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Wang ZB, Zhang X, Fang C, Liu XT, Liao QJ, Wu N, Wang J. Immunotherapy and the ovarian cancer microenvironment: Exploring potential strategies for enhanced treatment efficacy. Immunology 2024; 173:14-32. [PMID: 38618976 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13793] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite progress in cancer immunotherapy, ovarian cancer (OC) prognosis continues to be disappointing. Recent studies have shed light on how not just tumour cells, but also the complex tumour microenvironment, contribute to this unfavourable outcome of OC immunotherapy. The complexities of the immune microenvironment categorize OC as a 'cold tumour'. Nonetheless, understanding the precise mechanisms through which the microenvironment influences the effectiveness of OC immunotherapy remains an ongoing scientific endeavour. This review primarily aims to dissect the inherent characteristics and behaviours of diverse cells within the immune microenvironment, along with an exploration into its reprogramming and metabolic changes. It is expected that these insights will elucidate the operational dynamics of the immune microenvironment in OC and lay a theoretical groundwork for improving the efficacy of immunotherapy in OC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Bin Wang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Xiu Zhang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Chao Fang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of the Research and Development of Novel Pharmaceutical Preparations, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao-Ting Liu
- The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Qian-Jin Liao
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Nayiyuan Wu
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
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Liu D, Hu X, Chen Z, Wei W, Wu Y. Key links in the physiological regulation of the immune system and disease induction: T cell receptor -CD3 complex. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 227:116441. [PMID: 39029632 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116441] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
T cell receptor (TCR) is a kind of surface marker that are specific to T cells. The TCR regulates T cell function and participates in the body's immunological response to prevent immune dysregulation and inflammatory reactions by identifying and binding exogenous antigens. Due to its brief intracellular segment, TCR requires intracellular molecules to assist with signaling. Among these, the CD3 molecule is one of the most important. The CD3 molecule involves in TCR structural stability as well as T cell activation signaling. A TCR-CD3 complex is created when TCR and CD3 form a non-covalent bond. Antigen recognition and T cell signaling are both facilitated by the TCR-CD3 complex. When a CD3 subunit is absent, a TCR-CD3 complex cannot form, and none of the subunits is transported to the cell surface. Thus, T cells cannot develop. Consequently, research on the physiological functions and potential pathogenicity of CD3 subunits can clarify the pathogenesis of immune system diseases and can offer fresh approaches to the treatment of it. In this review, the structure and function of the TCR-CD3 complex in the immune system was summarized, the pathogenicity of each CD3 subunit and therapeutic approaches to related diseases was explored and research directions for the development of new targeted drugs was provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyan Liu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xiaoxi Hu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Zhaoying Chen
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - Yujing Wu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China.
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3
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Volpe A, Lyashchenko SK, Ponomarev V. Nuclear-Based Labeling of Cellular Immunotherapies: A Simple Protocol for Preclinical Use. Mol Imaging Biol 2024; 26:555-568. [PMID: 38958882 PMCID: PMC11281953 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-024-01923-z] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Labeling and tracking existing and emerging cell-based immunotherapies using nuclear imaging is widely used to guide the preclinical phases of development and testing of existing and new emerging off-the-shelf cell-based immunotherapies. In fact, advancing our knowledge about their mechanism of action and limitations could provide preclinical support and justification for moving towards clinical experimentation of newly generated products and expedite their approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Here we provide the reader with a ready to use protocol describing the labeling methodologies and practical procedures to render different candidate cell therapies in vivo traceable by nuclear-based imaging. The protocol includes sufficient practical details to aid researchers at all career stages and from different fields in familiarizing with the described concepts and incorporating them into their work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Volpe
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Serge K Lyashchenko
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Vladimir Ponomarev
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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Miyahira AK, Kamran SC, Jamaspishvili T, Marshall CH, Maxwell KN, Parolia A, Zorko NA, Pienta KJ, Soule HR. Disrupting prostate cancer research: Challenge accepted; report from the 2023 Coffey-Holden Prostate Cancer Academy Meeting. Prostate 2024; 84:993-1015. [PMID: 38682886 DOI: 10.1002/pros.24721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The 2023 Coffey-Holden Prostate Cancer Academy (CHPCA) Meeting, themed "Disrupting Prostate Cancer Research: Challenge Accepted," was convened at the University of California, Los Angeles, Luskin Conference Center, in Los Angeles, CA, from June 22 to 25, 2023. METHODS The 2023 marked the 10th Annual CHPCA Meeting, a discussion-oriented scientific think-tank conference convened annually by the Prostate Cancer Foundation, which centers on innovative and emerging research topics deemed pivotal for advancing critical unmet needs in prostate cancer research and clinical care. The 2023 CHPCA Meeting was attended by 81 academic investigators and included 40 talks across 8 sessions. RESULTS The central topic areas covered at the meeting included: targeting transcription factor neo-enhancesomes in cancer, AR as a pro-differentiation and oncogenic transcription factor, why few are cured with androgen deprivation therapy and how to change dogma to cure metastatic prostate cancer without castration, reducing prostate cancer morbidity and mortality with genetics, opportunities for radiation to enhance therapeutic benefit in oligometastatic prostate cancer, novel immunotherapeutic approaches, and the new era of artificial intelligence-driven precision medicine. DISCUSSION This article provides an overview of the scientific presentations delivered at the 2023 CHPCA Meeting, such that this knowledge can help in facilitating the advancement of prostate cancer research worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea K Miyahira
- Science Department, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Santa Monica, California, USA
| | - Sophia C Kamran
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tamara Jamaspishvili
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Catherine H Marshall
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kara N Maxwell
- Department of Medicine-Hematology/Oncology and Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Medicine Service, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Abhijit Parolia
- Department of Pathology, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Nicholas A Zorko
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kenneth J Pienta
- The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Howard R Soule
- Science Department, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Santa Monica, California, USA
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Rolin C, Zimmer J, Seguin-Devaux C. Bridging the gap with multispecific immune cell engagers in cancer and infectious diseases. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:643-661. [PMID: 38789528 PMCID: PMC11214628 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01176-4] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
