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Żyłka K, Kubicki T, Gil L, Dytfeld D. T-cell exhaustion in multiple myeloma. Expert Rev Hematol 2024; 17:295-312. [PMID: 38919090 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2024.2370552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells and Bispecific Antibodies (BsAb) are the leading platforms for redirecting the immune system against cells expressing the specific antigen, revolutionizing the treatment of hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM). In MM, drug-resistant relapses are the main therapy-limiting factor and the leading cause of why the disease is still considered incurable. T-cell-engaging therapies hold promise in improving the treatment of MM. However, the effectiveness of these treatments may be hindered by T-cell fitness. T-cell exhaustion is a condition of a gradual decline in effector function, reduced cytokine secretion, and increased expression of inhibitory receptors due to chronic antigen stimulation. AREAS COVERED This review examines findings about T-cell exhaustion in MM in the context of T-cell redirecting BsAbs and CAR-T treatment. EXPERT OPINION The fitness of T-cells has become an important factor in the development of T-cell redirecting therapies. The way T-cell exhaustion relates to these therapies could affect the further development of CAR and BsAbs technologies, as well as the strategies used for clinical use. Therefore, this review aims to explore the current understanding of T-cell exhaustion in MM and its relationship to these therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Żyłka
- The Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Tadeusz Kubicki
- The Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lidia Gil
- The Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Dominik Dytfeld
- The Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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Ghoshal D, Petersen I, Ringquist R, Kramer L, Bhatia E, Hu T, Richard A, Park R, Corbin J, Agarwal S, Thomas A, Ramirez S, Tharayil J, Downey E, Ketchum F, Ochal A, Sonthi N, Lonial S, Kochenderfer JN, Tran R, Zhu M, Lam WA, Coskun AF, Roy K. Multi-Niche Human Bone Marrow On-A-Chip for Studying the Interactions of Adoptive CAR-T Cell Therapies with Multiple Myeloma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.08.588601. [PMID: 38644993 PMCID: PMC11030357 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.08.588601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM), a cancer of bone marrow plasma cells, is the second-most common hematological malignancy. However, despite immunotherapies like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, relapse is nearly universal. The bone marrow (BM) microenvironment influences how MM cells survive, proliferate, and resist treatment. Yet, it is unclear which BM niches give rise to MM pathophysiology. Here, we present a 3D microvascularized culture system, which models the endosteal and perivascular bone marrow niches, allowing us to study MM-stroma interactions in the BM niche and model responses to therapeutic CAR-T cells. We demonstrated the prolonged survival of cell line-based and patient-derived multiple myeloma cells within our in vitro system and successfully flowed in donor-matched CAR-T cells. We then measured T cell survival, differentiation, and cytotoxicity against MM cells using a variety of analysis techniques. Our MM-on-a-chip system could elucidate the role of the BM microenvironment in MM survival and therapeutic evasion and inform the rational design of next-generation therapeutics. TEASER A multiple myeloma model can study why the disease is still challenging to treat despite options that work well in other cancers.
