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Wu H, Zhang G, Liu Z, Liu W, Wang X, Zhao Y. Enhanced anti-tumor activity mediated by combination chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting GD2 and GPC2 in high-risk neuroblastoma. Cytotherapy 2024:S1465-3249(24)00732-1. [PMID: 38904586 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.05.023] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells targeting single antigens show limited activity against solid tumors due to poor T cell persistence, low efficiency infiltration, and exhaustion together with heterogeneous tumor-associated antigen (TAA) expression. This is also true in high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB), a lethal pediatric extracranial malignancy. To overcome these obstacles, a combinational strategy using GD2-specific and GPC2-specific CAR-T cells was developed to improve immunotherapeutic efficacy. METHODS We individually developed GD2-specific and GPC2-specific CARs containing a selective domain (sCAR) which was a peptide of 10 amino acids derived from human nuclear autoantigen La/SS-B. These constructs allowed us to generate two different HRNB antigen-specific CAR-T cells with enhanced biological activity through stimulating sCAR-engrafted T cells via a selective domain-specific monoclonal antibody (SmAb). Binding affinity and stimulation of GD2- and GPC2-specific sCARs by SmAb were measured, and transient and persistent anti-tumor cytotoxicity of GD2sCAR-T and GPC2sCAR-T cells were quantified in neuroblastoma cell lines expressing different TAA levels. The anti-tumor pharmaceutical effects and cellular mechanisms mediated by single or combinational sCAR-T cells were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS GD2- and GPC2-specific sCARs had antigen-specific binding affinity similar to their parental counterparts and were recognized by SmAb. SmAb-mediated stimulation selectively activated sCAR-T proliferation and increased central memory T cells in the final products. SmAb-stimulated sCAR-T cells had enhanced transient cytolytic activity, and combination therapy extended long-term anti-tumor activity in vitro through TNF-α and IL-15 release. Stimulated sCAR-T cells overcame heterogeneous antigen expression in HRNB, and the multi-TAA-targeting strategy was especially efficacious in vivo, inducing apoptosis through the caspase-3/PARP pathway and inhibiting the release of several tumor-promoting cytokines. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that combined targeting of multiple TAAs is a promising strategy to overcome heterogenous antigen expression in solid tumors and extend CAR-T cell persistence for HRNB immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huantong Wu
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Guangji Zhang
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongfeng Liu
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Weihua Liu
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
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Striese F, Neuber C, Gräßel S, Arndt C, Ullrich M, Steinbach J, Pietzsch J, Bergmann R, Pietzsch HJ, Sihver W, Frenz M, Feldmann A, Bachmann MP. Preclinical Characterization of the 177Lu-Labeled Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA)-Specific Monoclonal Antibody 7F5. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119420. [PMID: 37298374 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is an excellent target for imaging and treatment of prostate carcinoma (PCa). Unfortunately, not all PCa cells express PSMA. Therefore, alternative theranostic targets are required. The membrane protein prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is highly overexpressed in most primary prostate carcinoma (PCa) cells and in metastatic and hormone refractory tumor cells. Moreover, PSCA expression positively correlates with tumor progression. Therefore, it represents a potential alternative theranostic target suitable for imaging and/or radioimmunotherapy. In order to support this working hypothesis, we conjugated our previously described anti-PSCA monoclonal antibody (mAb) 7F5 with the bifunctional chelator CHX-A″-DTPA and subsequently radiolabeled it with the theranostic radionuclide 177Lu. The resulting radiolabeled mAb ([177Lu]Lu-CHX-A″-DTPA-7F5) was characterized both in vitro and in vivo. It showed a high radiochemical purity (>95%) and stability. The labelling did not affect its binding capability. Biodistribution studies showed a high specific tumor uptake compared to most non-targeted tissues in mice bearing PSCA-positive tumors. Accordingly, SPECT/CT images revealed a high tumor-to-background ratios from 16 h to 7 days after administration of [177Lu]Lu-CHX-A″-DTPA-7F5. Consequently, [177Lu]Lu-CHX-A″-DTPA-7F5 represents a promising candidate for imaging and in the future also for radioimmunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Striese
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- School of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technical University Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Christin Neuber
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Sandy Gräßel
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- School of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technical University Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Ullrich
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jörg Steinbach
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- School of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technical University Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- School of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technical University Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hans-Jürgen Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Wiebke Sihver
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marcus Frenz
- Faculty of Informatik and Wirtschaftsinformatik, Provadis School of International Management and Technology AG, 65926 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael P Bachmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (UCC/NCT), Partner Site Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Arndt C, Tunger A, Wehner R, Rothe R, Kourtellari E, Luttosch S, Hannemann K, Koristka S, Loureiro LR, Feldmann A, Tonn T, Link T, Kuhlmann JD, Wimberger P, Bachmann MP, Schmitz M. Palbociclib impairs the proliferative capacity of activated T cells while retaining their cytotoxic efficacy. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:970457. [PMID: 36817127 PMCID: PMC9935825 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.970457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor palbociclib is an emerging cancer therapeutic that just recently gained Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor (Her)2-negative breast cancer in combination with the ER degrader fulvestrant. However, CDK4/6 inhibitors are not cancer-specific and may affect also other proliferating cells. Given the importance of T cells in antitumor defense, we studied the influence of palbociclib/fulvestrant on human CD3+ T cells and novel emerging T cell-based cancer immunotherapies. Palbociclib considerably inhibited the proliferation of activated T cells by mediating G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. However, after stopping the drug supply this suppression was fully reversible. In light of combination approaches, we further investigated the effect of palbociclib/fulvestrant on T cell-based immunotherapies by using a CD3-PSCA bispecific antibody or universal chimeric antigen receptor (UniCAR) T cells. Thereby, we observed that palbociclib clearly impaired T cell expansion. This effect resulted in a lower total concentration of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor, while palbociclib did not inhibit the average cytokine release per cell. In addition, the cytotoxic potential of the redirected T cells was unaffected by palbociclib and fulvestrant. Overall, these novel findings may have implications for the design of treatment modalities combining CDK4/6 inhibition and T cell-based cancer immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Arndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany,Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,*Correspondence: Claudia Arndt, ; Marc Schmitz,
| | - Antje Tunger
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rebekka Wehner
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca Rothe
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Eleni Kourtellari
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephanie Luttosch
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katharina Hannemann
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
| | - Liliana R. Loureiro
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
| | - Torsten Tonn
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany,German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Dresden, Germany,Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Theresa Link
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan Dominik Kuhlmann
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pauline Wimberger
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Philipp Bachmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany,Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany,*Correspondence: Claudia Arndt, ; Marc Schmitz,
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Mitwasi N, Arndt C, Loureiro LR, Kegler A, Fasslrinner F, Berndt N, Bergmann R, Hořejší V, Rössig C, Bachmann M, Feldmann A. Targeting CD10 on B-Cell Leukemia Using the Universal CAR T-Cell Platform (UniCAR). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4920. [PMID: 35563312 PMCID: PMC9105388 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T-cells are without a doubt a breakthrough therapy for hematological malignancies. Despite their success, clinical experience has revealed several challenges, which include relapse after targeting single antigens such as CD19 in the case of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), and the occurrence of side effects that could be severe in some cases. Therefore, it became clear that improved safety approaches, and targeting multiple antigens, should be considered to further improve CAR T-cell therapy for B-ALL. In this paper, we address both issues by investigating the use of CD10 as a therapeutic target for B-ALL with our switchable UniCAR system. The UniCAR platform is a modular platform that depends on the presence of two elements to function. These include UniCAR T-cells and the target modules (TMs), which cross-link the T-cells to their respective targets on tumor cells. The TMs function as keys that control the switchability of UniCAR T-cells. Here, we demonstrate that UniCAR T-cells, armed with anti-CD10 TM, can efficiently kill B-ALL cell lines, as well as patient-derived B-ALL blasts, thereby highlighting the exciting possibility for using CD10 as an emerging therapeutic target for B-cell malignancies.
