1
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Williamson HK, Mendes PM. An integrated perspective on measuring cytokines to inform CAR-T bioprocessing. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 75:108405. [PMID: 38997052 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108405] [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: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are emerging as a generation-defining therapeutic however their manufacture remains a major barrier to meeting increased market demand. Monitoring critical quality attributes (CQAs) and critical process parameters (CPPs) during manufacture would vastly enrich acquired information related to the process and product, providing feedback to enable real-time decision making. Here we identify specific CAR-T cytokines as value-adding analytes and discuss their roles as plausible CPPs and CQAs. High sensitivity sensing technologies which can be easily integrated into manufacture workflows are essential to implement real-time monitoring of these cytokines. We therefore present biosensors as enabling technologies and evaluate recent advancements in cytokine detection in cell cultures, offering promising translatability to CAR-T biomanufacture. Finally, we outline emerging sensing technologies with future promise, and provide an overall outlook on existing gaps to implementation and the optimal sensing platform to enable cytokine monitoring in CAR-T biomanufacture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah K Williamson
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Paula M Mendes
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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2
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Wittling MC, Cole AC, Brammer B, Diatikar KG, Schmitt NC, Paulos CM. Strategies for Improving CAR T Cell Persistence in Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2858. [PMID: 39199630 PMCID: PMC11352972 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16162858] [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: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
CAR T cells require optimization to be effective in patients with solid tumors. There are many barriers affecting their ability to succeed. One barrier is persistence, as to achieve an optimal antitumor response, infused CAR T cells must engraft and persist. This singular variable is impacted by a multitude of factors-the CAR T cell design, lymphodepletion regimen used, expansion method to generate the T cell product, and more. Additionally, external agents can be utilized to augment CAR T cells, such as the addition of novel cytokines, pharmaceutical drugs that bolster memory formation, or other agents during either the ex vivo expansion process or after CAR T cell infusion to support them in the oppressive tumor microenvironment. This review highlights many strategies being used to optimize T cell persistence as well as future directions for improving the persistence of infused cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megen C. Wittling
- Department of Surgery/Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Anna C. Cole
- Department of Surgery/Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Brianna Brammer
- School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Kailey G. Diatikar
- Department of Surgery/Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Nicole C. Schmitt
- Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Chrystal M. Paulos
- Department of Surgery/Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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3
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Blud D, Rubio-Reyes P, Perret R, Weinkove R. Tuning CAR T-cell therapies for efficacy and reduced toxicity. Semin Hematol 2024:S0037-1963(24)00082-9. [PMID: 39095226 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2024.07.003] [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: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies are a standard of care for certain relapsed or refractory B-cell cancers. However, many patients do not respond to CAR T-cell therapy or relapse later, short- and long-term toxicities are common, and current CAR T-cell therapies have limited efficacy for solid cancers. The gene engineering inherent in CAR T-cell manufacture offers an unprecedented opportunity to control cellular characteristics and design products that may overcome these limitations. This review summarises available methods to "tune" CAR T-cells for optimal efficacy and safety. The components of a typical CAR, and the modifications that can influence CAR T-cell function are discussed. Methods of engineering passive, inducible or autonomous control mechanisms into CAR T-cells, allowing selective limitation or enhancement of CAR T-cell activity are reviewed. The impact of manufacturing processes on CAR T-cell function are considered, including methods of limiting CAR T-cell terminal differentiation and exhaustion, and the use of specific T-cell subsets as the CAR T starting material. We discuss the use of multicistronic transgenes and multiplexed gene editing. Finally, we highlight the need for innovative clinical trial designs if we are to make the most of the opportunities offered by CAR T-cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Blud
- Cancer Immunotherapy Programme, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Patricia Rubio-Reyes
- Cancer Immunotherapy Programme, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Rachel Perret
- Cancer Immunotherapy Programme, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Robert Weinkove
- Cancer Immunotherapy Programme, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand; Wellington Blood & Cancer Centre, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Capital Coast & Hutt Valley, Wellington, New Zealand; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand.