By binding to multiple antigens simultaneously, multispecific antibodies are expected to substantially improve both the activity and long-term efficacy of antibody-based immunotherapy. Immune cell engagers, a subclass of antibody-based constructs, consist of engineered structures designed to bridge immune effector cells to their target, thereby redirecting the immune response toward the tumor cells or infected cells. The increasing number of recent clinical trials evaluating immune cell engagers reflects the important role of these molecules in new therapeutic approaches for cancer and infections. In this review, we discuss how different immune cell types (T and natural killer lymphocytes, as well as myeloid cells) can be bound by immune cell engagers in immunotherapy for cancer and infectious diseases. Furthermore, we explore the preclinical and clinical advancements of these constructs, and we discuss the challenges in translating the current knowledge from cancer to the virology field. Finally, we speculate on the promising future directions that immune cell engagers may take in cancer treatment and antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Rolin
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
- University of Luxembourg, 2 Place de l'Université, L-4365, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Jacques Zimmer
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Carole Seguin-Devaux
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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Kiran S, Xue Y, Sarker DB, Li Y, Sang QXA. Feeder-free differentiation of human iPSCs into natural killer cells with cytotoxic potential against malignant brain rhabdoid tumor cells. Bioact Mater 2024; 36:301-316. [PMID: 38496035 PMCID: PMC10940949 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.02.031] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic immune cells that can eliminate target cells without prior stimulation. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide a robust source of NK cells for safe and effective cell-based immunotherapy against aggressive cancers. In this in vitro study, a feeder-free iPSC differentiation was performed to obtain iPSC-NK cells, and distinct maturational stages of iPSC-NK were characterized. Mature cells of CD56bright CD16bright phenotype showed upregulation of CD56, CD16, and NK cell activation markers NKG2D and NKp46 upon IL-15 exposure, while exposure to aggressive atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) cell lines enhanced NKG2D and NKp46 expression. Malignant cell exposure also increased CD107a degranulation markers and stimulated IFN-γ secretion in activated NK cells. CD56bright CD16bright iPSC-NK cells showed a ratio-dependent killing of ATRT cells, and the percentage lysis of CHLA-05-ATRT was higher than that of CHLA-02-ATRT. The iPSC-NK cells were also cytotoxic against other brain, kidney, and lung cancer cell lines. Further NK maturation yielded CD56-ve CD16bright cells, which lacked activation markers even after exposure to interleukins or ATRT cells - indicating diminished cytotoxicity. Generation and characterization of different NK phenotypes from iPSCs, coupled with their promising anti-tumor activity against ATRT in vitro, offer valuable insights into potential immunotherapeutic strategies for brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Kiran
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA
| | - Yu Xue
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA
| | - Drishty B. Sarker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32310-6046, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4380, USA
| | - Qing-Xiang Amy Sang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4380, USA
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Sato Y, Nakamura T, Yamada Y, Harashima H. The impact of, and expectations for, lipid nanoparticle technology: From cellular targeting to organelle targeting. J Control Release 2024; 370:516-527. [PMID: 38718875 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.05.006] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 has enhanced the potential of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as a system for the delivery of mRNA. In this review, we describe our progress using a lipid library to engineer ionizable lipids and promote LNP technology from the viewpoints of safety, controlled biodistribution, and mRNA vaccines. These advancements in LNP technology are applied to cancer immunology, and a potential nano-DDS is constructed to evaluate immune status that is associated with a cancer-immunity cycle that includes the sub-cycles in tumor microenvironments. We also discuss the importance of the delivery of antigens and adjuvants in enhancing the cancer-immunity cycle. Recent progress in NK cell targeting in cancer immunotherapy is also introduced. Finally, the impact of next-generation DDS technology is explained using the MITO-Porter membrane fusion-based delivery system for the organelle targeting of the mitochondria. We introduce a successful example of the MITO-Porter used in a cell therapeutic strategy to treat cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sato
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakamura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yuma Yamada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
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Saranchova I, Xia CW, Besoiu S, Finkel PL, Ellis SLS, Kari S, Munro L, Pfeifer CG, Fazli L, Gleave ME, Jefferies WA. A novel type-2 innate lymphoid cell-based immunotherapy for cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1317522. [PMID: 38524132 PMCID: PMC10958781 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1317522] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-based cancer immunotherapy has achieved significant advancements, providing a source of hope for cancer patients. Notwithstanding the considerable progress in cell-based immunotherapy, the persistently low response rates and the exorbitant costs associated with their implementation still present a formidable challenge in clinical settings. In the landscape of cell-based cancer immunotherapies, an uncharted territory involves Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and interleukin-33 (IL-33) which promotes ILC2 functionality, recognized for their inherent ability to enhance immune responses. Recent discoveries regarding their role in actuating cytolytic T lymphocyte responses, including curbing tumor growth rates and hindering metastasis, have added a new dimension to our understanding of the IL-33/ILC2 axis. These recent insights may hold significant promise for ILC2 cell-based immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the prospect of adoptively transferring ILC2s to confer immune protection against tumors has yet to be investigated. The present study addresses this hypothesis, revealing that ILC2s isolated from the lungs of tumor-bearing mice, and tumor infiltrating ILC2s when adoptively transferred after tumor establishment at a ratio of one ILC2 per sixty tumor cells, leads to an influx of tumor infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes as well as tumor infiltrating eosinophils resulting in a remarkable reduction in tumor growth. Moreover, we find that post-adoptive transfer of ILC2s, the number of tumor infiltrating ILC2s is inversely proportional to tumor size. Finally, we find corollaries of the IL-33/ILC2 axis enhancing the infiltration of eosinophils in human prostate carcinomas patients' expressing high levels of IL-33 versus those expressing low levels of IL-33. Our results underscore the heightened efficacy of adoptively transferred ILC2s compared to alternative approaches, revealing an approximately one hundred fifty-fold superiority on a cell-per-cell basis over CAR T-cells in the specific targeting and elimination of tumors within the same experimental model. Overall, this study demonstrates the functional significance of ILC2s in cancer immunosurveillance and provides the proof of concept of the potential utility of ILC2 cell-based cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Saranchova
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Clara Wenjing Xia