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MESH Headings
- Antigens, CD19/metabolism
- Humans
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive
- Leukemia, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, B-Cell/therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Neprilysin/therapeutic use
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Mitwasi
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.M.); (C.A.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (N.B.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.M.); (C.A.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (N.B.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Liliana R. Loureiro
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.M.); (C.A.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (N.B.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.M.); (C.A.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (N.B.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Frederick Fasslrinner
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany;
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Berndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.M.); (C.A.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (N.B.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.M.); (C.A.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (N.B.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vaclav Hořejší
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Claudia Rössig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.M.); (C.A.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (N.B.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), D-01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.M.); (C.A.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (N.B.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
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Development and Functional Characterization of a Versatile Radio-/Immunotheranostic Tool for Prostate Cancer Management. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14081996. [PMID: 35454902 PMCID: PMC9027777 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14081996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In previous studies, we described a modular Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell platform which we termed UniCAR. In contrast to conventional CARs, the interaction of UniCAR T cells does not occur directly between the CAR T cell and the tumor cell but is mediated via bispecific adaptor molecules so-called target modules (TMs). Here we present the development and functional characterization of a novel IgG4-based TM, directed to the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), which is overexpressed in prostate cancer (PCa). We show that this anti-PSCA IgG4-TM cannot only be used for (i) redirection of UniCAR T cells to PCa cells but also for (ii) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and (iii) alpha particle-based endoradiotherapy. For radiolabeling, the anti-PSCA IgG4-TM was conjugated with the chelator DOTAGA. PET imaging was performed using the 64Cu-labeled anti-PSCA IgG4-TM. According to PET imaging, the anti-PSCA IgG4-TM accumulates with high contrast in the PSCA-positive tumors of experimental mice without visible uptake in other organs. For endoradiotherapy the anti-PSCA IgG4-TM-DOTAGA conjugate was labeled with 225Ac3+. Targeted alpha therapy resulted in tumor control over 60 days after a single injection of the 225Ac-labeled TM. The favorable pharmacological profile of the anti-PSCA IgG4-TM, and its usage for (i) imaging, (ii) targeted alpha therapy, and (iii) UniCAR T cell immunotherapy underlines the promising radio-/immunotheranostic capabilities for the diagnostic imaging and treatment of PCa. Abstract Due to its overexpression on the surface of prostate cancer (PCa) cells, the prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is a potential target for PCa diagnosis and therapy. Here we describe the development and functional characterization of a novel IgG4-based anti-PSCA antibody (Ab) derivative (anti-PSCA IgG4-TM) that is conjugated with the chelator DOTAGA. The anti-PSCA IgG4-TM represents a multimodal immunotheranostic compound that can be used (i) as a target module (TM) for UniCAR T cell-based immunotherapy, (ii) for diagnostic positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and (iii) targeted alpha therapy. Cross-linkage of UniCAR T cells and PSCA-positive tumor cells via the anti-PSCA IgG4-TM results in efficient tumor cell lysis both in vitro and in vivo. After radiolabeling with 64Cu2+, the anti-PSCA IgG4-TM was successfully applied for high contrast PET imaging. In a PCa mouse model, it showed specific accumulation in PSCA-expressing tumors, while no uptake in other organs was observed. Additionally, the DOTAGA-conjugated anti-PSCA IgG4-TM was radiolabeled with 225Ac3+ and applied for targeted alpha therapy. A single injection of the 225Ac-labeled anti-PSCA IgG4-TM was able to significantly control tumor growth in experimental mice. Overall, the novel anti-PSCA IgG4-TM represents an attractive first member of a novel group of radio-/immunotheranostics that allows diagnostic imaging, endoradiotherapy, and CAR T cell immunotherapy.
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Nguyen-Le TA, Bartsch T, Wodtke R, Brandt F, Arndt C, Feldmann A, Sandoval Bojorquez DI, Roig AP, Ibarlucea B, Lee S, Baek CK, Cuniberti G, Bergmann R, Puentes-Cala E, Soto JA, Kurien BT, Bachmann M, Baraban L. Nanosensors in clinical development of CAR-T cell immunotherapy. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 206:114124. [PMID: 35272215 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy using CAR-T cells is a new technological paradigm for cancer treatment. To avoid severe side effects and tumor escape variants observed for conventional CAR-T cells approach, adaptor CAR technologies are under development, where intermediate target modules redirect immune cells against cancer. In this work, silicon nanowire field-effect transistors are used to develop target modules for an optimized CAR-T cell operation. Focusing on a library of seven variants of E5B9 peptide that is used as CAR targeting epitope, we performed multiplexed binding tests using nanosensor chips. These peptides had been immobilized onto the sensor to compare the transistor signals upon titration with anti-La 5B9 antibodies. The correlation of binding affinities and sensor sensitivities enabled a selection of candidates for the interaction between CAR and target modules. An extremely low detection limit was observed for the sensor, down to femtomolar concentration, outperforming the current assay of the same purpose. Finally, the CAR T-cells redirection capability of selected peptides in target modules was proven successful in an in-vitro cytotoxicity assay. Our results open the perspective for the nanosensors to go beyond the early diagnostics in clinical cancer research towards developing and monitoring immunotherapeutic treatment, where the quantitative analysis with the standard techniques is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trang Anh Nguyen-Le
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tabea Bartsch
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Robert Wodtke
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Florian Brandt
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany; Fakultät Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstraße 4, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany; Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Diana Isabel Sandoval Bojorquez
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Arnau Perez Roig
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Bergoi Ibarlucea
- Institute for Materials Science, Max Bergmann Center for Biomaterials, Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Technische Universität Dresden, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Seungho Lee
- Department of Convergence IT Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan-Ki Baek
- Department of Convergence IT Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Gianaurelio Cuniberti
- Institute for Materials Science, Max Bergmann Center for Biomaterials, Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Technische Universität Dresden, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany; Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edinson Puentes-Cala
- Corporación para la Investigación de la Corrosión (CIC), Piedecuesta, 681011, Colombia
| | | | - Biji T Kurien
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany; Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany. Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.
| | - Larysa Baraban
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR), 01328, Dresden, Germany.
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7
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Berndt N, Bippes CC, Michalk I, Bartsch T, Arndt C, Puentes-Cala E, Soto JA, Loureiro LR, Kegler A, Bachmann D, Gross JK, Gross T, Kurien BT, Scofield RH, Farris AD, James JA, Bergmann R, Schmitz M, Feldmann A, Bachmann MP. And Yet It Moves: Oxidation of the Nuclear Autoantigen La/SS-B Is the Driving Force for Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Shuttling. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9699. [PMID: 34575862 PMCID: PMC8470643 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Decades ago, we and many other groups showed a nucleo-cytoplasmic translocation of La protein in cultured cells. This shuttling of La protein was seen after UV irradiation, virus infections, hydrogen peroxide exposure and the Fenton reaction based on iron or copper ions. All of these conditions are somehow related to oxidative stress. Unfortunately, these harsh conditions could also cause an artificial release of La protein. Even until today, the shuttling and the cytoplasmic function of La/SS-B is controversially discussed. Moreover, the driving mechanism for the shuttling of La protein remains unclear. Recently, we showed that La protein undergoes redox-dependent conformational changes. Moreover, we developed anti-La monoclonal antibodies (anti-La mAbs), which are specific for either the reduced form of La protein or the oxidized form. Using these tools, here we show that redox-dependent conformational changes are the driving force for the shuttling of La protein. Moreover, we show that translocation of La protein to the cytoplasm can be triggered in a ligand/receptor-dependent manner under physiological conditions. We show that ligands of toll-like receptors lead to a redox-dependent shuttling of La protein. The shuttling of La protein depends on the redox status of the respective cell type. Endothelial cells are usually resistant to the shuttling of La protein, while dendritic cells are highly sensitive. However, the deprivation of intracellular reducing agents in endothelial cells makes endothelial cells sensitive to a redox-dependent shuttling of La protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Berndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Claudia C. Bippes
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Irene Michalk
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Tabea Bartsch
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Edinson Puentes-Cala
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
- Corporación para la Investigación de la Corrosión (CIC), Piedecuesta 681011, Colombia
| | - Javier Andrés Soto
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
- Instituto de Investigación Masira, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y de la Salud, Universidad de Santander, Cúcuta 540001, Colombia
| | - Liliana R. Loureiro
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Dominik Bachmann
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Joanne K. Gross
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Tim Gross
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Biji T. Kurien
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - R. Hal Scofield
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - A. Darise Farris
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Judith A. James
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
- Department of Biophysics and Radiobiology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 03128 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Michael P. Bachmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (T.B.); (C.A.); (E.P.-C.); (J.A.S.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.)
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 03128 Dresden, Germany
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8
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Berndt N, Bippes CC, Michalk I, Bachmann D, Bachmann J, Puentes-Cala E, Bartsch T, Loureiro LR, Kegler A, Bergmann R, Gross JK, Gross T, Kurien BT, Scofield RH, Farris AD, James JA, Schmitz M, Fahmy K, Feldmann A, Arndt C, Bachmann MP. Two Be or Not Two Be: The Nuclear Autoantigen La/SS-B Is Able to Form Dimers and Oligomers in a Redox Dependent Manner. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3377. [PMID: 33806091 PMCID: PMC8036718 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the literature, the autoantigen La is involved in Cap-independent translation. It was proposed that one prerequisite for this function is the formation of a protein dimer. However, structural analyses argue against La protein dimers. Noteworthy to mention, these structural analyses were performed under reducing conditions. Here we describe that La protein can undergo redox-dependent structural changes. The oxidized form of La protein can form dimers, oligomers and even polymers stabilized by disulfide bridges. The primary sequence of La protein contains three cysteine residues. Only after mutation of all three cysteine residues to alanine La protein becomes insensitive to oxidation, indicating that all three cysteines are involved in redox-dependent structural changes. Biophysical analyses of the secondary structure of La protein support the redox-dependent conformational changes. Moreover, we identified monoclonal anti-La antibodies (anti-La mAbs) that react with either the reduced or oxidized form of La protein. Differential reactivities to the reduced and oxidized form of La protein were also found in anti-La sera of autoimmune patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Berndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (E.P.-C.); (T.B.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.); (C.A.)
| | - Claudia C. Bippes
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Irene Michalk
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Dominik Bachmann
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (D.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Jennifer Bachmann
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (D.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Edinson Puentes-Cala
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (E.P.-C.); (T.B.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.); (C.A.)