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4
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Kuznetsova AV, Glukhova XA, Popova OP, Beletsky IP, Ivanov AA. Contemporary Approaches to Immunotherapy of Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2270. [PMID: 38927974 PMCID: PMC11201544 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122270] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the arrival of the immunotherapy industry has introduced the possibility of providing transformative, durable, and potentially curative outcomes for various forms of malignancies. However, further research has shown that there are a number of issues that significantly reduce the effectiveness of immunotherapy, especially in solid tumors. First of all, these problems are related to the protective mechanisms of the tumor and its microenvironment. Currently, major efforts are focused on overcoming protective mechanisms by using different adoptive cell therapy variants and modifications of genetically engineered constructs. In addition, a complex workforce is required to develop and implement these treatments. To overcome these significant challenges, innovative strategies and approaches are necessary to engineer more powerful variations of immunotherapy with improved antitumor activity and decreased toxicity. In this review, we discuss recent innovations in immunotherapy aimed at improving clinical efficacy in solid tumors, as well as strategies to overcome the limitations of various immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla V. Kuznetsova
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Russian University of Medicine (Formerly A.I. Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry), Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Bld 4, Dolgorukovskaya Str, 1127006 Moscow, Russia; (A.V.K.); (O.P.P.)
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 26 Vavilov Street, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Xenia A. Glukhova
- Onni Biotechnologies Ltd., Aalto University Campus, Metallimiehenkuja 10, 02150 Espoo, Finland; (X.A.G.); (I.P.B.)
| | - Olga P. Popova
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Russian University of Medicine (Formerly A.I. Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry), Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Bld 4, Dolgorukovskaya Str, 1127006 Moscow, Russia; (A.V.K.); (O.P.P.)
| | - Igor P. Beletsky
- Onni Biotechnologies Ltd., Aalto University Campus, Metallimiehenkuja 10, 02150 Espoo, Finland; (X.A.G.); (I.P.B.)
| | - Alexey A. Ivanov
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Russian University of Medicine (Formerly A.I. Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry), Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Bld 4, Dolgorukovskaya Str, 1127006 Moscow, Russia; (A.V.K.); (O.P.P.)
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5
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Sun Z, Wang C, Zhao Y, Ling Q. CAR-T cell therapy in advanced thyroid cancer: from basic to clinical. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1411300. [PMID: 38911868 PMCID: PMC11190081 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1411300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients with thyroid cancer can attain a favorable prognosis with a comprehensive treatment program based on surgical treatment. However, the current treatment options for advanced thyroid cancer are still limited. In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has received widespread attention in the field of oncology treatment. It has achieved remarkable results in the treatment of hematologic tumors. However, due to the constraints of multiple factors, the therapeutic efficacy of CAR-T therapy for solid tumors, including thyroid cancer, has not yet met expectations. This review outlines the fundamental structure and treatment strategies of CAR-T cells, provides an overview of the advancements in both preclinical investigations and clinical trials focusing on targets associated with CAR-T cell therapy in treating thyroid cancer, and discusses the challenges and solutions to CAR-T cell therapy for thyroid cancer. In conclusion, CAR-T cell therapy is a promising therapeutic approach for thyroid cancer, and we hope that our review will provide a timely and updated study of CAR-T cell therapy for thyroid cancer to advance the field.