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stephanie Besoiu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pablo L. Finkel
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Samantha L. S. Ellis
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Suresh Kari
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lonna Munro
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cheryl G. Pfeifer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ladan Fazli
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Martin E. Gleave
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wilfred A. Jefferies
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Center for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Maia A, Tarannum M, Lérias JR, Piccinelli S, Borrego LM, Maeurer M, Romee R, Castillo-Martin M. Building a Better Defense: Expanding and Improving Natural Killer Cells for Adoptive Cell Therapy. Cells 2024; 13:451. [PMID: 38474415 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050451] [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: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have gained attention as a promising adoptive cell therapy platform for their potential to improve cancer treatments. NK cells offer distinct advantages over T-cells, including major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-independent tumor recognition and low risk of toxicity, even in an allogeneic setting. Despite this tremendous potential, challenges persist, such as limited in vivo persistence, reduced tumor infiltration, and low absolute NK cell numbers. This review outlines several strategies aiming to overcome these challenges. The developed strategies include optimizing NK cell expansion methods and improving NK cell antitumor responses by cytokine stimulation and genetic manipulations. Using K562 cells expressing membrane IL-15 or IL-21 with or without additional activating ligands like 4-1BBL allows "massive" NK cell expansion and makes multiple cell dosing and "off-the-shelf" efforts feasible. Further improvements in NK cell function can be reached by inducing memory-like NK cells, developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells, or isolating NK-cell-based tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Memory-like NK cells demonstrate higher in vivo persistence and cytotoxicity, with early clinical trials demonstrating safety and promising efficacy. Recent trials using CAR-NK cells have also demonstrated a lack of any major toxicity, including cytokine release syndrome, and, yet, promising clinical activity. Recent data support that the presence of TIL-NK cells is associated with improved overall patient survival in different types of solid tumors such as head and neck, colorectal, breast, and gastric carcinomas, among the most significant. In conclusion, this review presents insights into the diverse strategies available for NK cell expansion, including the roles played by various cytokines, feeder cells, and culture material in influencing the activation phenotype, telomere length, and cytotoxic potential of expanded NK cells. Notably, genetically modified K562 cells have demonstrated significant efficacy in promoting NK cell expansion. Furthermore, culturing NK cells with IL-2 and IL-15 has been shown to improve expansion rates, while the presence of IL-12 and IL-21 has been linked to enhanced cytotoxic function. Overall, this review provides an overview of NK cell expansion methodologies, highlighting the current landscape of clinical trials and the key advancements to enhance NK-cell-based adoptive cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Maia
- Molecular and Experimental Pathology Laboratory, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mubin Tarannum
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joana R Lérias
- ImmunoTherapy/ImmunoSurgery, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara Piccinelli
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Luis Miguel Borrego
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), NOVA University of Lisbon, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
- Immunoallergy Department, Hospital da Luz, 1600-209 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Markus Maeurer
- ImmunoTherapy/ImmunoSurgery, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- I Medical Clinic, University of Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rizwan Romee
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mireia Castillo-Martin
- Molecular and Experimental Pathology Laboratory, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- Pathology Service, Champalimaud Clinical Center, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
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10
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Chung H, Cho H. Recent advances in cellular immunotherapy for lymphoid malignancies. Blood Res 2023; 58:166-172. [PMID: 37964655 PMCID: PMC10758636 DOI: 10.5045/br.2023.2023177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells has revolutionized the treatment of lymphoid malignancies. This review addresses the need for CAR expression in our endogenous T-cells to kill tumor cells with a focus on the basic principles of T-cell receptor recognition of major histocompatibility complex-peptide complexes. We review the factors associated with CAR T-cell outcomes and recent efforts to employ CAR T-cells in earlier lines of therapy. We also discuss the value of bispecific T-cell engagers as off-the-shelf products with better toxicity profiles. Finally, natural killer cells are discussed as an important cellular immunotherapy platform with the potential to broaden immunotherapeutic applications beyond lymphoid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haerim Chung
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyunsoo Cho
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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11
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Joseph J, Sandel G, Kulkarni R, Alatrash R, Herrera BB, Jain P. Antibody and Cell-Based Therapies against Virus-Induced Cancers in the Context of HIV/AIDS. Pathogens 2023; 13:14. [PMID: 38251321 PMCID: PMC10821063 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010014] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious agents, notably viruses, can cause or increase the risk of cancer occurrences. These agents often disrupt normal cellular functions, promote uncontrolled proliferation and growth, and trigger chronic inflammation, leading to cancer. Approximately 20% of all cancer cases in humans are associated with an infectious pathogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recognizes seven viruses as direct oncogenic agents, including Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1), human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Most viruses linked to increased cancer risk are typically transmitted through contact with contaminated body fluids and high-risk behaviors. The risk of infection can be reduced through vaccinations and routine testing, as well as recognizing and addressing risky behaviors and staying informed about public health concerns. Numerous strategies are currently in pre-clinical phases or undergoing clinical trials for targeting cancers driven by viral infections. Herein, we provide an overview of risk factors associated with increased cancer incidence in people living with HIV (PLWH) as well as other chronic viral infections, and contributing factors such as aging, toxicity from ART, coinfections, and comorbidities. Furthermore, we highlight both antibody- and cell-based strategies directed against virus-induced cancers while also emphasizing approaches aimed at discovering cures or achieving complete remission for affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Joseph
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.J.); (G.S.)
| | - Grace Sandel
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.J.); (G.S.)
| | - Ratuja Kulkarni
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.J.); (G.S.)
| | - Reem Alatrash
- Global Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (R.A.); (B.B.H.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Bobby Brooke Herrera
- Global Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (R.A.); (B.B.H.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Pooja Jain
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA; (J.J.); (G.S.)