- Corporación para la Investigación de la Corrosión (CIC), Piedecuesta 681011, Colombia
| | - Tabea Bartsch
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (E.P.-C.); (T.B.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.); (C.A.)
| | - Liliana R. Loureiro
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (E.P.-C.); (T.B.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.); (C.A.)
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (E.P.-C.); (T.B.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.); (C.A.)
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (E.P.-C.); (T.B.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.); (C.A.)
- Department of Biophysics and Radiobiology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Joanne K. Gross
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Tim Gross
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Biji T. Kurien
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - R. Hal Scofield
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - A. Darise Farris
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Judith A. James
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Karim Fahmy
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (E.P.-C.); (T.B.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.); (C.A.)
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (E.P.-C.); (T.B.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.); (C.A.)
| | - Michael P. Bachmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; (N.B.); (E.P.-C.); (T.B.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (R.B.); (A.F.); (C.A.)
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (I.M.); (M.S.)
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (D.B.); (J.B.)
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9
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Bachmann MP, Bartsch T, Bippes CC, Bachmann D, Puentes-Cala E, Bachmann J, Bartsch H, Arndt C, Koristka S, Loureiro LR, Kegler A, Laube M, Gross JK, Gross T, Kurien BT, Scofield RH, Farris AD, James JA, Schmitz M, Feldmann A. T Cell Mediated Conversion of a Non-Anti-La Reactive B Cell to an Autoreactive Anti-La B Cell by Somatic Hypermutation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1198. [PMID: 33530489 PMCID: PMC7865296 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the first description of nuclear autoantigens in the late 1960s and early 1970s, researchers, including ourselves, have found it difficult to establish monoclonal antibodies (mabs) against nuclear antigens, including the La/SS-B (Sjögrens' syndrome associated antigen B) autoantigen. To date, only a few anti-La mabs have been derived by conventional hybridoma technology; however, those anti-La mabs were not bona fide autoantibodies as they recognize either human La specific, cryptic, or post-translationally modified epitopes which are not accessible on native mouse La protein. Herein, we present a series of novel murine anti-La mabs including truly autoreactive ones. These mabs were elicited from a human La transgenic animal through adoptive transfer of T cells from non-transgenic mice immunized with human La antigen. Detailed epitope and paratope analyses experimentally confirm the hypothesis that somatic hypermutations that occur during T cell dependent maturation can lead to autoreactivity to the nuclear La/SS-B autoantigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Bachmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 03128 Dresden, Germany; (T.B.); (E.P.-C.); (C.A.); (S.K.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (M.L.); (A.F.)
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (D.B.); (J.B.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tabea Bartsch
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 03128 Dresden, Germany; (T.B.); (E.P.-C.); (C.A.); (S.K.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (M.L.); (A.F.)
| | - Claudia C. Bippes
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (H.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Dominik Bachmann
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (D.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Edinson Puentes-Cala
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 03128 Dresden, Germany; (T.B.); (E.P.-C.); (C.A.); (S.K.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (M.L.); (A.F.)
- Corporación para la Investigación de la Corrosión (CIC), Piedecuesta, Santander 681011, Colombia
| | - Jennifer Bachmann
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (D.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Holger Bartsch
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (H.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 03128 Dresden, Germany; (T.B.); (E.P.-C.); (C.A.); (S.K.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (M.L.); (A.F.)
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 03128 Dresden, Germany; (T.B.); (E.P.-C.); (C.A.); (S.K.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (M.L.); (A.F.)
| | - Liliana R. Loureiro
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 03128 Dresden, Germany; (T.B.); (E.P.-C.); (C.A.); (S.K.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (M.L.); (A.F.)
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 03128 Dresden, Germany; (T.B.); (E.P.-C.); (C.A.); (S.K.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (M.L.); (A.F.)
| | - Markus Laube
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 03128 Dresden, Germany; (T.B.); (E.P.-C.); (C.A.); (S.K.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (M.L.); (A.F.)
| | - Joanne K. Gross
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Tim Gross
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Biji T. Kurien
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - R. Hal Scofield
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - A. Darise Farris
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Judith A. James
- The Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.K.G.); (T.G.); (B.T.K.); (R.H.S.); (A.D.F.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Marc Schmitz
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (C.C.B.); (H.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 03128 Dresden, Germany; (T.B.); (E.P.-C.); (C.A.); (S.K.); (L.R.L.); (A.K.); (M.L.); (A.F.)
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10
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Feldmann A, Hoffmann A, Bergmann R, Koristka S, Berndt N, Arndt C, Rodrigues Loureiro L, Kittel-Boselli E, Mitwasi N, Kegler A, Lamprecht C, González Soto KE, Bachmann M. Versatile chimeric antigen receptor platform for controllable and combinatorial T cell therapy. Oncoimmunology 2020; 9:1785608. [PMID: 32923149 PMCID: PMC7458653 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2020.1785608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells show remarkable therapeutic effects in some hematological malignancies. However, CAR T cells can also cause life-threatening side effects. In order to minimize off-target and on-target/off-tumor reactions, improve safety, enable controllability, provide high flexibility, and increase tumor specificity, we established a novel humanized artificial receptor platform termed RevCARs. RevCAR genes encode for small surface receptors lacking any antigen-binding moiety. Steering of RevCAR T cells occurs via bispecific targeting molecules (TMs). The small size of RevCAR-encoding genes allows the construction of polycistronic vectors. Here, we demonstrate that RevCAR T cells efficiently kill tumor cells, can be steered by TMs, flexibly redirected against multiple targets, and used for combinatorial targeting following the "OR" and "AND" gate logic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Feldmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Hoffmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Berndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Liliana Rodrigues Loureiro
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Enrico Kittel-Boselli
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicola Mitwasi
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Chris Lamprecht
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Karla Elizabeth González Soto
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany
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11
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Pellegrino C, Favalli N, Sandholzer M, Volta L, Bassi G, Millul J, Cazzamalli S, Matasci M, Villa A, Myburgh R, Manz MG, Neri D. Impact of Ligand Size and Conjugation Chemistry on the Performance of Universal Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells for Tumor Killing. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:1775-1783. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Pellegrino
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicholas Favalli
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Sandholzer
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Laura Volta
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gabriele Bassi
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jacopo Millul
- Philochem AG, Libernstrasse 3, 8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland
| | | | - Mattia Matasci
- Philochem AG, Libernstrasse 3, 8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland
| | | | - Renier Myburgh
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), University Hospital Zurich and University of Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Markus G. Manz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), University Hospital Zurich and University of Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Dario Neri
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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12
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Loureiro LR, Feldmann A, Bergmann R, Koristka S, Berndt N, Máthé D, Hegedüs N, Szigeti K, Videira PA, Bachmann M, Arndt C. Extended half-life target module for sustainable UniCAR T-cell treatment of STn-expressing cancers. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2020; 39:77. [PMID: 32370811 PMCID: PMC7201957 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01572-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background Adapter chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) approaches have emerged has promising strategies to increase clinical safety of CAR T-cell therapy. In the UniCAR system, the safety switch is controlled via a target module (TM) which is characterized by a small-size and short half-life. The rapid clearance of these TMs from the blood allows a quick steering and self-limiting safety switch of UniCAR T-cells by TM dosing. This is mainly important during onset of therapy when tumor burden and the risk for severe side effects are high. For long-term UniCAR therapy, the continuous infusion of TMs may not be an optimal setting for the patients. Thus, in later stages of treatment, single infusions of TMs with an increased half-life might play an important role in long-term surveillance and eradication of residual tumor cells. Given this, we aimed to develop and characterize a novel TM with extended half-life targeting the tumor-associated carbohydrate sialyl-Tn (STn). Methods The extended half-life TM is composed of the STn-specific single-chain variable fragment (scFv) and the UniCAR epitope, fused to the hinge region and Fc domain of a human immunoglobulin 4 (IgG4) antibody. Specific binding and functionality of the αSTn-IgG4 TM as well as pharmacokinetic features were assessed using in vitro and in vivo assays and compared to the already established small-sized αSTn TM. Results The novel αSTn-IgG4 TM efficiently activates and redirects UniCAR T-cells to STn-expressing tumors in a target-specific and TM-dependent manner, thereby promoting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and tumor cell lysis in vitro and in experimental mice. Moreover, PET-imaging results demonstrate the specific enrichment of the αSTn-IgG4 TM at the tumor site, while presenting a prolonged serum half-life compared to the short-lived αSTn TM. Conclusion In a clinical setting, the combination of TMs with different formats and pharmacokinetics may represent a promising strategy for retargeting of UniCAR T-cells in a flexible, individualized and safe manner at particular stages of therapy. Furthermore, as these molecules can be used for in vivo imaging, they pose as attractive candidates for theranostic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana R Loureiro
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Berndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Domokos Máthé
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Hegedüs
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztián Szigeti
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Paula A Videira
- UCIBIO, Departamento Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany. .,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. .,Tumor Immunology, University CancerCenter (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
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13
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Loff S, Dietrich J, Meyer JE, Riewaldt J, Spehr J, von Bonin M, Gründer C, Swayampakula M, Franke K, Feldmann A, Bachmann M, Ehninger G, Ehninger A, Cartellieri M. Rapidly Switchable Universal CAR-T Cells for Treatment of CD123-Positive Leukemia. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2020; 17:408-420. [PMID: 32462078 PMCID: PMC7240059 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2020.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) targeting CD19 or B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) are highly effective against B cell malignancies. However, application of CAR-T to less differentially expressed targets remains a challenge due to lack of tumor-specific antigens and CAR-T controllability. CD123, a highly promising leukemia target, is expressed not only by leukemic and leukemia-initiating cells, but also by myeloid, hematopoietic progenitor, and certain endothelial cells. Thus, CAR-T lacking fine-tuned control mechanisms pose a high toxicity risk. To extend the CAR-T target landscape and widen the therapeutic window, we adapted our rapidly switchable universal CAR-T platform (UniCAR) to target CD123. UniCAR-T efficiently eradicated CD123+ leukemia in vitro and in vivo. Activation, cytolytic response, and cytokine release were strictly dependent on the presence of the CD123-specific targeting module (TM123) with comparable efficacy to CD123-specific CAR-T in vitro. We further demonstrated a pre-clinical proof of concept for the safety-switch mechanism using a hematotoxicity mouse model wherein TM123-redirected UniCAR-T showed reversible toxicity toward hematopoietic cells compared to CD123 CAR-T. In conclusion, UniCAR-T maintain full anti-leukemic efficacy, while ensuring rapid controllability to improve safety and versatility of CD123-directed immunotherapy. The safety and efficacy of UniCAR-T in combination with TM123 will now be assessed in a phase I clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04230265).
