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Momtazkari S, Dev Choudhury A, Yong ZWE, Le DT, Nguyen Canh H, Harada K, Toshiyuki H, Osato M, Takahashi C, Koh CP, Voon DCC. Differential requirement for IL-2 and IL-23 in the differentiation and effector functions of Th17/ILC3-like cells in a human T cell line. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:1108-1117. [PMID: 38374693 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiae034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
A well-documented Achilles heel of current cancer immunotherapy approaches is T cell exhaustion within solid tumor tissues. The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-23 has been utilized to augment chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell survival and tumor immunity. However, in-depth interrogation of molecular events downstream of IL-23/IL-23 receptor signaling is hampered by a paucity of suitable cell models. The current study investigates the differential contribution of IL-2 and IL-23 to the maintenance and differentiation of the IL-23 responsive Kit225 T-cell line. We observed that IL-23 enhanced cellular fitness and survival but was insufficient to drive proliferation. IL-23 rapidly induced phosphorylation of STAT1, STAT3, and STAT4, and messenger RNA expression of IL17A, the archetypal effector cytokine of T helper 17 (Th17) cells, but not their lineage markers RORC and NCR1. These observations suggest that IL-23 endowed Th17/ILC3-like effector function but did not promote their differentiation. In contrast, spontaneous differentiation of Kit225 cells toward a Th17/ILC3-like phenotype was induced by prolonged IL-2 withdrawal. This was marked by strongly elevated basal IL17A and IL17F expression and the secretion of IL-17. Together, our data present Kit225 cells as a valuable model for studying the interplay between cytokines and their contribution to T cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Momtazkari
- Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Anahita Dev Choudhury
- Institute of Frontier Sciences Initiative, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Zachary Wei Ern Yong
- Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Dong Thanh Le
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Takaramachi, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Hiep Nguyen Canh
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Takaramachi, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Kenichi Harada
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Takaramachi, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Hori Toshiyuki
- Biomedical Sciences Course, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Motomi Osato
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 2-chōme-2-1 Honjō, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Chiaki Takahashi
- Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
- Institute of Frontier Sciences Initiative, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Cai Ping Koh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Quest International University, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Perak, 30250, Malaysia
| | - Dominic Chih-Cheng Voon
- Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
- Institute of Frontier Sciences Initiative, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
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Montoya M, Gallus M, Phyu S, Haegelin J, de Groot J, Okada H. A Roadmap of CAR-T-Cell Therapy in Glioblastoma: Challenges and Future Perspectives. Cells 2024; 13:726. [PMID: 38727262 PMCID: PMC11083543 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090726] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor, with a median overall survival of less than 2 years and a nearly 100% mortality rate under standard therapy that consists of surgery followed by combined radiochemotherapy. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in hematological cancers has prompted preclinical and clinical investigations into CAR-T-cell treatment for GBM. However, recent trials have not demonstrated any major success. Here, we delineate existing challenges impeding the effectiveness of CAR-T-cell therapy for GBM, encompassing the cold (immunosuppressive) microenvironment, tumor heterogeneity, T-cell exhaustion, local and systemic immunosuppression, and the immune privilege inherent to the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma. Additionally, we deliberate on the progress made in developing next-generation CAR-T cells and novel innovative approaches, such as low-intensity pulsed focused ultrasound, aimed at surmounting current roadblocks in GBM CAR-T-cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Montoya
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Marco Gallus
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Su Phyu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jeffrey Haegelin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - John de Groot
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Hideho Okada
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA