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12
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Hibler W, Merlino G, Yu Y. CAR NK Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma: Potential & Prospects. Cells 2023; 12:2750. [PMID: 38067178 PMCID: PMC10706172 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is among the most lethal forms of cancer, accounting for 80% of deaths despite comprising just 5% of skin cancer cases. Treatment options remain limited due to the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms associated with melanoma heterogeneity that underlie the rapid development of secondary drug resistance. For this reason, the development of novel treatments remains paramount to the improvement of patient outcomes. Although the advent of chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T (CAR-T) cell immunotherapies has led to many clinical successes for hematological malignancies, these treatments are limited in their utility by their immune-induced side effects and a high risk of systemic toxicities. CAR natural killer (CAR-NK) cell immunotherapies are a particularly promising alternative to CAR-T cell immunotherapies, as they offer a more favorable safety profile and have the capacity for fine-tuned cytotoxic activity. In this review, the discussion of the prospects and potential of CAR-NK cell immunotherapies touches upon the clinical contexts of melanoma, the immunobiology of NK cells, the immunosuppressive barriers preventing endogenous immune cells from eliminating tumors, and the structure and design of chimeric antigen receptors, then finishes with a series of proposed design innovations that could improve the efficacy CAR-NK cell immunotherapies in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yanlin Yu
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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13
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Chehelgerdi M, Behdarvand Dehkordi F, Chehelgerdi M, Kabiri H, Salehian-Dehkordi H, Abdolvand M, Salmanizadeh S, Rashidi M, Niazmand A, Ahmadi S, Feizbakhshan S, Kabiri S, Vatandoost N, Ranjbarnejad T. Exploring the promising potential of induced pluripotent stem cells in cancer research and therapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:189. [PMID: 38017433 PMCID: PMC10683363 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01873-0] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The advent of iPSCs has brought about a significant transformation in stem cell research, opening up promising avenues for advancing cancer treatment. The formation of cancer is a multifaceted process influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. iPSCs offer a distinctive platform for investigating the origin of cancer, paving the way for novel approaches to cancer treatment, drug testing, and tailored medical interventions. This review article will provide an overview of the science behind iPSCs, the current limitations and challenges in iPSC-based cancer therapy, the ethical and social implications, and the comparative analysis with other stem cell types for cancer treatment. The article will also discuss the applications of iPSCs in tumorigenesis, the future of iPSCs in tumorigenesis research, and highlight successful case studies utilizing iPSCs in tumorigenesis research. The conclusion will summarize the advancements made in iPSC-based tumorigenesis research and the importance of continued investment in iPSC research to unlock the full potential of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matin Chehelgerdi
- Novin Genome (NG) Lab, Research and Development Center for Biotechnology, Shahrekord, Iran
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Behdarvand Dehkordi
- Novin Genome (NG) Lab, Research and Development Center for Biotechnology, Shahrekord, Iran
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mohammad Chehelgerdi
- Novin Genome (NG) Lab, Research and Development Center for Biotechnology, Shahrekord, Iran.
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
| | - Hamidreza Kabiri
- Novin Genome (NG) Lab, Research and Development Center for Biotechnology, Shahrekord, Iran
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Abdolvand
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sharareh Salmanizadeh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Hezar-Jereeb Street, Isfahan, 81746-73441, Iran
| | - Mohsen Rashidi
- Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Anoosha Niazmand
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Saba Ahmadi
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Sara Feizbakhshan
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Saber Kabiri
- Novin Genome (NG) Lab, Research and Development Center for Biotechnology, Shahrekord, Iran
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Nasimeh Vatandoost
- Pediatric Inherited Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Tayebeh Ranjbarnejad
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
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14
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Mohammadian Gol T, Kim M, Sinn R, Ureña-Bailén G, Stegmeyer S, Gratz PG, Zahedipour F, Roig-Merino A, Antony JS, Mezger M. CRISPR-Cas9-Based Gene Knockout of Immune Checkpoints in Expanded NK Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16065. [PMID: 38003255 PMCID: PMC10671270 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216065] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy has emerged as a novel treatment modality for various cancer types, including leukemia. The modulation of inhibitory signaling pathways in T cells and NK cells has been the subject of extensive investigation in both preclinical and clinical settings in recent years. Nonetheless, further research is imperative to optimize antileukemic activities, especially regarding NK-cell-based immunotherapies. The central scientific question of this study pertains to the potential for boosting cytotoxicity in expanded and activated NK cells through the inhibition of inhibitory receptors. To address this question, we employed the CRISPR-Cas9 system to target three distinct inhibitory signaling pathways in NK cells. Specifically, we examined the roles of A2AR within the metabolic purinergic signaling pathway, CBLB as an intracellular regulator in NK cells, and the surface receptors NKG2A and CD96 in enhancing the antileukemic efficacy of NK cells. Following the successful expansion of NK cells, they were transfected with Cas9+sgRNA RNP to knockout A2AR, CBLB, NKG2A, and CD96. The analysis of indel frequencies for all four targets revealed good knockout efficiencies in expanded NK cells, resulting in diminished protein expression as confirmed by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. Our in vitro killing assays demonstrated that NKG2A and CBLB knockout led to only a marginal improvement in the cytotoxicity of NK cells against AML and B-ALL cells. Furthermore, the antileukemic activity of CD96 knockout NK cells did not yield significant enhancements, and the blockade of A2AR did not result in significant improvement in killing efficiency. In conclusion, our findings suggest that CRISPR-Cas9-based knockout strategies for immune checkpoints might not be sufficient to efficiently boost the antileukemic functions of expanded (and activated) NK cells and, at the same time, point to the need for strong cellular activating signals, as this can be achieved, for example, via transgenic chimeric antigen receptor expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Mohammadian Gol
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.G.); (M.K.); (P.G.G.); (F.Z.)
| | - Miso Kim
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.G.); (M.K.); (P.G.G.); (F.Z.)
| | - Ralph Sinn
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.G.); (M.K.); (P.G.G.); (F.Z.)
| | - Guillermo Ureña-Bailén
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.G.); (M.K.); (P.G.G.); (F.Z.)
| | - Sarah Stegmeyer
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.G.); (M.K.); (P.G.G.); (F.Z.)
| | - Paul Gerhard Gratz
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.G.); (M.K.); (P.G.G.); (F.Z.)
| | - Fatemeh Zahedipour
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.G.); (M.K.); (P.G.G.); (F.Z.)
| | | | - Justin S. Antony
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.G.); (M.K.); (P.G.G.); (F.Z.)
| | - Markus Mezger
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (T.M.G.); (M.K.); (P.G.G.); (F.Z.)
