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Liu Z, Guo C, Das SK, Yu X, Pradhan AK, Li X, Ning Y, Chen S, Liu W, Windle JJ, Bear HD, Manjili MH, Fisher PB, Wang XY. Engineering T Cells to Express Tumoricidal MDA-7/IL24 Enhances Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancer Res 2021; 81:2429-2441. [PMID: 33727225 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-2604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antigen-specific immunotherapy can be limited by induced tumor immunoediting (e.g., antigen loss) or through failure to recognize antigen-negative tumor clones. Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/IL24 (MDA-7/IL24) has profound tumor-specific cytotoxic effects in a broad spectrum of cancers. Here we report the enhanced therapeutic impact of genetically engineering mouse tumor-reactive or antigen-specific T cells to produce human MDA-7/IL24. While mock-transduced T cells only killed antigen-expressing tumor cells, MDA-7/IL24-producing T cells destroyed both antigen-positive and negative cancer targets. MDA-7/IL24-expressing T cells were superior to their mock-engineered counterparts in suppressing mouse prostate cancer and melanoma growth as well as metastasis. This enhanced antitumor potency correlated with increased tumor infiltration and expansion of antigen-specific T cells as well as induction of a Th1-skewed immunostimulatory tumor environment. MDA-7/IL24-potentiated T-cell expansion was dependent on T-cell-intrinsic STAT3 signaling. Finally, MDA-7/IL24-modified T-cell therapy significantly inhibited progression of spontaneous prostate cancers in Hi-Myc transgenic mice. Taken together, arming T cells with tumoricidal and immune-potentiating MDA-7/IL24 confers new capabilities of eradicating antigen-negative cancer cell clones and improving T-cell expansion within tumors. This promising approach may be used to optimize cellular immunotherapy for treating heterogeneous solid cancers and provides a mechanism for inhibiting tumor escape. SIGNIFICANCE: This research describes a novel strategy to overcome the antigenic heterogeneity of solid cancers and prevent tumor escape by engineering T lymphocytes to produce a broad-spectrum tumoricidal agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Liu
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Chunqing Guo
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Xiaofei Yu
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Anjan K Pradhan
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Yanxia Ning
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Shixian Chen
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Wenjie Liu
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Jolene J Windle
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Harry D Bear
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Masoud H Manjili
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. .,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Xiang-Yang Wang
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. .,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.,Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia
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Zoon CK, Wan W, Graham L, Bear HD. Expansion of T Cells with Interleukin-21 for Adoptive Immunotherapy of Murine Mammary Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18020270. [PMID: 28146052 PMCID: PMC5343806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18020270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that culturing antigen-sensitized draining lymph node (DLN) lymphocytes from BALB/c mice in interleukin (IL)-7/15 after activation with bryostatin/ionomycin (B/I) is superior to culture in IL-2 for expansion, differentiation to cluster of differentiation (CD)8+ cells and anti-tumor activity. We sought to determine whether the substitution or addition of IL-21 to culture had a similar effect. DLN lymphocytes were antigen-sensitized with 4T1 mammary carcinoma 10 days prior to harvest, activated with B/I, and expanded in culture for 7 days with either IL-2, IL-21, IL-2/21, IL-7/15, or IL-7/15/21. Cellular expansion, phenotype, interferon (IFN)-γ responses, and in vivo anti-tumor activity were compared. We found that T cells grown in IL7/15/21 demonstrated significantly greater lymphocyte expansion than IL-2, IL-21, IL-2/21, and IL-7/15 (38.4-fold vs. 5.5, 6.6, 9.5, and 23.9-fold, respectively). Of these expanded cells, IL-7/15/21 significantly expanded the greatest percentage of CD8+ cells (67.1% vs. 22.2%, 47.2%, 47.4%, and 55.3%, respectively), and the greatest number of T central memory cells (TCM) compared to IL-2, IL-21 and IL-2/21 (45.8% vs. 11.1%, 7.7%, and 12.1%, respectively). IL-21 and IL-2/21-expanded T cells preferentially differentiated into T naïve cells (TN) vs. those expanded in IL-2, IL-7/15 and IL-7/15/21 (27.6% and 23.2% vs. 1.7%, 4.5%, and 10.4%, respectively), and demonstrated the highest IFN-γ levels in vitro. In vivo adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) experiments demonstrated anti-tumor efficacy was equally effective using IL-2, IL-21, IL-2/21, IL-7/15 and IL-7/15/21-cultured lymphocytes vs. control or cyclophosphamide alone, even at lower doses or with greater initial size of tumor prior to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine K Zoon
- Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
| | - Wen Wan
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
| | - Laura Graham
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