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Xiong Q, Wang H, Shen Q, Wang Y, Yuan X, Lin G, Jiang P. The development of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells against CD70 for renal cell carcinoma treatment. J Transl Med 2024; 22:368. [PMID: 38637886 PMCID: PMC11025280 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05101-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated CD70 as a promising target for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) therapy and developed a potent chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells for potential clinical testing. CD70, found to be highly expressed in RCC tumors, was associated with decreased survival. We generated CAR-T cells expressing VHH sequence of various novel nanobodies from immunized alpaca and a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) derived from human antibody (41D12). In our in vitro experiments, anti-CD70 CAR-T cells effectively eliminated CD70-positive tumor cells while sparing CD70-negative cells. The nanobody-based CAR-T cells demonstrated significantly higher production of cytokines such as IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-ɑ during co-culture, indicating their potential for enhanced functionality. In xenograft mouse model, these CAR-T cells exhibited remarkable anti-tumor activity, leading to the eradication of RCC tumor cells. Importantly, human T cell expansion after infusion was significantly higher in the VHH groups compared to the scFv CAR-T group. Upon re-challenging mice with RCC tumor cells, the VHH CAR-T treated group remained tumor-free, suggesting a robust and long-lasting anti-tumor response. These findings provide strong support for the potential of nanobody-based CD70 CAR-T cells as a promising therapeutic option for RCC. This warrants further development and consideration for future clinical trials and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghui Xiong
- Shanghai HRAIN Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 1238 Zhangjiang Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Haiying Wang
- Shanghai HRAIN Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 1238 Zhangjiang Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Qiushuang Shen
- Shanghai HRAIN Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 1238 Zhangjiang Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Shanghai HRAIN Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 1238 Zhangjiang Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiujie Yuan
- Shanghai HRAIN Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 1238 Zhangjiang Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Guangyao Lin
- Shanghai HRAIN Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 1238 Zhangjiang Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Pengfei Jiang
- Shanghai HRAIN Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 1238 Zhangjiang Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
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Sun D, Shi X, Li S, Wang X, Yang X, Wan M. CAR‑T cell therapy: A breakthrough in traditional cancer treatment strategies (Review). Mol Med Rep 2024; 29:47. [PMID: 38275119 PMCID: PMC10835665 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2024.13171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)‑T cell therapy is an innovative approach to immune cell therapy that works by modifying the T cells of a patient to express the CAR protein on their surface, and thus induce their recognition and destruction of cancer cells. CAR‑T cell therapy has shown some success in treating hematological tumors, but it still faces a number of challenges in the treatment of solid tumors, such as antigen selection, tolerability and safety. In response to these issues, studies continue to improve the design of CAR‑T cells in pursuit of improved therapeutic efficacy and safety. In the future, CAR‑T cell therapy is expected to become an important cancer treatment, and may provide new ideas and strategies for individualized immunotherapy. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of the principles, clinical applications, therapeutic efficacy and challenges of CAR‑T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahua Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Qianjiang Central Hospital, Qianjiang, Hubei 433100, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Shi
- Department of Pathology, Qianjiang Central Hospital, Qianjiang, Hubei 433100, P.R. China
| | - Sanyan Li
- Department of Pathology, Qianjiang Central Hospital, Qianjiang, Hubei 433100, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Qianjiang Central Hospital, Qianjiang, Hubei 433100, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qianjiang Central Hospital, Qianjiang, Hubei 433100, P.R. China
| | - Meiping Wan
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qianjiang Central Hospital, Qianjiang, Hubei 433100, P.R. China
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Zhen S, Wang W, Qin G, Lu T, Yang L, Zhang Y. Dynamic surveillance of lymphocyte subsets in patients with non-small cell lung cancer during chemotherapy or combination immunotherapy for early prediction of efficacy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1316778. [PMID: 38482008 PMCID: PMC10933068 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1316778] [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: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Lymphocytes are the primary executors of the immune system and play essential roles in tumorigenesis and development. We investigated the dynamic changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets to predict the efficacy of chemotherapy or combination immunotherapy in NSCLC. Methods This retrospective study collected data from 81 patients with NSCLC who received treatments at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2021 to May 2023. Patients were divided into response and non-response groups, chemotherapy and combination immunotherapy groups, and first-line and multiline groups. We analyzed the absolute counts of each lymphocyte subset in the peripheral blood at baseline and after each treatment cycle. Within-group and between-group differences were analyzed using paired Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests, respectively. The ability of lymphocyte subsets to predict treatment efficacy was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve and logistic regression. Results The absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets in the response group significantly increased after the first cycle of chemotherapy or combination immunotherapy, whereas those in the non-response group showed persistent decreases. Ratios of lymphocyte subsets after the first treatment cycle