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15
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Moy AB, Kamath A, Ternes S, Kamath J. The Challenges to Advancing Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Dependent Cell Replacement Therapy. MEDICAL RESEARCH ARCHIVES 2023; 11:4784. [PMID: 38188933 PMCID: PMC10768945 DOI: 10.18103/mra.v11i11.4784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) represent a potentially exciting regenerative-medicine cell therapy for several chronic conditions such as macular degeneration, soft tissue and orthopedic conditions, cardiopulmonary disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic disorders. The field of iPSC therapeutics currently exists at an early stage of development. There are several important stakeholders that include academia, industry, regulatory agencies, financial institutions and patients who are committed to advance the field. Yet, unlike more established therapeutic modalities like small and large molecules, iPSC therapies pose significant unique challenges with respect to safety, potency, genetic stability, immunogenicity, tumorgenicity, cell reproducibility, scalability and engraftment. The aim of this review article is to highlight the unique technical challenges that need to be addressed before iPSC technology can be fully realized as a cell replacement therapy. Additionally, this manuscript offers some potential solutions and identifies areas of focus that should be considered in order for the iPSC field to achieve its promise. The scope of this article covers the following areas: (1) the impact of different iPSC reprogramming methods on immunogenicity and tumorigenicity; (2) the effect of genetic instability on cell reproducibility and differentiation; (3) the role of growth factors and post-translational modification on differentiation and cell scalability; (4) the potential use of gene editing in improving iPSC differentiation; (5) the advantages and disadvantages between autologous and allogeneic cell therapy; (6) the regulatory considerations in developing a viable and reproducible cell product; and (7) the impact of local tissue inflammation on cell engraftment and cell viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan B. Moy
- Cellular Engineering Technologies, Inc. Coralville, IA, 52241
- John Paul II Medical Research Institute, Coralville, IA 52241
| | - Anant Kamath
- Cellular Engineering Technologies, Inc. Coralville, IA, 52241
| | - Sara Ternes
- Cellular Engineering Technologies, Inc. Coralville, IA, 52241
| | - Jay Kamath
- John Paul II Medical Research Institute, Coralville, IA 52241
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16
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Zhou X, Renauer PA, Zhou L, Fang SY, Chen S. Applications of CRISPR technology in cellular immunotherapy. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:199-216. [PMID: 37449673 PMCID: PMC10787818 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR technology has transformed multiple fields, including cancer and immunology. CRISPR-based gene editing and screening empowers direct genomic manipulation of immune cells, opening doors to unbiased functional genetic screens. These screens aid in the discovery of novel factors that regulate and reprogram immune responses, offering novel drug targets. The engineering of immune cells using CRISPR has sparked a transformation in the cellular immunotherapy field, resulting in a multitude of ongoing clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the development and applications of CRISPR and related gene editing technologies in immune cells, focusing on functional genomics screening, gene editing-based cell therapies, as well as future directions in this rapidly advancing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paul A. Renauer
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Liqun Zhou
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Immunobiology Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shao-Yu Fang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sidi Chen
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- System Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Immunobiology Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics, and Development Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Stem Cell Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Biomedical Data Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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17
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Jiang Y, Hou X, Zhao X, Jing J, Sun L. Tracking adoptive natural killer cells via ultrasound imaging assisted with nanobubbles. Acta Biomater 2023; 169:542-555. [PMID: 37536495 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.07.058] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The recent years has witnessed an exponential growth in the field of natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy for cancer treatment. As a prerequisite to precise evaluations and on-demand interventions, the noninvasive tracking of adoptive NK cells plays a crucial role not only in post-treatment monitoring, but also in offering opportunities for preclinical studies on therapy optimizations. Here, we describe an NK cell tracking strategy for cancer immunotherapy based on ultrasound imaging modality. Nanosized ultrasound contrast agents, gas vesicles (GVs), were surface-functionalized to label NK cells. Unlike traditional microbubble contrast agents, nanosized GVs with their unique thermodynamical stability enable the detection of labeled NK cells under nonlinear contrast-enhanced ultrasound (nCEUS), without a noticeable impact on cellular viability or migration. By such labeling, we were able to monitor the trafficking of systematically infused NK cells to a subcutaneous tumor model. Upon co-treatment with interleukin (IL)-2, we observed a rapid enhancement in NK cell trafficking at the tumor site as early as 3 h post-infusion. Altogether, we show that the proposed ultrasound-based tracking strategy is able to capture the dynamical changes of cell trafficking in NK cell-based immunotherapy, providing referencing information for early-phase monotherapy evaluation, as well as understanding the effects of modulatory co-treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In cellular immunotherapies, the post-infusion monitoring of the living therapeutics has been challenging. Several popular imaging modalities have been explored the monitoring of the adoptive immune cells, evaluating their trafficking and accumulation in the tumor. Here we demonstrated, for the first time, the ultrasound imaging-based immune cell tracking strategy. We showed that the acoustic labeling of adoptive immune cells was feasible with nanosized ultrasound contrast agents, overcoming the size and stability limitations of traditional microbubbles, enabling dynamical tracking of adoptive natural killer cells in both monotherapy and synergic treatment with cytokines. This article introduced the cost-effective and ubiquitous ultrasound imaging modality into the field of cellular immunotherapies, with broad prospectives in early assessment and on-demand image-guided interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhou Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room ST409 Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR 999077, PR China
| | - Xuandi Hou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room ST409 Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR 999077, PR China
| | - Xinyi Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room ST409 Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR 999077, PR China
| | - Jianing Jing
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room ST409 Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR 999077, PR China
| | - Lei Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room ST409 Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR 999077, PR China.