| | - Harry D Bear
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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Addition of interleukin-21 for expansion of T-cells for adoptive immunotherapy of murine melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:8744-60. [PMID: 25903148 PMCID: PMC4425106 DOI: 10.3390/ijms16048744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-7/15 was superior to IL-2 for expansion of T cells in vitro for adoptive immunotherapy. We sought to ascertain whether IL-21 would further improve yield and therapeutic efficacy of T cells in culture. Naïve T cell receptor (TcR) transgenic splenocytes or antigen-sensitized lymph node cells were harvested from PMEL-1 mice and exposed to bryostatin-1 and ionomycin (B/I) for 18 h. Cells were then cultured in IL-2, IL-21, IL-7/15 or IL-7/15/21 for six days. Harvested cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and used to treat C57Bl/6 mice injected intravenously with B16 melanoma. Lungs were harvested and metastases counted 14 days after treatment. Culturing lymphocytes in IL-7/15/21 increased expansion compared to IL-2 or IL-7/15. IL-21 and IL-7/15/21 increased CD8+ cells compared to IL-2 or IL-7/15. IL-21 preferentially expanded a CD8+CD44−CD62L+ T “naïve” population, whereas IL-7/15/21 increased CD8+CD44+CD62Lhigh central-memory T cells. T cells grown in IL-7/15/21 were more effective at reducing metastases than IL-2. The addition of IL-21 to IL-7/15 induced greater expansion of lymphocytes in culture and increased the yield of CD8+ T central-memory cells vs. IL-7/15 alone. This may have significant impact on future clinical trials of adoptive immunotherapy, particularly for generating adequate numbers of lymphocytes for treatment.
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Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with breast cancer can be reprogrammed to enhance anti-HER-2/neu reactivity and overcome myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2013; 142:45-57. [PMID: 24197563 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-013-2733-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Two major barriers in the immunotherapy of breast cancer include tumor-induced immune suppression and the establishment of long-lasting immune responses against the tumor. Recently, we demonstrated in an animal model of breast carcinoma that expanding and reprogramming tumor-sensitized lymphocytes, ex vivo, yielded T memory (Tm) cells as well as activated CD25+ NKT cells and NK cells. The presence of activated CD25+ NKT and NK cells rendered reprogrammed T cells resistant to MDSC-mediated suppression, and adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) of reprogrammed lymphocytes protected the host from tumor development and relapse. Here, we performed a pilot study to determine the clinical applicability of our protocol using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of breast cancer patients, ex vivo. We show that bryostatin 1 and ionomycin combined with IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15 can expand and reprogram tumor-sensitized PBMCs. Reprogrammed lymphocytes contained activated CD25+ NKT and NK cells as well as Tm cells and displayed enhanced reactivity against HER-2/neu in the presence of MDSCs. The presence of activated NKT cells was highly correlated with the rescue of anti-HER-2/neu immune responses from MDSC suppression. Ex vivo blockade experiments suggest that the NKG2D pathway may play an important role in overcoming MDSC suppression. Our results show the feasibility of reprogramming tumor-sensitized immune cells, ex vivo, and provide rationale for ACT of breast cancer patients.
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DeChristopher BA, Fan AC, Felsher DW, Wender PA. "Picolog," a synthetically-available bryostatin analog, inhibits growth of MYC-induced lymphoma in vivo. Oncotarget 2012; 3:58-66. [PMID: 22308267 PMCID: PMC3292892 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [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: 01/22/2012] [Accepted: 02/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Bryostatin 1 is a naturally occurring complex macrolide with potent anti-neoplastic activity. However, its extremely low natural occurrence has impeded clinical advancement. We developed a strategy directed at the design of simplified and synthetically more accessible bryostatin analogs. Our lead analog, "picolog", can be step-economically produced. Picolog, compared to bryostatin, exhibited superior growth inhibition of MYC-induced lymphoma in vitro. A key mechanism of picolog's (and bryostatin's) activity is activation of PKC. A novel nano-immunoassay (NIA) revealed that picolog treatment increased phospho-MEK2 in the PKC pathway. Moreover, the inhibition of PKC abrogated picolog's activity. Finally, picolog was highly potent at 100 micrograms/kg and well tolerated at doses ranging from 100 micrograms/kg to 1 milligram/kg in vivo for the treatment of our aggressive model of MYC-induced lymphoma. We provide the first in vivo validation that the bryostatin analog, picolog, is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A. DeChristopher
- Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5080
| | - Alice C. Fan
- Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Dean W. Felsher
- Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Paul A. Wender
- Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5080
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