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Kasamatsu T. Implications of Senescent T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5835. [PMID: 38136380 PMCID: PMC10742305 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell senescence is thought to result from the age-related loss of the ability to mount effective responses to pathogens and tumor cells. In addition to aging, T-cell senescence is caused by repeated antigenic stimulation and chronic inflammation. Moreover, we demonstrated that T-cell senescence was induced by treatment with DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents. The characteristics of therapy-induced senescent T (TIS-T) cells and general senescent T cells are largely similar. Senescent T cells demonstrate an increase in the senescence-associated beta-galactosidase-positive population, cell cycle arrest, secretion of senescence-associated secretory phenotypic factors, and metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, senescent T cells downregulate the expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD27 and CD28 and upregulate natural killer cell-related molecules. Moreover, TIS-T cells showed increased PD-1 expression. However, the loss of proliferative capacity and decreased expression of co-stimulatory molecules associated with T-cell senescence cause a decrease in T-cell immunocompetence. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of senescent T-cells, including therapy-induced senescent T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuhiro Kasamatsu
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi 371-8514, Gunma, Japan
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Vitale C, Griggio V, Perutelli F, Coscia M. CAR-modified Cellular Therapies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Is the Uphill Road Getting Less Steep? Hemasphere 2023; 7:e988. [PMID: 38044959 PMCID: PMC10691795 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has been more challenging for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) compared to other settings. One of the main reasons is the CLL-associated state of immune dysfunction that specifically involves patient-derived T cells. Here, we provide an overview of the clinical results obtained with CAR T-cell therapy in CLL, describing the identified immunologic reasons for the inferior efficacy. Novel CAR T-cell formulations, such as lisocabtagene maraleucel, administered alone or in combination with the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib, are currently under investigation. These approaches are based on the rationale that improving the quality of the T-cell source and of the CAR T-cell product may deliver a more functional therapeutic weapon. Further strategies to boost the efficacy of CAR T cells should rely not only on the production of CAR T cells with an improved cellular composition but also on additional changes. Such alterations could include (1) the coadministration of immunomodulatory agents capable of counteracting CLL-related immunological alterations, (2) the design of improved CAR constructs (such as third- and fourth-generation CARs), (3) the incorporation into the manufacturing process of immunomodulatory compounds overcoming the T-cell defects, and (4) the use of allogeneic CAR T cells or alternative CAR-modified cellular vectors. These strategies may allow to develop more effective CAR-modified cellular therapies capable of counteracting the more aggressive and still incurable forms of CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Vitale
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
| | - Valentina Griggio
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
| | - Francesca Perutelli
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
| | - Marta Coscia
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
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Kasamatsu T, Awata-Shiraiwa M, Ishihara R, Murakami Y, Masuda Y, Gotoh N, Oda T, Yokohama A, Matsumura I, Handa H, Tsukamoto N, Murakami H, Saitoh T. Sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents induce senescence in T cells and upregulation of PD-1 expression. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:2695-2703. [PMID: 36913034 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01034-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a stable cell cycle arrest, usually in response to internal and/or external stress, including telomere dysfunction, abnormal cellular growth, and DNA damage. Several chemotherapeutic drugs, such as melphalan (MEL) and doxorubicin (DXR), induce cellular senescence in cancer cells. However, it is not clear whether these drugs induce senescence in immune cells. We evaluated the induction of cellular senescence in T cells were derived from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) in healthy donors using sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents. The PBMNCs were kept overnight in RPMI 1640 medium with 2% phytohemagglutinin and 10% fetal bovine serum and then cultured in RPMI 1640 with 20 ng/mL IL-2 and sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic drugs (2 μM MEL and 50 nM DXR) for 48 h. Sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents induced phenotypes associated with senescence, such as the formation of γH2AX nuclear foci, cell proliferation arrest, and induction of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) activity, (control vs. MEL, DXR; median mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) 1883 (1130-2163) vs. 2233 (1385-2254), 2406.5 (1377-3119), respectively) in T cells. IL6 and SPP1 mRNA, which are senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors, were significantly upregulated by sublethal doses of MEL and DXR compared to the control (P = 0.043 and 0.018, respectively). Moreover, sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents significantly enhanced the expression of programmed death 1 (PD-1) on CD3 + CD4 + and CD3 + CD8 + T cells compared to the control (CD4 + T cells; P = 0.043, 0.043, and 0.043, respectively, CD8 + T cells; P = 0.043, 0.043, and 0.043, respectively). Our results suggest that sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents induce senescence in T cells and tumor immunosuppression by upregulating PD-1 expression on T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuhiro Kasamatsu
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan.