to those at baseline were able to predict treatment efficacy early. Combination immunotherapy could increase lymphocyte counts compared to chemotherapy alone. In addition, patients with NSCLC receiving chemotherapy or combination immunotherapy for the first time mainly presented with elevated lymphocyte levels, whereas multiline patients showed continuous reductions. Conclusion Dynamic surveillance of lymphocyte subsets could reflect a more actual immune status and predict efficacy early. Combination immunotherapy protected lymphocyte levels from rapid decrease and patients undergoing multiline treatments were more prone to lymphopenia than those receiving first-line treatment. This study provides a reference for the early prediction of the efficacy of clinical tumor treatment for timely combination of immunotherapy or the improvement of immune status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Zhen
- Biotherapy Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenqian Wang
- Biotherapy Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Guohui Qin
- Biotherapy Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Taiying Lu
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Li Yang
- Biotherapy Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Tao R, Han X, Bai X, Yu J, Ma Y, Chen W, Zhang D, Li Z. Revolutionizing cancer treatment: enhancing CAR-T cell therapy with CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1354825. [PMID: 38449862 PMCID: PMC10914996 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1354825] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
CAR-T cell therapy, a novel immunotherapy, has made significant breakthroughs in clinical practice, particularly in treating B-cell-associated leukemia and lymphoma. However, it still faces challenges such as poor persistence, limited proliferation capacity, high manufacturing costs, and suboptimal efficacy. CRISPR/Cas system, an efficient and simple method for precise gene editing, offers new possibilities for optimizing CAR-T cells. It can increase the function of CAR-T cells and reduce manufacturing costs. The combination of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and CAR-T cell therapy may promote the development of this therapy and provide more effective and personalized treatment for cancer patients. Meanwhile, the safety issues surrounding the application of this technology in CAR-T cells require further research and evaluation. Future research should focus on improving the accuracy and safety of CRISPR/Cas9 technology to facilitate the better development and application of CAR-T cell therapy. This review focuses on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in CAR-T cell therapy, including eliminating the inhibitory effect of immune checkpoints, enhancing the ability of CAR-T cells to resist exhaustion, assisting in the construction of universal CAR-T cells, reducing the manufacturing costs of CAR-T cells, and the security problems faced. The objective is to show the revolutionary role of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in CAR-T cell therapy for researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyu Tao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xiaopeng Han
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xue Bai
- Department of Urology, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jianping Yu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Youwei Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Weikai Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Dawei Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Zhengkai Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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Li S, Zhang H, Shang G. Current status and future challenges of CAR-T cell therapy for osteosarcoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1290762. [PMID: 38187386 PMCID: PMC10766856 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1290762] [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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma, the most common bone malignancy in children and adolescents, poses considerable challenges in terms of prognosis, especially for patients with metastatic or recurrent disease. While surgical intervention and adjuvant chemotherapy have improved survival rates, limitations such as impractical tumor removal or chemotherapy resistance hinder the treatment outcomes. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, an innovative immunotherapy approach that involves targeting tumor antigens and releasing immune factors, has shown significant advancements in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, its application in solid tumors, including osteosarcoma, is constrained by factors such as low antigen specificity, limited persistence, and the complex tumor microenvironment. Research on osteosarcoma is ongoing, and some targets have shown promising results in pre-clinical studies. This review summarizes the current status of research on CAR-T cell therapy for osteosarcoma by compiling recent literature. It also proposes future research directions to enhance the treatment of osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhe Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - He Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Guanning Shang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Yi M, Li T, Niu M, Mei Q, Zhao B, Chu Q, Dai Z, Wu K. Exploiting innate immunity for cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:187. [PMID: 38008741 PMCID: PMC10680233 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01885-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment paradigms of various types of cancers. However, most of these immunomodulatory strategies focus on harnessing adaptive immunity, mainly by inhibiting immunosuppressive signaling with immune checkpoint blockade, or enhancing immunostimulatory signaling with bispecific T