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18
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Prakash S, Kumbhojkar N, Lu A, Kapate N, Suja VC, Park KS, Wang LLW, Mitragotri S. Polymer Micropatches as Natural Killer Cell Engagers for Tumor Therapy. ACS NANO 2023; 17:15918-15930. [PMID: 37565806 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell therapies have emerged as a potential therapeutic approach to various cancers. Their efficacy, however, is limited by their low persistence and anergy. Current approaches to sustain NK cell persistence in vivo include genetic modification, activation via pretreatment, or coadministration of supporting cytokines or antibodies. Such supporting therapies exhibit limited efficacy in vivo, in part due to the reversal of their effect within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and off-target toxicity. Here, we report a material-based approach to address this challenge. Specifically, we describe the use of polymeric micropatches as a platform for sustained, targeted activation of NK cells, an approach referred to as microparticles as cell engagers (MACE). Poly(lactide-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) micropatches, 4-8 μm in diameter and surface-modified with NK cell receptor targeting antibodies, exhibited strong adhesion to NK cells and induced their activation without the need of coadministered cytokines. The activation induced by MACE was greater than that induced by nanoparticles, attesting to the crucial role of MACE geometry in the activation of NK cells. MACE-bound NK cells remained viable and exhibited trans-endothelial migration and antitumor activity in vitro. MACE-bound NK cells activated T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells in vitro. Adoptive transfer of NK-MACE also demonstrated superior antitumor efficacy in a mouse melanoma lung metastasis model compared to unmodified NK cells. Overall, MACE offers a simple, scalable, and effective way of activating NK cells and represents an attractive platform to improve the efficacy of NK cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supriya Prakash
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, Massachusetts 02134, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ninad Kumbhojkar
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, Massachusetts 02134, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Andrew Lu
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, Massachusetts 02134, United States
| | - Neha Kapate
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, Massachusetts 02134, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Harvard-MIT Program in Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Vineeth Chandran Suja
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, Massachusetts 02134, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Kyung Soo Park
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, Massachusetts 02134, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Lily Li-Wen Wang
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, Massachusetts 02134, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Harvard-MIT Program in Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Samir Mitragotri
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, Massachusetts 02134, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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19
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Guo T, Wei Q. Cell Reprogramming Techniques: Contributions to Cancer Therapy. Cell Reprogram 2023; 25:142-153. [PMID: 37530737 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2023.0011] [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] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The reprogramming of terminally differentiated cells over the past few years has become important for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in the field of regenerative medicine and disease drug modeling. At the same time, iPSCs have also played an important role in human cancer research. iPSCs derived from cancer patients can be used to simulate the early progression of cancer, for drug testing, and to study the molecular mechanism of cancer occurrence. In recent years, with the application of cellular immunotherapy in cancer therapy, patient-derived iPSC-induced immune cells (T, natural killer, and macrophage cells) solve the problem of immune rejection and have higher immunogenicity, which greatly improves the therapeutic efficiency of immune cell therapy. With the continuous progress of cancer differentiation therapy, iPSC technology can reprogram cancer cells to a more primitive pluripotent undifferentiated state, and successfully reverse cancer cells to a benign phenotype by changing the epigenetic inheritance of cancer cells. This article reviews the recent progress of cell reprogramming technology in human cancer research, focuses on the application of reprogramming technology in cancer immunotherapy and the problems solved, and summarizes the malignant phenotype changes of cancer cells in the process of reprogramming and subsequent differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Guo
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qi Wei
- Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
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20
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Abd Talib FNA, Marzuki M, Hoe SLL. Analysis of NK-92 cytotoxicity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines and patient-derived xenografts using impedance-based growth method. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17480. [PMID: 37415945 PMCID: PMC10320316 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17480] [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: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that can remove viral-infected tumour cells without antigen priming. This characteristic offers NK cells an edge over other immune cells as a potential therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we report how cytotoxicity was evaluated in target NPC cell lines and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cells with effector NK-92, a commercially available NK cell line, by using xCELLigence RTCA system (a real-time, label-free impedance-based monitoring platform). Cell viability, proliferation and cytotoxicity were examined by RTCA. Cell morphology, growth and cytotoxicity were also monitored by microscopy. RTCA and microscopy showed that both target and effector cells were able to proliferate normally and to maintain original morphology in co-culture medium as they were in their own respective culture medium. As target and effector (T:E) cell ratios increased, cell viability as measured by arbitrary cell index (CI) values in RTCA decreased in all cell lines and PDX cells. NPC PDX cells were more sensitive to the cytotoxicity effect of NK-92 cells, than the NPC cell lines. These data were substantiated by GFP-based microscopy. We have shown how the RTCA system can be used for a high throughput screening of the effects of NK cells in cancer studies to obtain data such as cell viability, proliferation and cytotoxicity.
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21
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Schorr C, Krishnan MS, Capitano M. Deficits in our understanding of natural killer cell development in mouse and human. Curr Opin Hematol 2023; 30:106-116. [PMID: 37074304 PMCID: PMC10239331 DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000765] [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: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of immune cell that play a crucial role in the defense against cancer and viral infections. The development and maturation of NK cells is a complex process, involving the coordination of various signaling pathways, transcription factors, and epigenetic modifications. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in studying the development of NK cells. In this review, we discuss the field's current understanding of the journey a hematopoietic stem cell takes to become a fully mature NK cell and detail the sequential steps and regulation of conventional NK leukopoiesis in both mice and humans. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have highlighted the significance of defining NK development stages. Several groups report differing schema to identify NK cell development and new findings demonstrate novel ways to classify NK cells. Further investigation of NK cell biology and development is needed, as multiomic analysis reveals a large diversity in NK cell development pathways. SUMMARY We provide an overview of current knowledge on the development of NK cells, including the various stages of differentiation, the regulation of development, and the maturation of NK cells in both mice and humans. A deeper understanding of NK cell development has the potential to provide insights into new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of diseases such as cancer and viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Schorr
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
| | - Maya Shraddha Krishnan
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Maegan Capitano
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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22
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Jangid AK, Kim S, Kim K. Polymeric biomaterial-inspired cell surface modulation for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics. Biomater Res 2023; 27:59. [PMID: 37344853 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-023-00404-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune cell-based therapies are a rapidly emerging class of new medicines that directly treat and prevent targeted cancer. However multiple biological barriers impede the activity of live immune cells, and therefore necessitate the use of surface-modified immune cells for cancer prevention. Synthetic and/or natural biomaterials represent the leading approach for immune cell surface modulation. Different types of biomaterials can be applied to cell surface membranes through hydrophobic insertion, layer-by-layer attachment, and covalent conjugations to acquire surface modification in mammalian cells. These biomaterials generate reciprocity to enable cell-cell interactions. In this review, we highlight the different biomaterials (lipidic and polymeric)-based advanced applications for cell-surface modulation, a few cell recognition moieties, and how their interplay in cell-cell interaction. We discuss the cancer-killing efficacy of NK cells, followed by their surface engineering for cancer treatment. Ultimately, this review connects biomaterials and biologically active NK cells that play key roles in cancer immunotherapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Kumar Jangid
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sungjun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyobum Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea.