| | - Maaya Awata-Shiraiwa
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan
- Gunma University of Health and Welfare, 191-1 Kawamagari-Cho, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0823, Japan
| | - Rei Ishihara
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan
- Gunma University of Health and Welfare, 191-1 Kawamagari-Cho, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0823, Japan
| | - Yuki Murakami
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan
- Gunma University of Health and Welfare, 191-1 Kawamagari-Cho, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0823, Japan
| | - Yuta Masuda
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan
- Gunma University of Health and Welfare, 191-1 Kawamagari-Cho, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0823, Japan
| | - Nanami Gotoh
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Oda
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yokohama
- Blood Transfusion Service, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-15 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Ikuko Matsumura
- Department of Hematology, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0034, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Handa
- Department of Hematology, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0034, Japan
| | - Norifumi Tsukamoto
- Oncology Center, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-15 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Murakami
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan
- Gunma University of Health and Welfare, 191-1 Kawamagari-Cho, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0823, Japan
| | - Takayuki Saitoh
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan
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6
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Duane C, O'Dwyer M, Glavey S. Adoptive Immunotherapy and High-Risk Myeloma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092633. [PMID: 37174099 PMCID: PMC10177276 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092633] [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: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant improvements in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), it remains mostly incurable, highlighting a need for new therapeutic approaches. Patients with high-risk disease characteristics have a particularly poor prognosis and limited response to current frontline therapies. The recent development of immunotherapeutic strategies, particularly T cell-based agents have changed the treatment landscape for patients with relapsed and refractory disease. Adoptive cellular therapies include chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, which have emerged as a highly promising therapy, particularly for patients with refractory disease. Other adoptive cellular approaches currently in trials include T cell receptor-based therapy (TCR), and the expansion of CAR technology to natural killer (NK) cells. In this review we explore the emerging therapeutic field of adoptive cellular therapy for MM, with a particular focus on the clinical impact of these therapies for patients with high-risk myeloma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Duane
- Department of Haematology, Beaumont Hospital, D09 V2N0 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael O'Dwyer
- Department of Haematology, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Siobhan Glavey
- Department of Haematology, Beaumont Hospital, D09 V2N0 Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Pathology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, D09 V2N0 Dublin, Ireland
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7
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Althaus J, Nilius-Eliliwi V, Maghnouj A, Döring S, Schroers R, Hudecek M, Hahn SA, Mika T. Cytotoxicity of CD19-CAR-NK92 cells is primarily mediated via perforin/granzyme pathway. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023:10.1007/s00262-023-03443-1. [PMID: 37052701 PMCID: PMC10361870 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03443-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have improved cancer immunotherapy in recent years. Immune cells, such as Natural killer cells (NK-cells) or T cells, are used as effector cells in CAR-therapy. NK92-cells, a cell line with known cytotoxic activity, are of particular interest in CAR-therapy since culturing conditions are simple and anti-tumor efficacy combined with a manageable safety profile was proven in clinical trials. The major pathways of immune effector cells, including NK92-cells, to mediate cytotoxicity, are the perforin/granzyme and the death-receptor pathway. Detailed knowledge of CAR-effector cells' cytotoxic mechanisms is essential to unravel resistance mechanisms, which potentially arise by resistance against apoptosis-inducing signaling. Since mutations in apoptosis pathways are frequent in lymphoma, the impact on CAR-mediated cytotoxicity is of clinical interest. In this study, knockout models of CD19-CAR-NK92 cells were designed, to investigate cytotoxic pathways in vitro. Knockout of perforin 1 (Prf1) and subsequent abrogation of the perforin/granzyme pathway dramatically reduced the cytotoxicity of CD19-CAR-NK92 cells. In contrast, knockout of FasL and inhibition of TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligands) did not impair cytotoxicity in most conditions. In conclusion, these results indicate the perforin/granzyme pathway as the major pathway to mediate cytotoxicity in CD19-CAR-NK92 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Althaus
- Department of Molecular Gastrointestinal Oncology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Verena Nilius-Eliliwi
- Department of Molecular Gastrointestinal Oncology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, In der Schornau 23-25, D-44892, Bochum, Germany
| | - Abdelouahid Maghnouj
- Department of Molecular Gastrointestinal Oncology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sascha Döring
- Department of Molecular Gastrointestinal Oncology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Roland Schroers
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, In der Schornau 23-25, D-44892, Bochum, Germany
| | - Michael Hudecek
- Department of Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stephan A Hahn
- Department of Molecular Gastrointestinal Oncology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Mika
- Department of Molecular Gastrointestinal Oncology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, In der Schornau 23-25, D-44892, Bochum, Germany.