cell engager and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell. Although these agents have already achieved great success, only a tiny percentage of patients could benefit from immunotherapies. Actually, immunotherapy efficacy is determined by multiple components in the tumor microenvironment beyond adaptive immunity. Cells from the innate arm of the immune system, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and unconventional T cells, also participate in cancer immune evasion and surveillance. Considering that the innate arm is the cornerstone of the antitumor immune response, utilizing innate immunity provides potential therapeutic options for cancer control. Up to now, strategies exploiting innate immunity, such as agonists of stimulator of interferon genes, CAR-macrophage or -natural killer cell therapies, metabolic regulators, and novel immune checkpoint blockade, have exhibited potent antitumor activities in preclinical and clinical studies. Here, we summarize the latest insights into the potential roles of innate cells in antitumor immunity and discuss the advances in innate arm-targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yi
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianye Li
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengke Niu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Mei
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Chu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhijun Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Kongming Wu
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang A, Wang S, Sun Y, Zhang Y, Zhao L, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Xu L, Lei Y, Du J, Chen H, Duan L, He M, Shi L, Liu L, Wang Q, Hu L, Zhang B. Targeting and cytotoxicity of chimeric antigen receptor T cells grafted with PD1 extramembrane domain. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:85. [PMID: 37777797 PMCID: PMC10543853 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00438-7] [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: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunosuppression induced by programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) presents a significant constraint on the effectiveness of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy. The potential of combining PD1/PDL1 (Programmed cell death 1 ligand 1) axis blockade with CAR-T cell therapy is promising. However, developing a highly efficient and minimally toxic approach requires further exploration. Our attempt to devise a novel CAR structure capable of recognizing both tumor antigens and PDL1 encountered challenges since direct targeting of PDL1 resulted in systemic adverse effects. METHODS In this research, we innovatively engineered novel CARs by grafting the PD1 domain into a conventional second-generation (2G) CAR specifically targeting CD19. These CARs exist in two distinct forms: one with PD1 extramembrane domain (EMD) directly linked to a transmembrane domain (TMD), referred to as PE CAR, and the other with PD1 EMD connected to a TMD via a CD8 hinge domain (HD), known as PE8HT CAR. To evaluate their efficacy, we conducted comprehensive assessments of their cytotoxicity, cytokine release, and potential off-target effects both in vitro and in vivo using tumor models that overexpress CD19/PDL1. RESULTS The findings of our study indicate that PE CAR demonstrates enhanced cytotoxicity and reduced cytokine release specifically towards CD19 + PDL1 + tumor cells, without off-target effects to CD19-PDL1 + tumor cells, in contrast to 2G CAR-T cells. Additionally, PE CAR showed ameliorative differentiation, exhaustion, and apoptosis phenotypes as assessed by flow cytometry, RNA-sequencing, and metabolic parameter analysis, after encountering CD19 + PDL1 + tumor cells. CONCLUSION Our results revealed that CAR grafted with PD1 exhibits enhanced antitumor activity with lower cytokine release and no PD1-related off-target toxicity in tumor models that overexpress CD19 and PDL1. These findings suggest that our CAR design holds the potential for effectively addressing the PD1 signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ang Zhang
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, 100850, PR China
- Department of Hematology, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Shenyu Wang
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, 100850, PR China
- Senior Department of Hematology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - Yao Sun
- Senior Department of Hematology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - Yikun Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Long Zhao
- Senior Department of Hematology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - Yang Yang
- Senior Department of Hematology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - Yijian Zhang
- Senior Department of Hematology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - Lei Xu
- Senior Department of Hematology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - Yangyang Lei
- Senior Department of Hematology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - Jie Du
- SAFE Pharmaceutical Research Institute Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Hu Chen
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, 100850, PR China
| | - Lian Duan
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, 100850, PR China
| | - Mingyi He
- Department of Hematology, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Lintao Shi
- Department of Hematology, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Hematology, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Quanjun Wang
- SAFE Pharmaceutical Research Institute Co., Ltd, Beijing, China.
| | - Liangding Hu
- Senior Department of Hematology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, PR China.
| | - Bin Zhang
- Senior Department of Hematology, the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, PR China.