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6
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Wang L, Zhang L, Dunmall LC, Wang YY, Fan Z, Cheng Z, Wang Y. The dilemmas and possible solutions for CAR-T cell therapy application in solid tumors. Cancer Lett 2024; 591:216871. [PMID: 38604310 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy, as an adoptive immunotherapy, is playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of malignant tumors. CAR-T cells are referred to as "living drugs" as they not only target tumor cells directly, but also induce long-term immune memory that has the potential to provide long-lasting protection. CD19.CAR-T cells have achieved complete response rates of over 90 % for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and over 60 % for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, the response rate of CAR-T cells in the treatment of solid tumors remains extremely low and the side effects potentially severe. In this review, we discuss the limitations that the solid tumor microenvironment poses for CAR-T application and the solutions that are being developed to address these limitations, in the hope that in the near future, CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors can attain the same success rates as are now being seen clinically for hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Wang
- Department of Oncology, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China; National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lufang Zhang
- National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Louisa Chard Dunmall
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yang Yang Wang
- Department of General Pediatrics, Newham General Hospital, E13 8SL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zaiwen Fan
- Department of Oncology, Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenguo Cheng
- National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaohe Wang
- National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Centre for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
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7
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Chen B, Liu J. Prospects and challenges of CAR-T in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 133:112112. [PMID: 38640714 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112112] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer ranks as the seventh most prevalent cancer among women and is considered the most lethal gynecological malignancy on a global scale. The absence of reliable screening techniques, coupled with the insidious onset of nonspecific symptoms, often results in a delayed diagnosis, typically at an advanced stage characterized by peritoneal involvement. Management of advanced tumors typically involves a combination of chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery. However, the therapeutic arsenal for ovarian cancer patients remains limited, highlighting the unmet need for precise, targeted, and sustained-release pharmacological agents. Genetically engineered T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) represent a promising novel therapeutic modality that selectively targets specific antigens, demonstrating robust and enduring antitumor responses in numerous patients. CAR T cell therapy has exhibited notable efficacy in hematological malignancies and is currently under investigation for its potential in treating various solid tumors, including ovarian cancer. Currently, numerous researchers are engaged in the development of novel CAR-T cells designed to target ovarian cancer, with subsequent evaluation of these candidate cells in preclinical studies. Given the ability of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressing T cells to elicit potent and long-lasting anti-tumor effects, this therapeutic approach holds significant promise for the treatment of ovarian cancer. This review article examines the utilization of CAR-T cells in the context of ovarian cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biqing Chen
- Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
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8
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Zhang G, Wang Y, Lu S, Ding F, Wang X, Zhu C, Wang Y, Wang K. Molecular understanding and clinical outcomes of CAR T cell therapy in the treatment of urological tumors. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:359. [PMID: 38789450 PMCID: PMC11126652 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06734-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor engineered T (CAR T) cell therapy has developed rapidly in recent years, leading to profound developments in oncology, especially for hematologic malignancies. However, given the pressure of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments, antigen escape, and diverse other factors, its application in solid tumors is less developed. Urinary system tumors are relatively common, accounting for approximately 24% of all new cancers in the United States. CAR T cells have great potential for urinary system tumors. This review summarizes the latest developments of CAR T cell therapy in urinary system tumors, including kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer, and also outlines the various CAR T cell generations and their pathways and targets that have been developed thus far. Finally, the current advantages, problems, and side effects of CAR T cell therapy are discussed in depth, and potential future developments are proposed in view of current shortcomings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gong Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Shiyang Lu
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Fengzhu Ding
- Department of Nursing, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Xia Wang
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Chunming Zhu
- Department of Family Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
| | - Yibing Wang
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
| | - Kefeng Wang
- Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
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9
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Zhang XY, Hong LL, Ling ZQ. MUC16: clinical targets with great potential. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:101. [PMID: 38758220 PMCID: PMC11101557 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01365-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Mucin 16 (MUC16) is a membrane-bound mucin that is abnormally expressed or mutated in a variety of diseases, especially tumors, while being expressed in normal body epithelium. MUC16 and its extracellular components are often important cancer-related biomarkers. Abnormal expression of MUC16 promotes tumor progression through mesenchymal protein, PI3K/AKT pathway, JAK2/STAT3 pathway, ERK/FBW7/c-Myc, and other mechanisms, and plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors. In addition, MUC16 also helps tumor immune escape by inhibiting T cells and NK cells. Many drugs and trials targeting MUC16 have been developed, and MUC16 may be a new direction for future treatments. In this paper, the mechanism of action of MUC16 in the development of cancer, especially in the immune escape of tumor, is introduced in detail, indicating the potential of MUC16 in clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yu Zhang
- Zhejiang Cancer Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, No.1 Banshan East Rd., Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang, Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Lian-Lian Hong
- Zhejiang Cancer Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, No.1 Banshan East Rd., Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Ling
- Zhejiang Cancer Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, No.1 Banshan East Rd., Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China.