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23
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Cifaldi L, Melaiu O, Giovannoni R, Benvenuto M, Focaccetti C, Nardozi D, Barillari G, Bei R. DNAM-1 chimeric receptor-engineered NK cells: a new frontier for CAR-NK cell-based immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1197053. [PMID: 37359555 PMCID: PMC10285446 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1197053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
DNAM-1 is a major NK cell activating receptor and, together with NKG2D and NCRs, by binding specific ligands, strongly contributes to mediating the killing of tumor or virus-infected cells. DNAM-1 specifically recognizes PVR and Nectin-2 ligands that are expressed on some virus-infected cells and on a broad spectrum of tumor cells of both hematological and solid malignancies. So far, while NK cells engineered for different antigen chimeric receptors (CARs) or chimeric NKG2D receptor have been extensively tested in preclinical and clinical studies, the use of DNAM-1 chimeric receptor-engineered NK cells has been proposed only in our recent proof-of-concept study and deserves further development. The aim of this perspective study is to describe the rationale for using this novel tool as a new anti-cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Cifaldi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Ombretta Melaiu
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Departmental Faculty of Medicine, Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Nardozi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Barillari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
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24
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Lizana-Vasquez GD, Torres-Lugo M, Dixon R, Powderly JD, Warin RF. The application of autologous cancer immunotherapies in the age of memory-NK cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1167666. [PMID: 37205105 PMCID: PMC10185894 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1167666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular immunotherapy has revolutionized the oncology field, yielding improved results against hematological and solid malignancies. NK cells have become an attractive alternative due to their capacity to activate upon recognition of "stress" or "danger" signals independently of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) engagement, thus making tumor cells a perfect target for NK cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy even as an allogeneic solution. While this allogeneic use is currently favored, the existence of a characterized memory function for NK cells ("memory-like" NK cells) advocates for an autologous approach, that would benefit from the allogeneic setting discoveries, but with added persistence and specificity. Still, both approaches struggle to exert a sustained and high anticancer effect in-vivo due to the immunosuppressive tumor micro-environment and the logistical challenges of cGMP production or clinical deployment. Novel approaches focused on the quality enhancement and the consistent large-scale production of highly activated therapeutic memory-like NK cells have yielded encouraging but still unconclusive results. This review provides an overview of NK biology as it relates to cancer immunotherapy and the challenge presented by solid tumors for therapeutic NKs. After contrasting the autologous and allogeneic NK approaches for solid cancer immunotherapy, this work will present the current scientific focus for the production of highly persistent and cytotoxic memory-like NK cells as well as the current issues with production methods as they apply to stress-sensitive immune cells. In conclusion, autologous NK cells for cancer immunotherapy appears to be a prime alternative for front line therapeutics but to be successful, it will be critical to establish comprehensives infrastructures allowing the production of extremely potent NK cells while constraining costs of production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaby D. Lizana-Vasquez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
| | - Madeline Torres-Lugo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | - R. Brent Dixon
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
- Human Applications Lab (HAL) - BioCytics, Huntersville, NC, United States
| | - John D. Powderly
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
- Human Applications Lab (HAL) - BioCytics, Huntersville, NC, United States
| | - Renaud F. Warin
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
- Human Applications Lab (HAL) - BioCytics, Huntersville, NC, United States
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25
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Wang C, Liu J, Li W. 'Off the shelf' immunotherapies: Generation and application of pluripotent stem cell-derived immune cells. Cell Prolif 2023; 56:e13425. [PMID: 36855955 PMCID: PMC10068955 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, great strides have been made toward the development of immune cell-based therapies in the treatment of refractory malignancies. Primary T cells and NK cells armed with chimeric antigen receptors have achieved tremendous clinical success especially in patients with leukaemia and lymphoma. However, the autologous origin of these effector cells means that a single batch of laboriously engineered cells treats only a certain patient, leading to high cost, ununiform product quality, and risk of delay in treatment, and therefore results in restricted accessibility of these therapies to the overwhelming majority of the patients. Addressing these tricky obstacles calls for the development of universal immune cell products that can be provided 'off the shelf' in a large amount. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), owing to their unique capacity of self-renewal and the potential of multi-lineage differentiation, offer an unlimited cell source to generate uniform and scalable engineered immune cells. This review discusses the major advances in the development of PSC-derived immune cell differentiation approaches and their therapeutic potential in treating both hematologic malignancies and solid tumours. We also consider the potency of PSC-derived immune cells as an alternative therapeutic strategy for other diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, fibrosis, infections, et al.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Jingjing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Bejing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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26
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Peng L, Renauer PA, Ye L, Yang L, Park JJ, Chow RD, Zhang Y, Lin Q, Bai M, Sanchez A, Zhang Y, Lam SZ, Chen S. Perturbomics of tumor-infiltrating NK cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.14.532653. [PMID: 36993337 PMCID: PMC10055047 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.14.532653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are an innate immune cell type that serves at the first level of defense against pathogens and cancer. NK cells have clinical potential, however, multiple current limitations exist that naturally hinder the successful implementation of NK cell therapy against cancer, including their effector function, persistence, and tumor infiltration. To unbiasedly reveal the functional genetic landscape underlying critical NK cell characteristics against cancer, we perform perturbomics mapping of tumor infiltrating NK cells by joint in vivo AAV-CRISPR screens and single cell sequencing. We establish a strategy with AAV-SleepingBeauty(SB)- CRISPR screening leveraging a custom high-density sgRNA library targeting cell surface genes, and perform four independent in vivo tumor infiltration screens in mouse models of melanoma, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and glioblastoma. In parallel, we characterize single-cell transcriptomic landscapes of tumor-infiltrating NK cells, which identifies previously unexplored sub-populations of NK cells with distinct expression profiles, a shift from immature to mature NK (mNK) cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and decreased expression of mature marker genes in mNK cells. CALHM2, a calcium homeostasis modulator that emerges from both screen and single cell analyses, shows both in vitro and in vivo efficacy enhancement when perturbed in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells. Differential gene expression analysis reveals that CALHM2 knockout reshapes cytokine production, cell adhesion, and signaling pathways in CAR- NKs. These data directly and systematically map out endogenous factors that naturally limit NK cell function in the TME to offer a broad range of cellular genetic checkpoints as candidates for future engineering to enhance NK cell-based immunotherapies.