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Loff
- GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Malte von Bonin
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital "Carl Gustav Carus," TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium "Carl Gustav Carus," TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- University Cancer Center "Carl Gustav Carus," TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium "Carl Gustav Carus," TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, "Carl Gustav Carus," TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Gerhard Ehninger
- GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Armin Ehninger
- GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Cartellieri
- GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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14
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Arndt C, Loureiro LR, Feldmann A, Jureczek J, Bergmann R, Máthé D, Hegedüs N, Berndt N, Koristka S, Mitwasi N, Fasslrinner F, Lamprecht C, Kegler A, Hoffmann A, Bartsch T, Köseer AS, Egan G, Schmitz M, Hořejší V, Krause M, Dubrovska A, Bachmann M. UniCAR T cell immunotherapy enables efficient elimination of radioresistant cancer cells. Oncoimmunology 2020; 9:1743036. [PMID: 32426176 PMCID: PMC7219270 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2020.1743036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Induction or selection of radioresistant cancer (stem) cells following standard radiotherapy is presumably one of the major causes for recurrence of metastatic disease. One possibility to prevent tumor relapse is the application of targeted immunotherapies including, e.g., chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. In light of long-term remissions, it is highly relevant to clarify whether radioresistant cancer cells are susceptible to CAR T cell-mediated killing. To answer this question, we evaluated the anti-tumor activity of the switchable universal chimeric antigen receptor (UniCAR) system against highly radioresistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. Following specific UniCAR T cell engagement via EGFR or CD98 target modules, T cell effector mechanisms were induced including secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, up-regulation of granzyme B and perforin, as well as T cell proliferation. CD98- or EGFR-redirected UniCAR T cells further possess the capability to efficiently lyse radioresistant tumor cells. Observed anti-tumor effects were comparable to those against the radiosensitive parental cell lines. Finally, redirected UniCAR T cells significantly inhibited the growth of radioresistant cancer cells in immunodeficient mice. Taken together, our obtained data underline that the UniCAR system is able to overcome radioresistance. Thus, it represents an attractive technology for the development of combined radioimmunotherapeutic approaches that might improve the outcome of patients with metastatic radioresistant tumor diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Arndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Liliana R Loureiro
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Justyna Jureczek
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,Semmelweis University, Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Domokos Máthé
- Semmelweis University, Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Budapest, Hungary.,CROmed Translational Research Centers, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Hegedüs
- Semmelweis University, Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nicole Berndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicola Mitwasi
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frederick Fasslrinner
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Chris Lamprecht
- Department of Neurology, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anja Hoffmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tabea Bartsch
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ayşe Sedef Köseer
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Gary Egan
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, School of Psychological Sciences, and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Marc Schmitz
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Vaclav Hořejší
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mechthild Krause
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology - OncoRay, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna Dubrovska
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology - OncoRay, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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15
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Pereira Chilima TD, Moncaubeig F, Farid SS. Estimating capital investment and facility footprint in cell therapy facilities. Biochem Eng J 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2019.107439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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16
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Mitwasi N, Feldmann A, Arndt C, Koristka S, Berndt N, Jureczek J, Loureiro LR, Bergmann R, Máthé D, Hegedüs N, Kovács T, Zhang C, Oberoi P, Jäger E, Seliger B, Rössig C, Temme A, Eitler J, Tonn T, Schmitz M, Hassel JC, Jäger D, Wels WS, Bachmann M. "UniCAR"-modified off-the-shelf NK-92 cells for targeting of GD2-expressing tumour cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2141. [PMID: 32034289 PMCID: PMC7005792 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59082-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antigen-specific redirection of immune effector cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) demonstrated high therapeutic potential for targeting cancers of different origins. Beside CAR-T cells, natural killer (NK) cells represent promising alternative effectors that can be combined with CAR technology. Unlike T cells, primary NK cells and the NK cell line NK-92 can be applied as allogeneic off-the-shelf products with a reduced risk of toxicities. We previously established a modular universal CAR (UniCAR) platform which consists of UniCAR-expressing immune cells that cannot recognize target antigens directly but are redirected by a tumour-specific target module (TM). The TM contains an antigen-binding moiety fused to a peptide epitope which is recognized by the UniCAR molecule, thereby allowing an on/off switch of CAR activity, and facilitating flexible targeting of various tumour antigens depending on the presence and specificity of the TM. Here, we provide proof of concept that it is feasible to generate a universal off-the-shelf cellular therapeutic based on UniCAR NK-92 cells targeted to tumours expressing the disialoganglioside GD2 by GD2-specific TMs that are either based on an antibody-derived single-chain fragment variable (scFv) or an IgG4 backbone. Redirected UniCAR NK-92 cells induced specific killing of GD2-expressing cells in vitro and in vivo, associated with enhanced production of interferon-γ. Analysis of radiolabelled proteins demonstrated that the IgG4-based format increased the in vivo half-life of the TM markedly in comparison to the scFv-based molecule. In summary, UniCAR NK-92 cells represent a universal off-the-shelf platform that is highly effective and flexible, allowing the use of different TM formats for specific tumour targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Mitwasi
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Berndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Justyna Jureczek
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Liliana R Loureiro
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,Semmelweis University, Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Domokos Máthé
- Semmelweis University, Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Hegedüs
- Semmelweis University, Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Congcong Zhang
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pranav Oberoi
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elke Jäger
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Claudia Rössig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Achim Temme
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, Section Experimental Neurosurgery and Tumor Immunology, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jiri Eitler
- Expermintal Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Torsten Tonn
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Expermintal Transfusion Medicine, Medical Faculty 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jessica C Hassel
- Department of Dermatology and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Jäger
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Medical Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Winfried S Wels
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. .,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany. .,Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC) 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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17
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Arndt C, Feldmann A, Koristka S, Schäfer M, Bergmann R, Mitwasi N, Berndt N, Bachmann D, Kegler A, Schmitz M, Puentes-Cala E, Soto JA, Ehninger G, Pietzsch J, Liolios C, Wunderlich G, Kotzerke J, Kopka K, Bachmann M. A theranostic PSMA ligand for PET imaging and retargeting of T cells expressing the universal chimeric antigen receptor UniCAR. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:1659095. [PMID: 31646084 PMCID: PMC6791425 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1659095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown impressive therapeutic potential. Due to the lack of direct control mechanisms, therapy-related adverse reactions including cytokine release- and tumor lysis syndrome can even become life-threatening. In case of target antigen expression on non-malignant cells, CAR T cells can also attack healthy tissues. To overcome such side effects, we have established a modular CAR platform termed UniCAR: UniCAR T cells per se are inert as they recognize a peptide epitope (UniCAR epitope) that is not accessible on the surface of living cells. Bifunctional adapter molecules termed target modules (TM) can cross-link UniCAR T cells with target cells. In the absence of TMs, UniCAR T cells automatically turn off. Until now, all UniCAR TMs were constructed by fusion of the UniCAR epitope to an antibody domain. To open up the wide field of low-molecular-weight compounds for retargeting of UniCAR T cells to tumor cells, and to follow in parallel the progress of UniCAR T cell therapy by PET imaging we challenged the idea to convert a PET tracer into a UniCAR-TM. For proof of concept, we selected the clinically used PET tracer PSMA-11, which binds to the prostate-specific membrane antigen overexpressed in prostate carcinoma. Here we show that fusion of the UniCAR epitope to PSMA-11 results in a low-molecular-weight theranostic compound that can be used for both retargeting of UniCAR T cells to tumor cells, and for non-invasive PET imaging and thus represents a member of a novel class of theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Arndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Schäfer
- Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicola Mitwasi
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Berndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Dominik Bachmann
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Jens Pietzsch
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christos Liolios
- Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gerd Wunderlich
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jörg Kotzerke
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Klaus Kopka
- Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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18
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Koristka S, Ziller-Walter P, Bergmann R, Arndt C, Feldmann A, Kegler A, Cartellieri M, Ehninger A, Ehninger G, Bornhäuser M, Bachmann MP. Anti-CAR-engineered T cells for epitope-based elimination of autologous CAR T cells. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2019; 68:1401-1415. [PMID: 31414180 PMCID: PMC6768917 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02376-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Although CAR T-cell therapy has demonstrated tremendous clinical efficacy especially in hematological malignancies, severe treatment-associated toxicities still compromise the widespread application of this innovative technology. Therefore, developing novel approaches to abrogate CAR T-cell-mediated side effects is of great relevance. Several promising strategies pursue the selective antibody-based depletion of adoptively transferred T cells via elimination markers. However, given the limited half-life and tissue penetration, dependence on the patients’ immune system and on-target/off-side effects of proposed monoclonal antibodies, we sought to exploit αCAR-engineered T cells to efficiently eliminate CAR T cells. For comprehensive and specific recognition, a small peptide epitope (E-tag) was incorporated into the extracellular spacer region of CAR constructs. We provide first proof-of-concept for targeting this epitope by αE-tag CAR T cells, allowing an effective killing of autologous E-tagged CAR T cells both in vitro and in vivo whilst sparing cells lacking the E-tag. In addition to CAR T-cell cytotoxicity, the αE-tag-specific T cells can be empowered with cancer-fighting ability in case of relapse, hence, have versatile utility. Our proposed methodology can most probably be implemented in CAR T-cell therapies regardless of the targeted tumor antigen aiding in improving overall safety and survival control of highly potent gene-modified cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Autoantigens/immunology
