, Zhang Y, Rettinger E, Fenix KA, Sommaggio R, Cappuzzello E, Schmidt-Wolf IGH. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, successes and challenges: report on the first international conference dedicated to the clinical translation of this unique adoptive cell immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:21. [PMID: 38279995 PMCID: PMC10821962 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03605-1] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
On August 30, 2023, experts from Germany and abroad met to discuss the successes and challenges of cytokine-induced killer cell (CIK) therapy, that recently celebrated its 30th anniversary providing treatment for cancer. This first virtual conference was hosted by CIO Bonn, a certified Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) funded by German Cancer Aid (DKH). In addition to keynote speakers involved in CIK cell clinical trials or optimized preclinical models to improve this adoptive cell immunotherapy, more than 100 attendees from around the world also participated in this event. Initiatives to establish the International Society of CIK Cells (ISCC) and a stronger CIK cell network guiding preclinical research and future clinical trials were also announced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Sharma
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Xiubao Ren
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Zibing Wang
- Immunotherapy Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sarah Tettamanti
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Eva Rettinger
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kevin Aaron Fenix
- Discipline of Surgery, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Roberta Sommaggio
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Elisa Cappuzzello
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Ingo G H Schmidt-Wolf
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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Cappuzzello E, Vigolo E, D’Accardio G, Astori G, Rosato A, Sommaggio R. How can Cytokine-induced killer cells overcome CAR-T cell limits. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1229540. [PMID: 37675107 PMCID: PMC10477668 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1229540] [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: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The successful treatment of patients affected by B-cell malignancies with Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cells represented a breakthrough in the field of adoptive cell therapy (ACT). However, CAR-T therapy is not an option for every patient, and several needs remain unmet. In particular, the production of CAR-T cells is expensive, labor-intensive and logistically challenging; additionally, the toxicities deriving from CAR-T cells infusion, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), have been documented extensively. Alternative cellular therapy products such as Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells have the potential to overcome some of these obstacles. CIK cells are a heterogeneous population of polyclonal CD3+CD56+ T cells with phenotypic and functional properties of NK cells. CIK cell cytotoxicity is exerted in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted manner through the engagement of natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) molecules, against a wide range of hematological and solid tumors without the need for prior antigen exposure or priming. The foremost potential of CIK cells lies in the very limited ability to induce graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) reactions in the allogeneic setting. CIK cells are produced with a simple and extremely efficient expansion protocol, which leads to a massive expansion of effector cells and requires a lower financial commitment compared to CAR-T cells. Indeed, CAR-T manufacturing involves the engineering with expensive GMP-grade viral vectors in centralized manufacturing facilities, whereas CIK cell production is successfully performed in local academic GMP facilities, and CIK cell treatment is now licensed in many countries. Moreover, the toxicities observed for CAR-T cells are not present in CIK cell-treated patients, thus further reducing the costs associated with hospitalization and post-infusion monitoring of patients, and ultimately encouraging the delivery of cell therapies in the outpatient setting. This review aims to give an overview of the limitations of CAR-T cell therapy and outline how the use of CIK cells could overcome such drawbacks thanks to their unique features. We highlight the undeniable advantages of using CIK cells as a therapeutic product, underlying the opportunity for further research on the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Cappuzzello
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Emilia Vigolo
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia D’Accardio
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Astori
- Advanced Cellular Therapy Laboratory, Department of Hematology, San Bortolo Hospital of Vicenza, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Roberta Sommaggio
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Ge F, Wang Y, Sharma A, Yang Y, Liu H, Essler M, Jaehde U, Schmidt-Wolf IGH. Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells in Combination with Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitors Functioning via the Fas/FasL Axis Provides Rationale for a Potential Clinical Benefit in Burkitt's lymphoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12476. [PMID: 37569852 PMCID: PMC10419260 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512476] [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: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Constant efforts are being made to develop methods for improving cancer immunotherapy, including cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy. Numerous heat shock protein (HSP) 90 inhibitors have been assessed for antitumor efficacy in preclinical and clinical trials, highlighting their individual prospects for targeted cancer therapy. Therefore, we tested the compatibility of CIK cells with HSP90 inhibitors using Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cells. Our analysis revealed that CIK cytotoxicity in BL cells was augmented in combination with independent HSP90 inhibitors 17-DMAG (17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin) and ganetespib. Interestingly, CIK cell cytotoxicity did not diminish after blocking with NKG2D (natural killer group 2, member D), which is a prerequisite for their activation. Subsequent analyses revealed that the increased expression of Fas on the surface of BL cells, which induces caspase 3/7-dependent apoptosis, may account for this effect. Thus, we provide evidence that CIK cells, either alone or in combination with HSP90 inhibitors, target BL cells via the Fas-FasL axis rather than the NKG2D pathway. In the context of clinical relevance, we also found that high expression of HSP90 family genes (HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, and HSP90B1) was significantly associated with the reduced overall survival of BL patients. In addition to HSP90, genes belonging to the Hsp40, Hsp70, and Hsp110 families have also been found to be clinically significant for BL survival. Taken together, the combinatorial therapy of CIK cells with HSP90 inhibitors has the potential to provide clinical benefits to patients with BL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Ge
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), University Hospital of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (F.G.); (Y.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Yulu Wang
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), University Hospital of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (F.G.); (Y.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Amit Sharma
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), University Hospital of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (F.G.); (Y.W.); (A.S.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Yu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (Y.Y.); (H.L.)
| | - Hongde Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (Y.Y.); (H.L.)
| | - Markus Essler
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Ulrich Jaehde
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Ingo G. H. Schmidt-Wolf
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), University Hospital of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (F.G.); (Y.W.); (A.S.)
