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Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Spurny C, Flügge M, Meltzer J, Greune L, Urban K, Schwöppe C, Brand C, Schliemann C, Hintelmann H, Harrach S, Hartmann W, Abken H, Kuehle J, Schambach A, Görlich D, Berdel WE, Rossig C. CAR T cells as micropharmacies against solid cancers: Combining effector T-cell mediated cell death with vascular targeting in a one-step engineering process. Cancer Gene Ther 2023; 30:1355-1368. [PMID: 37391502 PMCID: PMC10581901 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00642-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
To enhance the potency of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered T cells in solid cancers, we designed a novel cell-based combination strategy with an additional therapeutic mode of action. CAR T cells are used as micropharmacies to produce a targeted pro-coagulatory fusion protein, truncated tissue factor (tTF)-NGR, which exerts pro-coagulatory activity and hypoxia upon relocalization to the vascular endothelial cells that invade tumor tissues. Delivery by CAR T cells aimed to induce locoregional tumor vascular infarction for combined immune-mediated and hypoxic tumor cell death. Human T cells that were one-vector gene-modified to express a GD2-specific CAR along with CAR-inducible tTF-NGR exerted potent GD2-specific effector functions while secreting tTF-NGR that activates the extrinsic coagulation pathway in a strictly GD2-dependent manner. In murine models, the CAR T cells infiltrated GD2-positive tumor xenografts, secreted tTF-NGR into the tumor microenvironment and showed a trend towards superior therapeutic activity compared with control cells producing functionally inactive tTF-NGR. In vitro evidence supports a mechanism of hypoxia-mediated enhancement of T cell cytolytic activity. We conclude that combined CAR T cell targeting with an additional mechanism of antitumor action in a one-vector engineering strategy is a promising approach to be further developed for targeted treatment of solid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Christian Spurny
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Maike Flügge
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Lea Greune
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Katja Urban
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Caroline Brand
- Department of Medicine A, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Heike Hintelmann
- Department of Medicine A, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Saliha Harrach
- Department of Medicine A, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT), and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Kuehle
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dennis Görlich
- Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang E Berdel
- Department of Medicine A, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Ahmadi SE, Shabannezhad A, Kahrizi A, Akbar A, Safdari SM, Hoseinnezhad T, Zahedi M, Sadeghi S, Mojarrad MG, Safa M. Tissue factor (coagulation factor III): a potential double-edge molecule to be targeted and re-targeted toward cancer. Biomark Res 2023; 11:60. [PMID: 37280670 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00504-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue factor (TF) is a protein that plays a critical role in blood clotting, but recent research has also shown its involvement in cancer development and progression. Herein, we provide an overview of the structure of TF and its involvement in signaling pathways that promote cancer cell proliferation and survival, such as the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways. TF overexpression is associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in various cancers. The review also explores TF's role in promoting cancer cell metastasis, angiogenesis, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Of note, various TF-targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, and immunotherapies have been developed, and preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of these therapies in various cancer types are now being evaluated. The potential for re-targeting TF toward cancer cells using TF-conjugated nanoparticles, which have shown promising results in preclinical studies is another intriguing approach in the path of cancer treatment. Although there are still many challenges, TF could possibly be a potential molecule to be used for further cancer therapy as some TF-targeted therapies like Seagen and Genmab's tisotumab vedotin have gained FDA approval for treatment of cervical cancer. Overall, based on the overviewed studies, this review article provides an in-depth overview of the crucial role that TF plays in cancer development and progression, and emphasizes the potential of TF-targeted and re-targeted therapies as potential approaches for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Esmaeil Ahmadi
- Departments of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashkan Shabannezhad
- Departments of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Kahrizi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Armin Akbar
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Seyed Mehrab Safdari
- Departments of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Taraneh Hoseinnezhad
- Department of Hematolog, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mohammad Zahedi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soroush Sadeghi
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing, Kingston University, London, UK
| | - Mahsa Golizadeh Mojarrad
- Shahid Beheshti Educational and Medical Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Majid Safa