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Genetic Engineering
- Humans
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Male
- Mice
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
- PC-3 Cells
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms/immunology
- Prostatic Neoplasms/therapy
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Koristka
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pauline Ziller-Walter
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Cartellieri
- Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, Tatzberg 47, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Armin Ehninger
- GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, Tatzberg 47, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gerhard Ehninger
- Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, Tatzberg 47, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, Tatzberg 47, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Bornhäuser
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael P Bachmann
- Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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19
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Han C, Kwon BS. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for cancer: a basic research-oriented perspective. Immunotherapy 2019; 10:221-234. [PMID: 29370727 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2017-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have outstanding therapeutic potential for treating blood cancers. The prospects for this technology have accelerated basic research, clinical translation and Big Pharma's investment in the field of T-cell therapeutics. This interest has led to the discovery of key factors that affect CAR T-cell efficacy and play pivotal roles in T-cell immunology. Herein, we introduce advances in adoptive immunotherapy and the birth of CAR T cells, and review CAR T-cell studies that focus on three important features: CAR constructs, target antigens and T-cell phenotypes. At last, we highlight novel strategies that overcome the tumor microenvironment and circumvent CAR T-cell side effects, and consider the future direction of CAR T-cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chungyong Han
- Immunotherapeutics Branch, Division of Convergence Technology Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Byoung S Kwon
- Immunotherapeutics Branch, Division of Convergence Technology Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea.,Eutilex Co., Ltd, Suite #1401, Daeryung Technotown 17, Gasan digital 1-ro 25, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul 08594, Korea.,Department of Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
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20
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Zhao Y, Liu Z, Wang X, Wu H, Zhang J, Yang J, Zhang F, Liu L, Long J, Lu P, Chen Z. Treatment with Humanized Selective CD19CAR-T Cells Shows Efficacy in Highly Treated B-ALL Patients Who Have Relapsed after Receiving Murine-Based CD19CAR-T Therapies. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:5595-5607. [PMID: 31300451 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-0916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy has shown impactful results in treatment of B-cell malignancies. However, immune recognition of the murine scFv may render subsequent infusion(s) ineffective. Also, nonselective expansion of both CAR-transduced and nontransduced T cells during the production stage affects the yield and purity of final products. Here, we aim to develop a humanized selective (hs) CD19 CAR to solve the above problems.Experimental Design: A CD19 hsCAR was designed, which incorporated a short selective domain between the humanized heavy chain and light chain. The CAR was examined for its property, and then trialed in 5 highly treated B-ALL patients. RESULTS hsCAR possessed around 6-fold higher affinity to CD19 versus murine CAR (mCAR). Incubation with selective domain-specific mAbs (SmAb) selectively expanded CAR-transduced T cells, and led to a higher proportion of central memory T cells in the final products. SmAb-stimulated CD19 hsCAR-T cells exhibited superior antitumor cytotoxic functions in vitro and in vivo. Autologous (n = 2) and allogeneic donor (n = 3, with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) hsCAR-T cells were infused into 5 patients who had relapsed after receiving mCAR-T treatments. Two patients received mCAR-T treatments twice previously but the second treatments were ineffective. In contrast, subsequent hsCAR-T treatments proved effective in all 5 patients and achieved complete molecular remission in four, including one with extramedullary disease with central nervous system involvement. CONCLUSIONS hsCD19 CAR-T treatment shows efficacy in highly treated B-ALL patients who have relapsed after receiving CD19 mCAR-T therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhao
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongfeng Liu
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Huantong Wu
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.,Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Jianping Zhang
- Lu Daopei Hospital, Langfang, Hebei, China.,Lu Daopei Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China
| | - Junfang Yang
- Lu Daopei Hospital, Langfang, Hebei, China.,Lu Daopei Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China
| | - Fayou Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lining Liu
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Jiafu Long
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Peihua Lu
- Lu Daopei Hospital, Langfang, Hebei, China. .,Lu Daopei Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiguo Chen
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China. .,Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
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21
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Liu D, Zhao J, Song Y. Engineering switchable and programmable universal CARs for CAR T therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:69. [PMID: 31272471 PMCID: PMC6610960 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0763-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A traditional chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has a fixed design, and one type of CAR T cells can only target one antigen epitope. This rigid design limits clinical application and leads to exceptionally high manufacturing cost. New CARs are being engineered with a modular approach so that the antigen recognition domain is split from the signaling domain of a conventional CAR, hence the target antigen can be switched or re-directed more readily without the requirement of re-engineering the CAR T cells. This CAR system can therefore serve as a universal CAR (UniCAR). The UniCAR platform has a modular design that splits the conventional CAR to 2 separate components: (1) a signaling module that binds to a specific epitope on the switching molecule and (2) a switching module with an antigen-binding domain and a switching epitope specifically recognized by the signaling module. A variety of switchable CARs have been engineered. The switchable modular designs include the dimerizing platforms using leucine zippers and biotin-avidin system, and the neo-epitope tagging platform using FITC, 5B9, and PNE. The switch molecule serves as a synapse between the CAR T cells and the target tumor cells. The universal CAR platforms are highly versatile, are easily re-programmable, and therefore have a vast potential for broad application and may significantly lower the cost of CAR T cell therapy. However, the current modular design of the switching molecules relies on adding exogenous sequences/epitopes. These unnatural epitopes can potentially lead to new antigenicity which may lead to generation of blocking antibodies. Furthermore, the generation, preparation, and clinical applications of the switching modules per se may involve additional clinical trials and regulatory examination for safety and efficacy, since repeated administrations of these molecules/"drugs" are anticipated. Thus, these switching molecules and UniCAR CAR T cells may require separate clinical trials and invoke different regulatory processes. This whole field is medically appealing and could present new challenges in the development of novel immunotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delong Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Medicine, New York Medical College and Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY USA
| | - Juanjuan Zhao
- The affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 China
| | - Yongping Song
- The affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 China
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22
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Kegler A, Koristka S, Bergmann R, Berndt N, Arndt C, Feldmann A, Hoffmann A, Bornhäuser M, Schmitz M, Bachmann MP. T cells engrafted with a UniCAR 28/z outperform UniCAR BB/z-transduced T cells in the face of regulatory T cell-mediated immunosuppression. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1621676. [PMID: 31428518 PMCID: PMC6685520 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1621676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-equipped T cells have demonstrated astonishing clinical efficacy in hematological malignancies recently culminating in the approval of two CAR T cell products. Despite this tremendous success, CAR T cell approaches have still achieved only moderate efficacy against solid tumors. As a major obstacle, engineered conventional T cells (Tconvs) face an anti-inflammatory, hostile tumor microenvironment often infiltrated by highly suppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs). Thus, potent CAR T cell treatment of solid tumors requires efficient activation of Tconvs via their engrafted CAR to overcome Treg-mediated immunosuppression. In that regard, selecting an optimal intracellular signaling domain might represent a crucial step to achieve best clinical efficiency. To shed light on this issue and to investigate responsiveness to Treg inhibition, we engrafted Tconvs with switchable universal CARs (UniCARs) harboring intracellularly the CD3ζ domain alone or in combination with costimulatory CD28 or 4-1BB. Our studies reveal that UniCAR ζ-, and UniCAR BB/ζ-engineered Tconvs are strongly impaired by activated Tregs, whereas UniCARs providing CD28 costimulation overcome Treg-mediated suppression both in vitro and in vivo. Compared to UniCAR ζ- and UniCAR BB/ζ-modified cells, UniCAR 28/ζ-armed Tconvs secrete significantly higher amounts of Th1-related cytokines and, furthermore, levels of these cytokines are elevated even upon exposure to Tregs. Thus, in contrast to 4-1BB costimulation, CD28 signaling in UniCAR-transduced Tconvs seems to foster a pro-inflammatory milieu, which contributes to enhanced resistance to Treg suppression. Overall, our results may have significant implications for CAR T cell-based immunotherapies of solid tumors strongly invaded by Tregs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Kegler
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Berndt
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Hoffmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Bornhäuser
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital `Carl Gustav Carus’ Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany and Helmholtz Association/Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), National Center for Tumor Diseases, Partner site Dresden (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany and Helmholtz Association/Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), National Center for Tumor Diseases, Partner site Dresden (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty `Carl Gustav Carus’ Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael P. Bachmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, Germany: German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany and Helmholtz Association/Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), National Center for Tumor Diseases, Partner site Dresden (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Tumor Immunology, UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) `Carl Gustav Carus’ Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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23