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Visentin A, Mauro FR, Catania G, Fresa A, Vitale C, Sanna A, Mattiello V, Cibien F, Sportoletti P, Gentile M, Rigolin GM, Quaglia FM, Murru R, Gozzetti A, Molica S, Marchetti M, Pravato S, Angotzi F, Cellini A, Scarfò L, Reda G, Coscia M, Laurenti L, Ghia P, Foà R, Cuneo A, Trentin L. Obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil versus ibrutinib in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients without TP53 disruptions: A real-life CLL campus study. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1033413. [PMID: 36479077 PMCID: PMC9719965 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1033413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the main issues in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) deals with the choice between continuous or fixed-duration therapy. Continuous ibrutinib (IB), the first-in-class BTK inhibitor, and obinutuzumab-chlorambucil (G-CHL) are commonly used therapies for elderly and/or comorbid patients. No head-to-head comparison has been carried out. Within the Italian campus CLL network, we performed a retrospective study on CLL patients without TP53 disruption treated with IB or G-CHL as first-line therapy. Patients in the G-CHL arm had a higher CIRS score and the worst renal function. The overall response rates between the G-CHL and IB arms were similar, but more complete remissions (CRs) were achieved with G-CHL (p = 0.0029). After a median follow-up of 30 months, the progression-free survival (PFS, p = 0.0061) and time to next treatment (TTNT, p = 0.0043), but not overall survival (OS, p = 0.6642), were better with IB than with G-CHL. Similar results were found after propensity score matching and multivariate analysis. While PFS and TTNT were longer with IB than with G-CHL in IGHV unmutated patients (p = 0.0190 and 0.0137), they were superimposable for IGHV mutated patients (p = 0.1900 and 0.1380). In the G-CHL arm, the depth of response (79% vs. 68% vs. 38% for CR, PR and SD/PD; p < 0.0001) and measurable residual disease (MRD) influenced PFS (78% vs. 53% for undetectable MRD vs. detectable MRD, p = 0.0203). Hematological toxicities were common in the G-CHL arm, while IB was associated with higher costs. Although continuous IB provides better disease control in CLL, IGHV mutated patients and those achieving an undetectable MRD show a marked clinical and economic benefit from a fixed-duration obinutuzumab-based treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Visentin
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Mauro
- Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Gioachino Catania
- Division of Hematology, Hospital Saints (A. O. SS) Antonio e Biagio and Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Alberto Fresa
- Hematology Institute, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Candida Vitale
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and health Sciences, University of Torino and Division of Hematology, University Hospital (A.O.U.) Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Veronica Mattiello
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Sportoletti
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology Unit, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Gian Matteo Rigolin
- Hematology Section, Department of Medical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, Arcispedale S. Anna, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesca Maria Quaglia
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Roberta Murru
- Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Ospedale A. Businco ARNAS “G. Brotzu”, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Molica
- Department Hematology-Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Pugliese-Ciaccio, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Monia Marchetti
- Division of Hematology, Hospital Saints (A. O. SS) Antonio e Biagio and Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Stefano Pravato
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Angotzi
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cellini
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Lydia Scarfò
- Strategic Program on CLL, University Health and Science “San Raffaele”, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Reda
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Coscia
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and health Sciences, University of Torino and Division of Hematology, University Hospital (A.O.U.) Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Laurenti
- Hematology Institute, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Ghia
- Strategic Program on CLL, University Health and Science “San Raffaele”, Milan, Italy
| | - Robin Foà
- Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Cuneo
- Hematology Section, Department of Medical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, Arcispedale S. Anna, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Livio Trentin
- Hematology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
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Liu D, Hu Y, Wei J, Zhang W, Piao C, Lu Y, Wang Y, Liu J, Lu X. Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC) Using T Cells With NK-Like Phenotype (T-NK Cells) in Combination With Avelumab, an Anti-PD-L1 Antibody. Immunology 2022; 167:212-220. [PMID: 35751879 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13530] [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: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Though the PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor avelumab has shown efficacy in the treatment of some types of cancer, improved treatment strategies are desperately needed. We evaluated whether combined treatment with avelumab and adoptively transferred T-NK cells can provide enhanced anti-cancer effects for treating PD-L1-expressing tumors. Our results demonstrate that avelumab specifically targets tumor cells with high PD-L1 expression, and that cytolytic effects are mediated by T-NK effector cells cultured from patient peripheral blood monocytic cell populations. The effects were dependent on CD16 and the perforin/granzyme pathway, supporting a role for the T-NK subpopulation. In vivo assays verified the efficacy of T-NK cells in combination with avelumab in reducing tumor growth. Furthermore, T-NK + avelumab prolonged survival in a mouse orthotopic xenograft model. Collectively, our findings provide a basis for the combined use of adoptively transferred T-NK cells with avelumab as a novel strategy for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Department of Radiology, The first hospital of Tsinghua University, Bejing, China
| | - Yuefeng Hu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Bejing, China
| | - Jian Wei
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Bejing, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chunmei Piao
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yongcheng Lu
- Department of pharmaceutical sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences Northeastern University Boston, USA
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Biohealthcare Biotechnology Co.,Ltd, Bejing, China
| | - Jingwei Liu
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Biohealthcare Biotechnology Co.,Ltd, Bejing, China
| | - Xu Lu
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Biohealthcare Biotechnology Co.,Ltd, Bejing, China
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Sharma A, Schmidt-Wolf IGH. 30 years of CIK cell therapy: recapitulating the key breakthroughs and future perspective. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:388. [PMID: 34886895 PMCID: PMC8662881 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02184-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence from the numerous clinical trials involving cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy suggests that its optimization in combination with other contemporary cancer therapies in a complementary manner (rather than as competition) will be a key to combat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Sharma
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ingo G H Schmidt-Wolf
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
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