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China.
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang, Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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10
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Xu Y, Sun X, Tong Y. Interleukin-12 in multimodal tumor therapies for induction of anti-tumor immunity. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:170. [PMID: 38753073 PMCID: PMC11098992 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01011-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) can be used as an immunomodulator in cancer immunotherapy. And it has demonstrated enormous potential in inhibiting tumor growth and improving the tumor microenvironment (TME) by several preclinical models. However, some disappointing results have showed in the early clinical trials when IL-12 used as a single agent for systemic cancer therapy. Combination therapy is an effective way to significantly fulfill the great potential of IL-12 as an immunomodulator. Here, we discuss the effects of IL-12 combined with traditional methods (chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery), targeted therapy or immunotherapy in the preclinical and clinical studies. Moreover, we summarized the potential mechanism underlying the anti-tumor effect of IL-12 in the combination strategies. And we also discussed the delivery methods and tumor-targeted modification of IL-12 and outlines future prospects for IL-12 as an immunomodulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulian Xu
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xueli Sun
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunguang Tong
- College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, 168 Xueyuan Street, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Omigen, Inc, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China.
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11
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Zhu B, Yin H, Zhang D, Zhang M, Chao X, Scimeca L, Wu MR. Synthetic biology approaches for improving the specificity and efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:436-447. [PMID: 38605087 PMCID: PMC11061174 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01153-x] [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: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has shown robust efficacy in treating a broad spectrum of hematological and solid cancers. Despite the transformative impact of immunotherapy on cancer treatment, several outstanding challenges remain. These challenges include on-target off-tumor toxicity, systemic toxicity, and the complexity of achieving potent and sustainable therapeutic efficacy. Synthetic biology has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these obstacles, offering innovative tools for engineering living cells with customized functions. This review provides an overview of the current landscape and future prospects of cancer immunotherapy, particularly emphasizing the role of synthetic biology in augmenting its specificity, controllability, and efficacy. We delineate and discuss two principal synthetic biology strategies: those targeting tumor surface antigens with engineered immune cells and those detecting intratumoral disease signatures with engineered gene circuits. This review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the enduring challenges in cancer immunotherapy and the potential breakthroughs that synthetic biology may contribute to the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Hang Yin
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Di Zhang
- Drug Safety Research & Evaluation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Company, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Meiling Zhang
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiaojuan Chao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Luca Scimeca
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ming-Ru Wu
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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12
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Amorós-Pérez B, Rivas-Pardo B, Gómez del Moral M, Subiza JL, Martínez-Naves E. State of the Art in CAR-T Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors: Is There a Sweeter Future? Cells 2024; 13:725. [PMID: 38727261 PMCID: PMC11083689 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has proven to be a powerful treatment for hematological malignancies. The situation is very different in the case of solid tumors, for which no CAR-T-based therapy has yet been approved. There are many factors contributing to the absence of response in solid tumors to CAR-T cells, such as the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), T cell exhaustion, or the lack of suitable antigen targets, which should have a stable and specific expression on tumor cells. Strategies being developed to improve CAR-T-based therapy for solid tumors include the use of new-generation CARs such as TRUCKs or bi-specific CARs, the combination of CAR therapy with chemo- or radiotherapy, the use of checkpoint inhibitors, and the use of oncolytic viruses. Furthermore, despite the scarcity of targets, a growing number of phase I/II clinical trials are exploring new solid-tumor-associated antigens. Most of these antigens are of a protein nature; however, there is a clear potential in identifying carbohydrate-type antigens associated with tumors, or carbohydrate and proteoglycan antigens that emerge because of aberrant glycosylations occurring in the context of tumor transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Amorós-Pérez
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ORL, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense of Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (B.A.-P.); (B.R.-P.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Inmunotek S.L., 28805 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Benigno Rivas-Pardo