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Darowski D, Kobold S, Jost C, Klein C. Combining the best of two worlds: highly flexible chimeric antigen receptor adaptor molecules (CAR-adaptors) for the recruitment of chimeric antigen receptor T cells. MAbs 2019; 11:621-631. [PMID: 30892136 PMCID: PMC6601549 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2019.1596511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells have a proven efficacy for the treatment of refractory hematological B cell malignancies. While often accompanied by side effects, CAR-T technology is getting more mature and will become an important treatment option for various tumor indications. In this review, we summarize emerging approaches that aim to further evolve CAR-T cell therapy based on combinations of so-called universal or modular CAR-(modCAR-)T cells, and their respective adaptor molecules (CAR-adaptors), which mediate the crosslinking between target and effector cells. The activity of such modCAR-T cells is entirely dependent on binding of the respective CAR-adaptor to both a tumor antigen and to the CAR-expressing T cell. Contrary to conventional CAR-T cells, where the immunological synapse is established by direct interaction of CAR and membrane-bound target, modCAR-T cells provide a highly flexible and customizable development of the CAR-T cell concept and offer an additional possibility to control T cell activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Darowski
- a Roche Pharmaceutical Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Zurich , Schlieren , Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- b Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV , Klinikum der Universität München, LMU, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL) , Munich , Germany
| | - Christian Jost
- a Roche Pharmaceutical Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Zurich , Schlieren , Switzerland
| | - Christian Klein
- a Roche Pharmaceutical Research & Early Development , Roche Innovation Center Zurich , Schlieren , Switzerland
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24
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Albert S, Koristka S, Gerbaulet A, Cartellieri M, Arndt C, Feldmann A, Berndt N, Loureiro LR, von Bonin M, Ehninger G, Eugster A, Bonifacio E, Bornhäuser M, Bachmann MP, Ehninger A. Tonic Signaling and Its Effects on Lymphopoiesis of CAR-Armed Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 202:1735-1746. [PMID: 30728213 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Long-term survival of adoptively transferred chimeric Ag receptor (CAR) T cells is often limited. Transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) transduced to express CARs could help to overcome this problem as CAR-armed HSCs can continuously deliver CAR+ multicell lineages (e.g., T cells, NK cells). In dependence on the CAR construct, a variable extent of tonic signaling in CAR T cells was reported; thus, effects of CAR-mediated tonic signaling on the hematopoiesis of CAR-armed HSCs is unclear. To assess the effects of tonic signaling, two CAR constructs were established and analyzed 1) a signaling CAR inducing a solid Ag-independent tonic signaling termed CAR-28/ζ and 2) a nonstimulating control CAR construct lacking intracellular signaling domains termed CAR-Stop. Bone marrow cells from immunocompetent mice were isolated, purified for HSC-containing Lin-cKit+ cells or the Lin-cKit+ Sca-1+ subpopulation (Lin-Sca-1+cKit+), and transduced with both CAR constructs. Subsequently, modified bone marrow cells were transferred into irradiated mice, in which they successfully engrafted and differentiated into hematopoietic progenitors. HSCs expressing the CAR-Stop sustained normal hematopoiesis. In contrast, expression of the CAR-28/ζ led to elimination of mature CAR+ T and B cells, suggesting that the CAR-mediated tonic signaling mimics autorecognition via the newly recombined immune receptors in the developing lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Albert
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany.,University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexander Gerbaulet
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Claudia Arndt
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Berndt
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Liliana R Loureiro
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Malte von Bonin
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Gerhard Ehninger
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anne Eugster
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; and
| | - Ezio Bonifacio
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; and
| | - Martin Bornhäuser
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael P Bachmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01328 Dresden, Germany; .,University Cancer Center (UCC), Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Armin Ehninger
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany.,GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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25
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Minagawa K, Al-Obaidi M, Di Stasi A. Generation of Suicide Gene-Modified Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Redirected T-Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1895:57-73. [PMID: 30539529 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8922-5_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected T-cells are a powerful tool for the treatment of several type of cancers; however, they can cause several adverse effects including cytokine release syndrome, off-target effects resulting in potentially fatal organ damage or even death. Particularly, for CAR T-cells redirected toward acute myeloid leukemia (AML) antigens myelosuppression can be a challenge. The previously validated inducible Caspase9 (iC9) suicide gene system is one of the approaches to control the infused cells in vivo through its activation with a nontherapeutic chemical inducer of dimerizer (CID). We performed a preclinical validation using a model of CD33+ AML, and generated iC9 CAR T-cells co-expressing a CAR targeting the AML-associated antigen CD33 and a selectable marker (ΔCD19). ΔCD19 selected (sel.) iC9-CAR.CD33 T-cells were effective in controlling leukemia growth in vitro, and could be partially eliminated (76%) using a chemical inducer of dimerization that activates iC9. Moreover, to completely eliminate residual cells, a second targeted agent was added. Future plans with these methods are to investigate the utility of iC9-CAR.CD33 T-cells as part of the conditioning therapy for an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Additional strategies that we are currently validating include (1) the modulation of the suicide gene activation, using different concentrations of the inducing agent(s), to be able to eliminate CAR T-cells modified by a regulatable gene, ideally aiming at preserving a proportion of the infused cells (and their antitumor activity) for mild to moderate toxicities, or (2) the co-expression of an inhibitory CAR aiming at sparing normal cells co-expressing an antigen not shared with the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Minagawa
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy Unit, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mustafa Al-Obaidi
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy Unit, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Antonio Di Stasi
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy Unit, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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26
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A Versatile Safeguard for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Immunotherapies. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8972. [PMID: 29895885 PMCID: PMC5997667 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27264-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CAR T-cell therapies hold great promise for treating a range of malignancies but are however challenged by the complexity of their production and by the adverse events related to their activity. Here we report the development of the CubiCAR, a tri-functional CAR architecture that enables CAR T-cell detection, purification and on-demand depletion by the FDA-approved antibody Rituximab. This novel architecture has the potential to streamline the manufacturing of CAR T-cells, allow their tracking and improve their overall safety.
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27
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Albert S, Arndt C, Koristka S, Berndt N, Bergmann R, Feldmann A, Schmitz M, Pietzsch J, Steinbach J, Bachmann M. From mono- to bivalent: improving theranostic properties of target modules for redirection of UniCAR T cells against EGFR-expressing tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Oncotarget 2018; 9:25597-25616. [PMID: 29876011 PMCID: PMC5986651 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
CAR-modified T cells show impressive results in clinical trials. However, cytokine release syndrome and "on-target, off-tumor" reactions represent most concerning side effects. To improve the safety of CAR-T cell therapy, we established a switchable CAR platform termed UniCAR system consisting of two components: UniCAR-modified T cells and tumor-specific target modules (TM). For treatment of EGFR+ epithelial tumors, we recently described a monovalent nanobody-based α-EGFR TM, either expressed in bacteria or eukaryotic cells. In spite of the identical primary sequence the eukaryotic TM showed a reduced killing capability and affinity. Here we describe a novel bivalent α-EGFR-EGFR TM. As expected, the avidity of the bivalent TM is higher than that of its monovalent counterpart. Binding of neither the monovalent α-EGFR TM nor the bivalent α-EGFR-EGFR TM to EGFR effected the EGF-mediated signaling. While the monovalent α-EGFR TM could only mediate the killing of tumor cells expressing high levels of EGFR, the bivalent α-EGFR-EGFR TM could redirect UniCAR T cells to tumor cells expressing low levels of EGFR. According to PET experiments in vivo, the increased avidity of the bivalent α-EGFR-EGFR TM improves the enrichment at the tumor site and its use for PET imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Albert
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) Dresden, Tumor Immunology, ‘Carl Gustav Carus’ Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Berndt
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), part\ner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), part\ner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, ‘Carl Gustav Carus’ Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Jörg Steinbach
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) Dresden, Tumor Immunology, ‘Carl Gustav Carus’ Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), part\ner site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), partner site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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28
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Adhesion- and stress-related adaptation of glioma radiochemoresistance is circumvented by β1 integrin/JNK co-targeting. Oncotarget 2018; 8:49224-49237. [PMID: 28514757 PMCID: PMC5564763 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance of cancer stem-like and cancer tumor bulk cells to radiochemotherapy and destructive infiltration of the brain fundamentally influence the treatment efficiency to cure of patients suffering from Glioblastoma (GBM). The interplay of adhesion and stress-related signaling and activation of bypass cascades that counteract therapeutic approaches remain to be identified in GBM cells. We here show that combined inhibition of the adhesion receptor β1 integrin and the stress-mediator c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) induces radiosensitization and blocks invasion in stem-like and patient-derived GBM cultures as well as in GBM cell lines. In vivo, this treatment approach not only significantly delays tumor growth but also increases median survival of orthotopic, radiochemotherapy-treated GBM mice. Both, in vitro and in vivo, effects seen with β1 integrin/JNK co-inhibition are superior to the monotherapy. Mechanistically, the in vitro radiosensitization provoked by β1 integrin/JNK targeting is caused by defective DNA repair associated with chromatin changes, enhanced ATM phosphorylation and prolonged G2/M cell cycle arrest. Our findings identify a β1 integrin/JNK co-dependent bypass signaling for GBM therapy resistance, which might be therapeutically exploitable.