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10
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Yan L, Li J, Zhang C. The role of MSCs and CAR-MSCs in cellular immunotherapy. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:187. [PMID: 37528472 PMCID: PMC10391838 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01191-4] [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: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are widely used by T cells (CAR-T cells), natural killer cells dendritic cells and macrophages, and they are of great importance in cellular immunotherapy. However, the use of CAR-related products faces several challenges, including the poor persistence of cells carrying CARs, cell dysfunction or exhaustion, relapse of disease, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, cytokine release syndrome, low efficacy against solid tumors and immunosuppression by the tumor microenvironment. Another important cell therapy regimen involves mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Recent studies have shown that MSCs can improve the anticancer functions of CAR-related products. CAR-MSCs can overcome the flaws of cellular immunotherapy. Thus, MSCs can be used as a biological vehicle for CARs. In this review, we first discuss the characteristics and immunomodulatory functions of MSCs. Then, the role of MSCs as a source of exosomes, including the characteristics of MSC-derived exosomes and their immunomodulatory functions, is discussed. The role of MSCs in CAR-related products, CAR-related product-derived exosomes and the effect of MSCs on CAR-related products are reviewed. Finally, the use of MSCs as CAR vehicles is discussed. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lun Yan
- Medical Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Jing Li
- Medical Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Medical Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
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11
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Wei W, Chen ZN, Wang K. CRISPR/Cas9: A Powerful Strategy to Improve CAR-T Cell Persistence. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12317. [PMID: 37569693 PMCID: PMC10418799 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512317] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
As an emerging treatment strategy for malignant tumors, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has been widely used in clinical practice, and its efficacy has been markedly improved in the past decade. However, the clinical effect of CAR-T therapy is not so satisfying, especially in solid tumors. Even in hematologic malignancies, a proportion of patients eventually relapse after receiving CAR-T cell infusions, owing to the poor expansion and persistence of CAR-T cells. Recently, CRISPR/Cas9 technology has provided an effective approach to promoting the proliferation and persistence of CAR-T cells in the body. This technology has been utilized in CAR-T cells to generate a memory phenotype, reduce exhaustion, and screen new targets to improve the anti-tumor potential. In this review, we aim to describe the major causes limiting the persistence of CAR-T cells in patients and discuss the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in promoting CAR-T cell persistence and its anti-tumor function. Finally, we investigate clinical trials for CRISPR/Cas9-engineered CAR-T cells for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhi-Nan Chen
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China;
| | - Ke Wang
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China;
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12
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Li L, Guo Y, Lu Y, Xu Y, Lu Y, Zhu X, Dong X, Che J. An updated patent review of AKT inhibitors (2020 - present). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2023; 33:549-564. [PMID: 37864349 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2023.2273895] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Protein kinase B (Akt), an essential protein in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, plays a crucial role in tumor progression. Over the past two years, different types of Akt modulators have continued to emerge in the patent literature. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the patent literature covering small molecule inhibitors, peptides, PROTACs, and antisense nucleic acids targetingAkt from 2020 to present. Also, we discuss the outcomes of several clinical trials, combination strategies for different mechanisms, and the application of Akt regulators in other non-oncology indications.Our search for relevant information was conducted using various databases, including the European Patent Office, SciFinder, andPubMed, from 01.2020 to 04.2023. EXPERT OPINION In recent years, some combination therapeutic strategies involvingAkt inhibitors have shown promising clinical outcomes. Future research can be directed toward developing new applications of Akt inhibitors, which may have implications for other diseases beyond cancer. New attempts suggest that targeting allosteric sites may be a potential solution to the problem of isoform selectivity.Furthermore, directly knocking out Akt protein by using the degraderssuggests a promising direction for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjie Li
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Drug Discovery and Design, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yu Guo
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Drug Discovery and Design, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yang Lu