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ORL, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense of Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (B.A.-P.); (B.R.-P.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Gómez del Moral
- Department of Cellular Biology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense of Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | | | - Eduardo Martínez-Naves
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ORL, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense of Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (B.A.-P.); (B.R.-P.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
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13
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Montoya M, Gallus M, Phyu S, Haegelin J, de Groot J, Okada H. A Roadmap of CAR-T-Cell Therapy in Glioblastoma: Challenges and Future Perspectives. Cells 2024; 13:726. [PMID: 38727262 PMCID: PMC11083543 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor, with a median overall survival of less than 2 years and a nearly 100% mortality rate under standard therapy that consists of surgery followed by combined radiochemotherapy. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in hematological cancers has prompted preclinical and clinical investigations into CAR-T-cell treatment for GBM. However, recent trials have not demonstrated any major success. Here, we delineate existing challenges impeding the effectiveness of CAR-T-cell therapy for GBM, encompassing the cold (immunosuppressive) microenvironment, tumor heterogeneity, T-cell exhaustion, local and systemic immunosuppression, and the immune privilege inherent to the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma. Additionally, we deliberate on the progress made in developing next-generation CAR-T cells and novel innovative approaches, such as low-intensity pulsed focused ultrasound, aimed at surmounting current roadblocks in GBM CAR-T-cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Montoya
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Marco Gallus
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Su Phyu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jeffrey Haegelin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - John de Groot
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Hideho Okada
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA
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14
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Knisely A, Hinchcliff E, Fellman B, Mosley A, Lito K, Hull S, Westin SN, Sood AK, Schmeler KM, Taylor JS, Huang SY, Sheth RA, Lu KH, Jazaeri AA. Phase 1b study of intraperitoneal ipilimumab and nivolumab in patients with recurrent gynecologic malignancies with peritoneal carcinomatosis. MED 2024; 5:311-320.e3. [PMID: 38471508 PMCID: PMC11015975 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intravenous immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has shown poor response rates in recurrent gynecologic malignancies. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) ICB may result in enhanced T cell activation and anti-tumor immunity. METHODS In this phase 1b study, registered at Clinical. TRIALS gov (NCT03508570), initial cohorts received i.p. nivolumab monotherapy, and subsequent cohorts received combination i.p. nivolumab every 2 weeks and i.p. ipilimumab every 6 weeks, guided by a Bayesian design. The primary objective was determination of the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of the combination. Secondary outcomes included toxicity, objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). FINDINGS The trial enrolled 23 patients: 18 with ovarian cancer, 2 with uterine cancer, and 3 with cervical cancer. Study evaluable patients (n = 16) received a median of 2 prior lines of therapy (range: 1-8). Partial response was observed in 2 patients (12.5%; 1 ovarian, 1 uterine), and complete response was observed in 1 patient (6.3%) with cervical cancer, for an ORR of 18.8% (95% confidence interval: 4.0%-45.6%). The median duration of response was 14.8 months (range: 4.1-20.8), with one complete response ongoing. Median PFS and OS were 2.7 months and not reached, respectively. Grade 3 or higher immune-related adverse events occurred in 2 (8.7%) patients. CONCLUSIONS i.p. administration of dual ICB is safe and demonstrated durable responses in a subset of patients with advanced gynecologic malignancy. The RP2D is 3 mg/kg i.p. nivolumab every 2 weeks plus 1 mg/kg ipilimumab every 6 weeks. FUNDING This work was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb (CA209-9C7), an MD Anderson Cancer Center Support Grant (CA016672), the Ovarian Cancer Moon Shots Program, the Emerson Collective Fund, and a T32 training grant (CA101642).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Knisely
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Emily Hinchcliff
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bryan Fellman
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ann Mosley
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn Lito
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sara Hull
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shannon N Westin
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anil K Sood
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathleen M Schmeler
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jolyn S Taylor
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Steven Y Huang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rahul A Sheth
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karen H Lu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amir A Jazaeri