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Zhang X, Zhang H, Lan H, Wu J, Xiao Y. CAR-T cell therapy in multiple myeloma: Current limitations and potential strategies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1101495. [PMID: 36891310 PMCID: PMC9986336 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1101495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, the survival outcome of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) has been substantially improved with the emergence of novel therapeutic agents, such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies, selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINEs), and T cell redirecting bispecific antibodies. However, MM remains an incurable neoplastic plasma cell disorder, and almost all MM patients inevitably relapse due to drug resistance. Encouragingly, B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has achieved impressive success in the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) MM and brought new hopes for R/R MM patients in recent years. Due to antigen escape, the poor persistence of CAR-T cells, and the complicated tumor microenvironment, a significant population of MM patients still experience relapse after anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy. Additionally, the high manufacturing costs and time-consuming manufacturing processes caused by the personalized manufacturing procedures also limit the broad clinical application of CAR-T cell therapy. Therefore, in this review, we discuss current limitations of CAR-T cell therapy in MM, such as the resistance to CAR-T cell therapy and the limited accessibility of CAR-T cell therapy, and summarize some optimization strategies to overcome these challenges, including optimizing CAR structure, such as utilizing dual-targeted/multi-targeted CAR-T cells and armored CAR-T cells, optimizing manufacturing processes, combing CAR-T cell therapy with existing or emerging therapeutic approaches, and performing subsequent anti-myeloma therapy after CAR-T cell therapy as salvage therapy or maintenance/consolidation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Jinshazhou Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- School of Medicine, Jishou University, Jishou, China
| | - Huixuan Lan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinming Wu
- Department of Hematology, Jinshazhou Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Xiao
- Department of Hematology, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Pilot Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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9
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Fujiwara Y, Kato T, Hasegawa F, Sunahara M, Tsurumaki Y. The Past, Present, and Future of Clinically Applied Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T-Cell Therapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:207. [PMID: 35215319 PMCID: PMC8876595 DOI: 10.3390/ph15020207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy represents the fourth pillar of cancer therapy after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy is an artificial immune cell therapy applied in clinical practice and is currently indicated for hematological malignancies, with cluster of differentiation 19 (CD19) as its target molecule. In this review, we discuss the past, present, and future of CAR-T-cell therapy. First, we summarize the various clinical trials that were conducted before the clinical application of CD19-targeted CAR-T-cell therapies began. Second, we discuss the accumulated real-world evidence and the barriers associated with applying clinical trials to clinical practices from the perspective of the quality and technical aspects. After providing an overview of all the moving parts involved in the production of CAR-T-cell products, we discuss the characteristics of immune cells (given that T cells are the raw materials for CAR-T-cell therapy) and elucidate the relationship between lifestyle, including diet and exercise, and immune cells. Finally, we briefly highlight future trends in the development of immune cell therapy. These advancements may help position CAR-T-cell therapy as a standard of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Fujiwara
- Cell & Gene Therapy, Oncology, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan;
| | - Toshiki Kato
- Oncology Medical Affairs Dept, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan; (T.K.); (F.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Futoshi Hasegawa
- Oncology Medical Affairs Dept, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan; (T.K.); (F.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Muha Sunahara
- Oncology Medical Affairs Dept, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan; (T.K.); (F.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Yoshie Tsurumaki
- Cell & Gene Therapy, Oncology, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan;
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10
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Mika T, Thomson J, Nilius-Eliliwi V, Vangala D, Baraniskin A, Wulf G, Klein-Scory S, Schroers R. Quantification of cell-free DNA for the analysis of CD19-CAR-T cells during lymphoma treatment. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 23:539-550. [PMID: 34853800 PMCID: PMC8606297 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are increasingly used for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Treatment success relies highly upon sufficient expansion of CAR-T effector cells. Accordingly, longitudinal quantification of CAR-T cells during therapy is clinically important. Techniques to quantify CAR-T cells in patient blood samples are based on flow cytometry and PCR. However, cellular kinetics of CAR-T cells are very complex and under current investigation. In this study, feasibility of CAR-T cell quantification by cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was analyzed. cfDNA isolated from 74 blood samples of 12 patients during lymphoma treatment with the anti-CD19 CAR-T cell product axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) were analyzed. Concentrations of cfDNA specific for the CAR-T gene construct (cfCAR-DNA) and a reference gene were quantified by a newly designed digital-droplet PCR (ddPCR) assay. Detection and quantification of cfCAR-DNA was feasible and reliable for all patients included. Relative quantification of cfCAR-DNA compared to a reference gene, suitable for genomic DNA analysis, was heterogeneous in treatment responders and non-responders. In contrast, parallel analyses of cfCAR-DNA and reference cfDNA in a patient-specific approach gave insight into active lymphoma killing and treatment responses. In summary, plasma cfDNA determination in lymphoma patients is a promising tool for future clinical decision making.