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Drug Discovery and Design, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yaping Xu
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Drug Discovery and Design, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Pharmacy, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiuping Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiaowu Dong
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Drug Discovery and Design, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
- Department of Pharmacy, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jinxin Che
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Drug Discovery and Design, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
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13
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Liu Y, An L, Yang C, Wang X, Huang R, Zhang X. Ginsenoside Rg1 improves anti-tumor efficacy of adoptive cell therapy by enhancing T cell effector functions. BLOOD SCIENCE 2023; 5:170-179. [PMID: 37546705 PMCID: PMC10400057 DOI: 10.1097/bs9.0000000000000165] [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: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) has emerged with remarkable efficacies for tumor immunotherapy. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, as one of most promising ACTs, has achieved prominent effects in treating malignant hematological tumors. However, the insufficient killing activity and limited persistence of T cells in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment limit the further application of ACTs for cancer patients. Many studies have focused on improving cytotoxicity and persistence of T cells to achieve improved therapeutic effects. In this study, we explored the potential function in ACT of ginsenoside Rg1, the main pharmacologically active component of ginseng. We introduced Rg1 during the in vitro activation and expansion phase of T cells, and found that Rg1 treatment upregulated two T cell activation markers, CD69 and CD25, while promoting T cell differentiation towards a mature state. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that Rg1 influenced T cell metabolic reprogramming by strengthening mitochondrial biosynthesis. When co-cultured with tumor cells, Rg1-treated T cells showed stronger cytotoxicity than untreated cells. Moreover, adding Rg1 to the culture endowed CAR-T cells with enhanced anti-tumor efficacy. This study suggests that ginsenoside Rg1 provides a potential approach for improving the anti-tumor efficacy of ACT by enhancing T cell effector functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Lingna An
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Chengfei Yang
- Department of Urology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Xiaoqi Wang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Ruihao Huang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing 401329 China
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14
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Műzes G, Sipos F. CAR-Based Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases: A Novel Powerful Option. Cells 2023; 12:1534. [PMID: 37296654 PMCID: PMC10252902 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The pervasive application of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based cellular therapies in the treatment of oncological diseases has long been recognized. However, CAR T cells can target and eliminate autoreactive cells in autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases. By doing so, they can contribute to an effective and relatively long-lasting remission. In turn, CAR Treg interventions may have a highly effective and durable immunomodulatory effect via a direct or bystander effect, which may have a positive impact on the course and prognosis of autoimmune diseases. CAR-based cellular techniques have a complex theoretical foundation and are difficult to implement in practice, but they have a remarkable capacity to suppress the destructive functions of the immune system. This article provides an overview of the numerous CAR-based therapeutic options developed for the treatment of immune-mediated and autoimmune diseases. We believe that well-designed, rigorously tested cellular therapies could provide a promising new personalized treatment strategy for a significant number of patients with immune-mediated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Györgyi Műzes
- Immunology Division, Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, 1088 Budapest, Hungary;
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15
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Mazinani M, Rahbarizadeh F. New cell sources for CAR-based immunotherapy. Biomark Res 2023; 11:49. [PMID: 37147740 PMCID: PMC10163725 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00482-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, in which a patient's own T lymphocytes are engineered to recognize and kill cancer cells, has achieved striking success in some hematological malignancies in preclinical and clinical trials, resulting in six FDA-approved CAR-T products currently available in the market. Despite impressive clinical outcomes, concerns about treatment failure associated with low efficacy or high cytotoxicity of CAR-T cells remain. While the main focus has been on improving CAR-T cells, exploring alternative cellular sources for CAR generation has garnered growing interest. In the current review, we comprehensively evaluated other cell sources rather than conventional T cells for CAR generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Mazinani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rahbarizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran.