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29
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Feldmann A, Arndt C, Bergmann R, Loff S, Cartellieri M, Bachmann D, Aliperta R, Hetzenecker M, Ludwig F, Albert S, Ziller-Walter P, Kegler A, Koristka S, Gärtner S, Schmitz M, Ehninger A, Ehninger G, Pietzsch J, Steinbach J, Bachmann M. Retargeting of T lymphocytes to PSCA- or PSMA positive prostate cancer cells using the novel modular chimeric antigen receptor platform technology "UniCAR". Oncotarget 2018; 8:31368-31385. [PMID: 28404896 PMCID: PMC5458214 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
New treatment options especially of solid tumors including for metastasized prostate cancer (PCa) are urgently needed. Recent treatments of leukemias with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) underline their impressive therapeutic potential. However CARs currently applied in the clinics cannot be repeatedly turned on and off potentially leading to severe life threatening side effects. To overcome these problems, we recently described a modular CAR technology termed UniCAR: UniCAR T cells are inert but can be turned on by application of one or multiple target modules (TMs). Here we present preclinical data summarizing the retargeting of UniCAR T cells to PCa cells using TMs directed to prostate stem cell- (PSCA) or/and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA). In the presence of the respective TM(s), we see a highly efficient target-specific and target-dependent activation of UniCAR T cells, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and PCa cell lysis both in vitro and experimental mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Simon Loff
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany.,GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Cartellieri
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dominik Bachmann
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Roberta Aliperta
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mirjam Hetzenecker
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Florian Ludwig
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Susann Albert
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pauline Ziller-Walter
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Gärtner
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Institute of Immunology, 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden; and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Gerhard Ehninger
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany.,Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden; and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jörg Steinbach
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden; and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,UniversityCancerCenter (UCC) 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany.,Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden; and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, 'Carl Gustav Carus' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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30
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Koristka S, Kegler A, Bergmann R, Arndt C, Feldmann A, Albert S, Cartellieri M, Ehninger A, Ehninger G, Middeke JM, Bornhäuser M, Schmitz M, Pietzsch J, Akgün K, Ziemssen T, Steinbach J, Bachmann MP. Engrafting human regulatory T cells with a flexible modular chimeric antigen receptor technology. J Autoimmun 2018; 90:116-131. [PMID: 29503042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
As regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a fundamental role in immune homeostasis their adoptive transfer emerged as a promising treatment strategy for inflammation-related diseases. Preclinical animal models underline the superiority of antigen-specific Tregs compared to polyclonal cells. Here, we applied a modular chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology called UniCAR for generation of antigen-specific human Tregs. In contrast to conventional CARs, UniCAR-endowed Tregs are indirectly linked to their target cells via a separate targeting module (TM). Thus, transduced Tregs can be applied universally as their antigen-specificity is easily adjusted by TM exchange. Activation of UniCAR-engrafted Tregs occurred in strict dependence on the TM, facilitating a precise control over Treg activity. In order to augment efficacy and safety, different intracellular signaling domains were tested. Both 4-1BB (CD137) and CD28 costimulation induced strong suppressive function of genetically modified Tregs. However, in light of safety issues, UniCARs comprising a CD137-CD3ζ signaling domain emerged as constructs of choice for a clinical application of redirected Tregs. In that regard, Tregs isolated from patients suffering from autoimmune or inflammatory diseases were, for the first time, successfully engineered with UniCAR 137/ζ and efficiently suppressed patient-derived effector cells. Overall, the UniCAR platform represents a promising approach to improve Treg-based immunotherapies for tolerance induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Koristka
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Susann Albert
- Tumor Immunology, UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Cartellieri
- Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, Tatzberg 47, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Armin Ehninger
- GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, Tatzberg 47, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Gerhard Ehninger
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital, 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan Moritz Middeke
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital, 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Bornhäuser
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital, 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Katja Akgün
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jörg Steinbach
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael P Bachmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; Tumor Immunology, UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus' Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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31
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Bachmann D, Aliperta R, Bergmann R, Feldmann A, Koristka S, Arndt C, Loff S, Welzel P, Albert S, Kegler A, Ehninger A, Cartellieri M, Ehninger G, Bornhäuser M, von Bonin M, Werner C, Pietzsch J, Steinbach J, Bachmann M. Retargeting of UniCAR T cells with an in vivo synthesized target module directed against CD19 positive tumor cells. Oncotarget 2017; 9:7487-7500. [PMID: 29484126 PMCID: PMC5800918 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent treatments of leukemias with T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) underline their impressive therapeutic potential but also their risk of severe side effects including cytokine release storms and tumor lysis syndrome. In case of cross-reactivities, CAR T cells may also attack healthy tissues. To overcome these limitations, we previously established a switchable CAR platform technology termed UniCAR. UniCARs are not directed against typical tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) but instead against a unique peptide epitope: Fusion of this peptide epitope to a recombinant antibody domain results in a target module (TM). TMs can cross-link UniCAR T cells with tumor cells and thereby lead to their destruction. So far, we constructed TMs with a short half-life. The fast turnover of such a TM allows to rapidly interrupt the treatment in case severe side effects occur. After elimination of most of the tumor cells, however, longer lasting TMs which have not to be applied via continous infusion would be more convenient for the patient. Here we describe and characterize a TM for retargeting UniCAR T cells to CD19 positive tumor cells. Moreover, we show that the TM can efficiently be produced in vivo from producer cells housed in a sponge-like biomimetic cryogel and, thereby, serving as an in vivo TM factory for an extended retargeting of UniCAR T cells to CD19 positive leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Bachmann
- University Cancer Center, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Roberta Aliperta
- University Cancer Center, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Simon Loff
- GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, Dresden, Germany
| | - Petra Welzel
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Susann Albert
- University Cancer Center, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | - Gerhard Ehninger
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Bornhäuser
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Malte von Bonin
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Carsten Werner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jörg Steinbach
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- University Cancer Center, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Tumor Immunology, Dresden, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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32
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Development of novel target modules for retargeting of UniCAR T cells to GD2 positive tumor cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:108584-108603. [PMID: 29312553 PMCID: PMC5752466 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
As the expression of a tumor associated antigen (TAA) is commonly not restricted to tumor cells, adoptively transferred T cells modified to express a conventional chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) might not only destroy the tumor cells but also attack target-positive healthy tissues. Furthermore, CAR T cells in patients with large tumor bulks will unpredictably proliferate and put the patients at high risk of adverse side effects including cytokine storms and tumor lysis syndrome. To overcome these problems, we previously established a modular CAR technology termed UniCAR: UniCAR T cells can repeatedly be turned on and off via dosing of a target module (TM). TMs are bispecific molecules which cross-link UniCAR T cells with target cells. After elimination of the respective TM, UniCAR T cells automatically turn off. Here we describe novel TMs against the disialoganglioside GD2 which is overexpressed in neuroectodermal but also many other tumors. In the presence of GD2-specific TMs, we see a highly efficient target-specific and -dependent activation of UniCAR T cells, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and tumor cell lysis both in vitro and experimental mice. According to PET-imaging, anti-GD2 TM enrich at the tumor site and are rapidly eliminated thus fulfilling all prerequisites of a UniCAR TM.