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27
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Soldi LR, Silva VLC, Rabelo DH, Uehara IA, Silva MJB. Reactivation of natural killer cells with monoclonal antibodies in the microenvironment of malignant neoplasms. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023:10.1007/s00432-023-04575-8. [PMID: 36633682 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04575-8] [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: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer cells are critical players in the antitumor immune response due to their ability to destroy target cells through cytotoxic activity and other means. However, this response is inhibited in the tumor microenvironment, where a crippling hypoxic environment and several inhibitory molecules bind to NK cells to trigger an anergic state. Inhibitory receptors such as PD-1, NK2GA, KIR, TIGIT, and LAG-3 have been associated with inhibition of NK cells in multiple cancer types. Binding to these receptors leads to loss of cytotoxicity, lower proliferation and metabolic rates, and even apoptosis. While these receptors are important for avoiding auto-immunity, in a pathological setting like malignant neoplasms they are disadvantageous for the individual's immune system to combat cancer cells. The use of monoclonal antibodies to block these receptors contributes to cancer therapy by preventing the inhibition of NK cells. In this review, the impact of NK cell inhibition and activation on cancer therapy was summarized and an overview of the blockade of inhibitory pathways by monoclonal antibodies was provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Ricardo Soldi
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Victor Luigi Costa Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Diogo Henrique Rabelo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Isadora Akemi Uehara
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcelo José Barbosa Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. .,Tumor Biomarkers and Osteoimmunology Laboratory, Av. Pará - 1720 - Block 6T, Room 07 - District Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
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28
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Leveraging Natural Killer Cell Innate Immunity against Hematologic Malignancies: From Stem Cell Transplant to Adoptive Transfer and Beyond. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010204. [PMID: 36613644 PMCID: PMC9820370 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010204] [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: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous recent advancements in T-cell based immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies. In the race towards the first approved allogeneic cellular therapy product, there is growing interest in utilizing natural killer (NK) cells as a platform for off-the-shelf cellular therapies due to their scalable manufacturing potential, potent anti-tumor efficacy, and superior safety profile. Allogeneic NK cell therapies are now being actively explored in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and adoptive transfer. Increasingly sophisticated gene editing techniques have permitted the engineering of chimeric antigen receptors, ectopic cytokine expression, and tumor recognition signals to improve the overall cytotoxicity of NK cell therapies. Furthermore, the enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity has been achieved through the use of NK cell engagers and combination regimens with monoclonal antibodies that act synergistically with CD16-expressing NK cells. Finally, a greater understanding of NK cell biology and the mechanisms of resistance have allowed the preclinical development of NK checkpoint blockade and methods to modulate the tumor microenvironment, which have been evaluated in early phase trials. This review will discuss the recent clinical advancements in NK cell therapies in hematologic malignancies as well as promising avenues of future research.
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29
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Qin H, You C, Yan F, Tan K, Xu C, Zhao R, Ekpo MD, Tan S. Overcoming the challenges in translational development of natural killer cell therapeutics: An opinion paper. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1062765. [DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1062765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
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30
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Mushtaq MU, Shahzad M, Shah AY, Chaudhary SG, Zafar MU, Anwar I, Neupane K, Khalid A, Ahmed N, Bansal R, Balusu R, Singh AK, Abhyankar SH, Callander NS, Hematti P, McGuirk JP. Impact of natural killer cells on outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1005031. [PMID: 36263054 PMCID: PMC9574024 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1005031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in early immune reconstitution following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods A literature search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane, and Clinical trials.gov through April 20, 2022. We included 21 studies reporting data on the impact of NK cells on outcomes after HSCT. Data was extracted following the PRISMA guidelines. Pooled analysis was done using the meta-package (Schwarzer et al.). Proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed. Results We included 1785 patients from 21 studies investigating the impact of NK cell reconstitution post-HSCT (8 studies/1455 patients), stem cell graft NK cell content (4 studies/185 patients), therapeutic NK cell infusions post-HSCT (5 studies/74 patients), and pre-emptive/prophylactic NK cell infusions post-HSCT (4 studies/77 patients). Higher NK cell reconstitution was associated with a better 2-year overall survival (OS) (high: 77%, 95%CI 0.73-0.82 vs low: 55%, 95%CI 0.37-0.72; n=899), however, pooled analysis for relapse rate (RR) or graft versus host disease (GVHD) could not be performed due to insufficient data. Higher graft NK cell content demonstrated a trend towards a better pooled OS (high: 65.2%, 95%CI 0.47-0.81 vs low: 46.5%, 95%CI 0.24-0.70; n=157), lower RR (high: 16.9%, 95%CI 0.10-0.25 vs low: 33%, 95%CI 0.04-0.72; n=157), and lower acute GVHD incidence (high: 27.6%, 95%CI 0.20-0.36 vs low: 49.7%, 95%CI 0.26-0.74; n=157). Therapeutic NK or cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell infusions for hematologic relapse post-HSCT reported an overall response rate (ORR) and complete response (CR) of 48.9% and 11% with CIK cell infusions and 82.8% and 44.8% with NK cell infusions, respectively. RR, acute GVHD, and chronic GVHD were observed in 55.6% and 51.7%, 34.5% and 20%, and 20.7% and 11.1% of patients with CIK and NK cell infusions, respectively. Pre-emptive donor-derived NK cell infusions to prevent relapse post-HSCT had promising outcomes with 1-year OS of 69%, CR rate of 42%, ORR of 77%, RR of 28%, and acute and chronic GVHD rates of 24.9% and 3.7%, respectively. Conclusion NK cells have a favorable impact on outcomes after HSCT. The optimal use of NK cell infusions post-HSCT may be in a pre-emptive fashion to prevent disease relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Umair Mushtaq
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- *Correspondence: Muhammad Umair Mushtaq,
| | - Moazzam Shahzad
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Amna Y. Shah
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Sibgha Gull Chaudhary
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Muhammad U. Zafar
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Iqra Anwar
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Karun Neupane
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Ayesha Khalid
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Nausheen Ahmed
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Rajat Bansal
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Ramesh Balusu
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Anurag K. Singh
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Sunil H. Abhyankar
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Natalie S. Callander
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Peiman Hematti
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Joseph P. McGuirk
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies & Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
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