- Research and Development Center of Biotechnology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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16
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Zhang H, Passang T, Ravindranathan S, Bommireddy R, Jajja MR, Yang L, Selvaraj P, Paulos CM, Waller EK. The magic of small-molecule drugs during ex vivo expansion in adoptive cell therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1154566. [PMID: 37153607 PMCID: PMC10160370 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1154566] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past decades, advances in the use of adoptive cellular therapy to treat cancer have led to unprecedented responses in patients with relapsed/refractory or late-stage malignancies. However, cellular exhaustion and senescence limit the efficacy of FDA-approved T-cell therapies in patients with hematologic malignancies and the widespread application of this approach in treating patients with solid tumors. Investigators are addressing the current obstacles by focusing on the manufacturing process of effector T cells, including engineering approaches and ex vivo expansion strategies to regulate T-cell differentiation. Here we reviewed the current small-molecule strategies to enhance T-cell expansion, persistence, and functionality during ex vivo manufacturing. We further discussed the synergistic benefits of the dual-targeting approaches and proposed novel vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor antagonists (VIPR-ANT) peptides as emerging candidates to enhance cell-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanwen Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Tenzin Passang
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sruthi Ravindranathan
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ramireddy Bommireddy
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Mohammad Raheel Jajja
- Departmert of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Lily Yang
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Periasamy Selvaraj
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Chrystal M. Paulos
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University of School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Edmund K. Waller
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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17
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Alvanou M, Lysandrou M, Christophi P, Psatha N, Spyridonidis A, Papadopoulou A, Yannaki E. Empowering the Potential of CAR-T Cell Immunotherapies by Epigenetic Reprogramming. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15071935. [PMID: 37046597 PMCID: PMC10093039 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15071935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell-based, personalized immunotherapy can nowadays be considered the mainstream treatment for certain blood cancers, with a high potential for expanding indications. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-Ts), an ex vivo genetically modified T-cell therapy product redirected to target an antigen of interest, have achieved unforeseen successes in patients with B-cell hematologic malignancies. Frequently, however, CAR-T cell therapies fail to provide durable responses while they have met with only limited success in treating solid cancers because unique, unaddressed challenges, including poor persistence, impaired trafficking to the tumor, and site penetration through a hostile microenvironment, impede their efficacy. Increasing evidence suggests that CAR-Ts' in vivo performance is associated with T-cell intrinsic features that may be epigenetically altered or dysregulated. In this review, we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on T-cell differentiation, exhaustion, and tumor infiltration and discuss how epigenetic reprogramming may enhance CAR-Ts' memory phenotype, trafficking, and fitness, contributing to the development of a new generation of potent CAR-T immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Alvanou
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, 265 04 Rio, Greece
| | - Memnon Lysandrou
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, 265 04 Rio, Greece
| | - Panayota Christophi
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, 265 04 Rio, Greece
| | - Nikoleta Psatha
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexandros Spyridonidis
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Institute of Cell Therapy, University of Patras, 265 04 Rio, Greece
| | - Anastasia Papadopoulou
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Hematology Department-Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit, Gene and Cell Therapy Center, George Papanikolaou Hospital, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2100, USA
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18
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Nanjireddy PM, Olejniczak SH, Buxbaum NP. Targeting of chimeric antigen receptor T cell metabolism to improve therapeutic outcomes. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1121565. [PMID: 36999013 PMCID: PMC10043186 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1121565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetically engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells can cure patients with cancers that are refractory to standard therapeutic approaches. To date, adoptive cell therapies have been less effective against solid tumors, largely due to impaired homing and function of immune cells within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Cellular metabolism plays a key role in T cell function and survival and is amenable to manipulation. This manuscript provides an overview of known aspects of CAR T metabolism and describes potential approaches to manipulate metabolic features of CAR T to yield better anti-tumor responses. Distinct T cell phenotypes that are linked to cellular metabolism profiles are associated with improved anti-tumor responses. Several steps within the CAR T manufacture process are amenable to interventions that can generate and maintain favorable intracellular metabolism phenotypes. For example, co-stimulatory signaling is executed through metabolic rewiring. Use of metabolic regulators during CAR T expansion or systemically in the patient following adoptive transfer are described as potential approaches to generate and maintain metabolic states that can confer improved in vivo T cell function and persistence. Cytokine and nutrient selection during the expansion process can be tailored to yield CAR T products with more favorable metabolic features. In summary, improved understanding of CAR T cellular metabolism and its manipulations have the potential to guide the development of more effective adoptive cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Maridhi Nanjireddy
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
- Immunology Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Scott H. Olejniczak
- Immunology Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Nataliya Prokopenko Buxbaum
- Department of Pediatrics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Nataliya Prokopenko Buxbaum,
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