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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15
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Bell M, Lange S, Sejdiu BI, Ibanez J, Shi H, Sun X, Meng X, Nguyen P, Sutton M, Wagner J, Kc A, Langfitt D, Patil SL, Tan H, Pandey RV, Li Y, Yuan ZF, Anido AA, Ho M, Sheppard H, Vogel P, Yu J, Peng J, Chi H, Babu MM, Krenciute G, Gottschalk S. Modular chimeric cytokine receptors with leucine zippers enhance the antitumour activity of CAR T cells via JAK/STAT signalling. Nat Biomed Eng 2024; 8:380-396. [PMID: 38036617 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01143-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The limited availability of cytokines in solid tumours hinders maintenance of the antitumour activity of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Cytokine receptor signalling pathways in CAR T cells can be activated by transgenic expression or injection of cytokines in the tumour, or by engineering the activation of cognate cytokine receptors. However, these strategies are constrained by toxicity arising from the activation of bystander cells, by the suboptimal biodistribution of the cytokines and by downregulation of the cognate receptor. Here we show that replacement of the extracellular domains of heterodimeric cytokine receptors in T cells with two leucine zipper motifs provides optimal Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signalling. Such chimeric cytokine receptors, which can be generated for common γ-chain receptors, interleukin-10 and -12 receptors, enabled T cells to survive cytokine starvation without induction of autonomous cell growth, and augmented the effector function of CAR T cells in vitro in the setting of chronic antigen exposure and in human tumour xenografts in mice. As a modular design, leucine zippers can be used to generate constitutively active cytokine receptors in effector immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Bell
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shannon Lange
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Besian I Sejdiu
- Center of Excellence for Data Driven Discovery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jorge Ibanez
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hao Shi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xiang Sun
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Meng
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Phuong Nguyen
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Morgan Sutton
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jessica Wagner
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Anil Kc
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Deanna Langfitt
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sagar L Patil
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Haiyan Tan
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ram Vinay Pandey
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yuxin Li
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Zuo-Fei Yuan
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Alejandro Allo Anido
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Heather Sheppard
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Peter Vogel
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jiyang Yu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Junmin Peng
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongbo Chi
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - M Madan Babu
- Center of Excellence for Data Driven Discovery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Giedre Krenciute
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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16
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Jha R, Kinna A, Hotblack A, Bughda R, Bulek A, Gannon I, Ilca T, Allen C, Lamb K, Dolor A, Scott I, Parekh F, Sillibourne J, Cordoba S, Onuoha S, Thomas S, Ferrari M, Pule M. Designer Small-Molecule Control System Based on Minocycline-Induced Disruption of Protein-Protein Interaction. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:308-324. [PMID: 38243811 PMCID: PMC10877577 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
A versatile, safe, and effective small-molecule control system is highly desirable for clinical cell therapy applications. Therefore, we developed a two-component small-molecule control system based on the disruption of protein-protein interactions using minocycline, an FDA-approved antibiotic with wide availability, excellent biodistribution, and low toxicity. The system comprises an anti-minocycline single-domain antibody (sdAb) and a minocycline-displaceable cyclic peptide. Here, we show how this versatile system can be applied to OFF-switch split CAR systems (MinoCAR) and universal CAR adaptors (MinoUniCAR) with reversible, transient, and dose-dependent suppression; to a tunable T cell activation module based on MyD88/CD40 signaling; to a controllable cellular payload secretion system based on IL12 KDEL retention; and as a cell/cell inducible junction. This work represents an important step forward in the development of a remote-controlled system to precisely control the timing, intensity, and safety of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Jha
- Autolus
Therapeutics, London W12 7FP, U.K.
- Research
Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, U.K.
| | | | - Alastair Hotblack
- Research
Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, U.K.
| | | | - Anna Bulek
- Autolus
Therapeutics, London W12 7FP, U.K.
| | | | - Tudor Ilca
- Autolus
Therapeutics, London W12 7FP, U.K.
| | | | | | | | - Ian Scott
- Autolus
Therapeutics, London W12 7FP, U.K.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Martin Pule
- Autolus
Therapeutics, London W12 7FP, U.K.
- Research
Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, U.K.