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11
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Understanding and improving cellular immunotherapies against cancer: From cell-manufacturing to tumor-immune models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 179:114003. [PMID: 34653533 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is shaped by dynamic metabolic and immune interactions between precancerous and cancerous tumor cells and stromal cells like epithelial cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and hematopoietically-derived immune cells. The metabolic states of the TME, including the hypoxic and acidic niches, influence the immunosuppressive phenotypes of the stromal and immune cells, which confers resistance to both host-mediated tumor killing and therapeutics. Numerous in vitro TME platforms for studying immunotherapies, including cell therapies, are being developed. However, we do not yet understand which immune and stromal components are most critical and how much model complexity is needed to answer specific questions. In addition, scalable sourcing and quality-control of appropriate TME cells for reproducibly manufacturing these platforms remain challenging. In this regard, lessons from the manufacturing of immunomodulatory cell therapies could provide helpful guidance. Although immune cell therapies have shown unprecedented results in hematological cancers and hold promise in solid tumors, their manufacture poses significant scale, cost, and quality control challenges. This review first provides an overview of the in vivo TME, discussing the most influential cell populations in the tumor-immune landscape. Next, we summarize current approaches for cell therapies against cancers and the relevant manufacturing platforms. We then evaluate current immune-tumor models of the TME and immunotherapies, highlighting the complexity, architecture, function, and cell sources. Finally, we present the technical and fundamental knowledge gaps in both cell manufacturing systems and immune-TME models that must be addressed to elucidate the interactions between endogenous tumor immunity and exogenous engineered immunity.
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12
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Nilius-Eliliwi V, Mika T, Baraniskin A, Wünnenberg M, Maslova M, Boy C, Klein-Scory S, Schroers R, Vangala D. Successful Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Treatment in Aggressive Lymphoma Despite Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CoVID-19) and Prolonged Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Replication - Case Report. Front Oncol 2021; 11:706431. [PMID: 34336692 PMCID: PMC8316683 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.706431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In patients with compromised immune function, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVID-19) impose particular challenges. Especially in hematological malignancies, including lymphoma, the demands by this novel virus disease are further enhanced during sophisticated treatments, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Here, we present the first case of a patient with refractory diffuse-large B-cell lymphoma, who underwent CAR T-cell treatment in the context of SARS-CoV-2. Irrespective of prolonged and active SARS-CoV-2 infection, T cells were successfully isolated by apheresis and processed to anti-CD19 CAR T cells (axicabtagene-ciloleucel). In light of the aggressive lymphoma course, lymphodepleting chemotherapy and CAR-T cells were administered in early recovery after oxygen-dependent CoVID-19 pneumonia. Except for moderate cytokine release, this cellular immunotherapy was well tolerated. Notably, there is no deterioration of the SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, complete lymphoma response and full clinical recovery were observed. In conclusion, CAR T-cell treatment in aggressive lymphoma in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection is feasible and may offer significant therapeutic activity in refractory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Nilius-Eliliwi
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Mika
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Alexander Baraniskin
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Department of Hematology and Oncology, Evangelisches Krankenhaus, Hamm, Germany
| | - Max Wünnenberg
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Marina Maslova
- Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christian Boy
- Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Susanne Klein-Scory
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Roland Schroers
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Deepak Vangala
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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