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33
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Pishali Bejestani E, Cartellieri M, Bergmann R, Ehninger A, Loff S, Kramer M, Spehr J, Dietrich A, Feldmann A, Albert S, Wermke M, Baumann M, Krause M, Bornhäuser M, Ehninger G, Bachmann M, von Bonin M. Characterization of a switchable chimeric antigen receptor platform in a pre-clinical solid tumor model. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1342909. [PMID: 29123951 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1342909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The universal modular chimeric antigen receptor (UniCAR) platform redirects CAR-T cells using a separated, soluble targeting module with a short half-life. This segregation allows precise controllability and flexibility. Herein we show that the UniCAR platform can be used to efficiently target solid cancers in vitro and in vivo using a pre-clinical prostate cancer model which overexpresses prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA). Short-term administration of the targeting module to tumor bearing immunocompromised mice engrafted with human UniCAR-T cells significantly delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival of recipient mice both in a low and high tumor burden model. In addition, we analyzed phenotypic and functional changes of cancer cells and UniCAR-T cells in association with the administration of the targeting module to reveal potential immunoevasive mechanisms. Most notably, UniCAR-T cell activation induced upregulation of immune-inhibitory molecules such as programmed death ligands. In conclusion, this work illustrates that the UniCAR platform mediates potent anti-tumor activity in a relevant in vitro and in vivo solid tumor model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Pishali Bejestani
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,OncoRay, National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Simon Loff
- GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Kramer
- Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Antje Dietrich
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,OncoRay, National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
| | - Susann Albert
- UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Wermke
- Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany.,UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Baumann
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany.,OncoRay, National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
| | - Mechthild Krause
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany.,OncoRay, National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Bornhäuser
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany.,UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
| | - Gerhard Ehninger
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, Dresden, Germany.,GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, Dresden, Germany.,Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany.,UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, Dresden, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.,GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, Dresden, Germany.,UniversityCancerCenter (UCC), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
| | - Malte von Bonin
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
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34
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Exploratory investigation of PSCA-protein expression in primary breast cancer patients reveals a link to HER2/neu overexpression. Oncotarget 2017; 8:54592-54603. [PMID: 28903367 PMCID: PMC5589606 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) has been suggested as biomarker and therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Recent advances showed that PSCA is up-regulated in other cancer entities, such as bladder or pancreatic cancer. However, the clinical relevance of PSCA-expression in breast cancer patients has not yet been established and is therefore addressed by the current study. METHODS PSCA-protein expression was assessed in 405 breast cancer patients, using immunohistochemistry (PSCA antibody MB1) and tissue microarrays. RESULTS PSCA-expression was detected in 94/405 patients (23%) and correlated with unfavorable histopathological grade (p=0.011) and increased Ki67 proliferation index (p=0.006). We observed a strong positive correlation between PSCA-protein expression and HER2/neu receptor status (p<0.001). PSCA did not provide prognostic information in the analyzed cohort. Interestingly, the distribution of PSCA-expression among triple negative patients was comparable to the total population. CONCLUSION We identified a subgroup of PSCA-positive breast cancer patients, which could be amenable for a PSCA-targeted therapy. Moreover, given that we found a strong positive correlation between PSCA- and HER/neu expression, targeting PSCA may provide an alternative therapeutic option in case of trastuzumab resistance.
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35
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Albert S, Arndt C, Feldmann A, Bergmann R, Bachmann D, Koristka S, Ludwig F, Ziller-Walter P, Kegler A, Gärtner S, Schmitz M, Ehninger A, Cartellieri M, Ehninger G, Pietzsch HJ, Pietzsch J, Steinbach J, Bachmann M. A novel nanobody-based target module for retargeting of T lymphocytes to EGFR-expressing cancer cells via the modular UniCAR platform. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1287246. [PMID: 28507794 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1287246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent treatments of leukemias with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressing T cells underline their impressive therapeutic potential. However, once adoptively transferred into patients, there is little scope left to shut them down after elimination of tumor cells or in case adverse side effects occur. This becomes of special relevance if they are directed against commonly expressed tumor associated antigens (TAAs) such as receptors of the ErbB family. To overcome this limitation, we recently established a modular CAR platform technology termed UniCAR. UniCARs are not directed against TAAs but instead against a unique peptide epitope on engineered recombinant targeting modules (TMs), which guide them to the target. In the absence of a TM UniCAR T cells are inactive. Thus an interruption of any UniCAR activity requires an elimination of unbound TM and the TM complexed with UniCAR T cells. Elimination of the latter one requires a disassembly of the UniCAR-TM complexes. Here, we describe a first nanobody (nb)-based TM directed against EGFR. The novel TM efficiently retargets UniCAR T cells to EGFR positive tumors and mediates highly efficient target-specific and target-dependent tumor cell lysis both in vitro and in vivo. After radiolabeling of the novel TM with 64Cu and 68Ga, we analyzed its biodistribution and clearance as well as the stability of the UniCAR-TM complexes. As expected unbound TM is rapidly eliminated while the elimination of the TM complexed with UniCAR T cells is delayed. Nonetheless, we show that UniCAR-TM complexes dissociate in vitro and in vivo in a concentration-dependent manner in line with the concept of a repeated stop and go retargeting of tumor cells via the UniCAR technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Albert
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), 'Carl Gustav Carus,' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Feldmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ralf Bergmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dominik Bachmann
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), 'Carl Gustav Carus,' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koristka
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Florian Ludwig
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), 'Carl Gustav Carus,' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pauline Ziller-Walter
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), 'Carl Gustav Carus,' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kegler
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Gärtner
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Institute of Immunology, 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | - Gerhard Ehninger
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus,' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jörg Steinbach
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus,' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Tumor Immunology, University Cancer Center (UCC), 'Carl Gustav Carus,' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), 'Carl Gustav Carus,' TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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36
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Switching CAR T cells on and off: a novel modular platform for retargeting of T cells to AML blasts. Blood Cancer J 2016; 6:e458. [PMID: 27518241 PMCID: PMC5022178 DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2016.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The adoptive transfer of CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor engineered T cells (CAR T cells) resulted in encouraging clinical trials in indolent B-cell malignancies. However, they also show the limitations of this fascinating technology: CAR T cells can lead to even life-threatening off-tumor, on-target side effects if CAR T cells crossreact with healthy tissues. Here, we describe a novel modular universal CAR platform technology termed UniCAR that reduces the risk of on-target side effects by a rapid and reversible control of CAR T-cell reactivity. The UniCAR system consists of two components: (1) a CAR for an inert manipulation of T cells and (2) specific targeting modules (TMs) for redirecting UniCAR T cells in an individualized time- and target-dependent manner. UniCAR T cells can be armed against different tumor targets simply by replacement of the respective TM for (1) targeting more than one antigen simultaneously or subsequently to enhance efficacy and (2) reducing the risk for development of antigen-loss tumor variants under treatment. Here we provide ‘proof of concept' for retargeting of UniCAR T cells to CD33- and/or CD123-positive acute myeloid leukemia blasts in vitro and in vivo.
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37
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Aliperta R, Cartellieri M, Feldmann A, Arndt C, Koristka S, Michalk I, von Bonin M, Ehninger A, Bachmann J, Ehninger G, Bornhäuser M, Bachmann MP. Bispecific antibody releasing-mesenchymal stromal cell machinery for retargeting T cells towards acute myeloid leukemia blasts. Blood Cancer J 2015; 5:e348. [PMID: 26383821 PMCID: PMC4648523 DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2015.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) engaging T cells are emerging as a promising immunotherapeutic tool for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Because their low molecular mass, bsAbs have short half-lives. To achieve clinical responses, they have to be infused into patients continously, for a long period of time. As a valid alternative we examined the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as autonomous cellular machines for the constant production of a recently described, fully humanized anti-CD33-anti-CD3 bsAb, which is capable of redirecting human T cells against CD33-expressing leukemic cells. The immortalized human MSC line SCP-1 was genetically modified into expressing bsAb at sufficient amounts to redirect T cells efficiently against CD33 presenting target cells, both in vitro and in an immunodeficient mouse model. Moreover, T cells of patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in blast crisis eliminated autologous leukemic cells in the presence of the bsAb secreting MSCs over time. The immune response against AML cells could be enhanced further by providing T cells an additional co-stimulus via the CD137-CD137 ligand axis through CD137L expression on MSCs. This study demonstrates that MSCs have the potential to be used as cellular production machines for bsAb-based tumor immunotherapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Aliperta
- Department of Tumor-/Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - M Cartellieri
- Department of Tumor-/Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,University Cancer Center (UCC), Technical University Dresden, Tumorimmunology, Dresden, Germany.,Cellex Patient Treatment GmbH, Dresden, Germany
| | - A Feldmann
- Department of Tumor-/Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - C Arndt
- Department of Tumor-/Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - S Koristka
- Department of Tumor-/Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - I Michalk
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Technical University Dresden, Tumorimmunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - M von Bonin
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - A Ehninger
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,GEMoaB Monoclonals GmbH, Blasewitzer Strasse 41, Dresden, Germany
| | - J Bachmann
- University Cancer Center (UCC), Technical University Dresden, Tumorimmunology, Dresden, Germany
| | - G Ehninger
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - M Bornhäuser
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - M P Bachmann
- Department of Tumor-/Radioimmunology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany.,University Cancer Center (UCC), Technical University Dresden, Tumorimmunology, Dresden, Germany.,DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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