- Departments of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Tong S, Zhao W, Zhao D, Zhang W, Zhang Z. Biomaterials-Mediated Tumor Infarction Therapy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:916926. [PMID: 35757801 PMCID: PMC9218593 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.916926] [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: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Agents for tumor vascular infarction are recently developed therapeutic agents for the vascular destruction of tumors. They can suppress the progression of the tumor by preventing the flow of nutrition and oxygen to its tissues. Agents of tumor vascular infarction can be divided into three categories according to the differences in their pathways of action: those that use the thrombin-activating pathway, fibrin-activating pathway, and platelet-activating pathway. However, poor targeting ability, low permeation, and potential side-effects restrict the development of the corresponding drugs. Biomaterials can subtly avoid these drawbacks to suppress the tumor. In this article, the authors summarize currently used biomaterials for tumor infarction therapy with the goal of identifying its mechanism, and discuss outstanding deficiencies in methods of this kind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizheng Tong
- Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Duoyi Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Weilin Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhiyu Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Gerwing M, Krähling T, Schliemann C, Harrach S, Schwöppe C, Berdel AF, Klein S, Hartmann W, Wardelmann E, Heindel WL, Lenz G, Berdel WE, Wildgruber M. Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Immediate Target Hit Assessment of CD13-Targeted Tissue Factor tTF-NGR in Advanced Malignant Disease. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13235880. [PMID: 34884988 PMCID: PMC8657298 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13235880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Since the knowledge of tumor biology has advanced, a variety of targeted therapies has been developed. These do not immediately affect the tumor size, so optimized oncological imaging is needed. In this phase I study of patients with advanced malignant disease, a multiparametric imaging approach was used to assess changes in tumor perfusion after vessel-occluding therapy with the CD13 targeted truncated tissue factor with a C-terminal NGR-peptide. It comprises different sequences and the use of two different contrast media, ferucarbotran and gadobutrol. This multiparametric MRI protocol enables assessing the therapy effectiveness as early as five hours after therapy initiation. Abstract Early assessment of target hit in anti-cancer therapies is a major task in oncologic imaging. In this study, immediate target hit and effectiveness of CD13-targeted tissue factor tTF-NGR in patients with advanced malignant disease enrolled in a phase I trial was assessed using a multiparametric MRI protocol. Seventeen patients with advanced solid malignancies were enrolled in the trial and received tTF-NGR for at least one cycle of five daily infusions. Tumor target lesions were imaged with multiparametric MRI before therapy initiation, five hours after the first infusion and after five days. The imaging protocol comprised ADC, calculated from DWI, and DCE imaging and vascular volume fraction (VVF) assessment. DCE and VVF values decreased within 5 h after therapy initiation, indicating early target hit with a subsequent decrease in tumor perfusion due to selective tumor vessel occlusion and thrombosis induced by tTF-NGR. Simultaneously, ADC values increased at five hours after tTF-NGR administration. In four patients, treatment had to be stopped due to an increase in troponin T hs, with subsequent anticoagulation. In these patients, a reversed effect, with DCE and VVF values increasing and ADC values decreasing, was observed after anticoagulation. Changes in imaging parameters were independent of the mean vessel density determined by immunohistochemistry. By using a multiparametric imaging approach, changes in tumor perfusion after initiation of a tumor vessel occluding therapy can be evaluated as early as five hours after therapy initiation, enabling early assessment of target hit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Gerwing
- Clinic of Radiology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (T.K.); (W.L.H.); (M.W.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Tobias Krähling
- Clinic of Radiology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (T.K.); (W.L.H.); (M.W.)
| | - Christoph Schliemann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Hemostaseology, Oncology and Pulmonology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (C.S.); (S.H.); (C.S.); (A.F.B.); (G.L.); (W.E.B.)
| | - Saliha Harrach
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Hemostaseology, Oncology and Pulmonology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (C.S.); (S.H.); (C.S.); (A.F.B.); (G.L.); (W.E.B.)
| | - Christian Schwöppe
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Hemostaseology, Oncology and Pulmonology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (C.S.); (S.H.); (C.S.); (A.F.B.); (G.L.); (W.E.B.)
| | - Andrew F. Berdel
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Hemostaseology, Oncology and Pulmonology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (C.S.); (S.H.); (C.S.); (A.F.B.); (G.L.); (W.E.B.)
| | - Sebastian Klein
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute for Pathology, University of Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (S.K.); (W.H.); (E.W.)
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute for Pathology, University of Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (S.K.); (W.H.); (E.W.)
| | - Eva Wardelmann
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute for Pathology, University of Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (S.K.); (W.H.); (E.W.)
| | - Walter L. Heindel
- Clinic of Radiology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (T.K.); (W.L.H.); (M.W.)
| | - Georg Lenz
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Hemostaseology, Oncology and Pulmonology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (C.S.); (S.H.); (C.S.); (A.F.B.); (G.L.); (W.E.B.)
| | - Wolfgang E. Berdel
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Hemostaseology, Oncology and Pulmonology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (C.S.); (S.H.); (C.S.); (A.F.B.); (G.L.); (W.E.B.)
| | - Moritz Wildgruber
- Clinic of Radiology, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; (T.K.); (W.L.H.); (M.W.)
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
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