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17
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Chen X, Sandrine IK, Yang M, Tu J, Yuan X. MUC1 and MUC16: critical for immune modulation in cancer therapeutics. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1356913. [PMID: 38361923 PMCID: PMC10867145 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1356913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The Mucin (MUC) family, a range of highly glycosylated macromolecules, is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian epithelial cells. Such molecules are pivotal in establishing protective mucosal barriers, serving as defenses against pathogenic assaults. Intriguingly, the aberrant expression of specific MUC proteins, notably Mucin 1 (MUC1) and Mucin 16 (MUC16), within tumor cells, is intimately associated with oncogenesis, proliferation, and metastasis. This association involves various mechanisms, including cellular proliferation, viability, apoptosis resistance, chemotherapeutic resilience, metabolic shifts, and immune surveillance evasion. Due to their distinctive biological roles and structural features in oncology, MUC proteins have attracted considerable attention as prospective targets and biomarkers in cancer therapy. The current review offers an exhaustive exploration of the roles of MUC1 and MUC16 in the context of cancer biomarkers, elucidating their critical contributions to the mechanisms of cellular signal transduction, regulation of immune responses, and the modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the article evaluates the latest advances in therapeutic strategies targeting these mucins, focusing on innovations in immunotherapies and targeted drugs, aiming to enhance customization and accuracy in cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jingyao Tu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xianglin Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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18
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Majumder A. Evolving CAR-T-Cell Therapy for Cancer Treatment: From Scientific Discovery to Cures. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:39. [PMID: 38201467 PMCID: PMC10777914 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010039] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy has emerged as the most promising immunotherapy for cancer that typically uses patients' T cells and genetically engineered them to target cancer cells. Although recent improvements in CAR-T-cell therapy have shown remarkable success for treating hematological malignancies, the heterogeneity in tumor antigens and the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME) limits its efficacy in solid tumors. Despite the enormous efforts that have been made to make CAR-T-cell therapy more effective and have minimal side effects for treating hematological malignancies, more research needs to be conducted regarding its use in the clinic for treating various other types of cancer. The main concern for CAR-T-cell therapy is severe toxicities due to the cytokine release syndrome, whereas the other challenges are associated with complexity and immune-suppressing TME, tumor antigen heterogeneity, the difficulty of cell trafficking, CAR-T-cell exhaustion, and reduced cytotoxicity in the tumor site. This review discussed the latest discoveries in CAR-T-cell therapy strategies and combination therapies, as well as their effectiveness in different cancers. It also encompasses ongoing clinical trials; current challenges regarding the therapeutic use of CAR-T-cell therapy, especially for solid tumors; and evolving treatment strategies to improve the therapeutic application of CAR-T-cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avisek Majumder
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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19
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Blanc-Durand F, Clemence Wei Xian L, Tan DSP. Targeting the immune microenvironment for ovarian cancer therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1328651. [PMID: 38164130 PMCID: PMC10757966 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1328651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by a complex immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a breakthrough in cancer therapy by reactivating the antitumor immune response suppressed by tumor cells. However, in the case of OC, these inhibitors have failed to demonstrate significant improvements in patient outcomes, and existing biomarkers have not yet identified promising subgroups. Consequently, there remains a pressing need to understand the interplay between OC tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment to develop effective immunotherapeutic approaches. This review aims to provide an overview of the OC TME and explore its potential as a therapeutic strategy. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are major actors in OC TME. Evidence has been accumulating regarding the spontaneous TILS response against OC antigens. Activated T-helpers secrete a wide range of inflammatory cytokines with a supportive action on cytotoxic T-cells. Simultaneously, mature B-cells are recruited and play a significant antitumor role through opsonization of target antigens and T-cell recruitment. Macrophages also form an important subset of innate immunity (M1-macrophages) while participating in the immune-stimulation context. Finally, OC has shown to engage a significant natural-killer-cells immune response, exerting direct cytotoxicity without prior sensitization. Despite this initial cytotoxicity, OC cells develop various strategies to induce an immune-tolerant state. To this end, multiple immunosuppressive molecules are secreted to impair cytotoxic cells, recruit regulatory cells, alter antigen presentation, and effectively evade immune response. Consequently, OC TME is predominantly infiltrated by immunosuppressive cells such as FOXP3+ regulatory T-cells, M2-polarized macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Despite this strong immunosuppressive state, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have failed to improve outcomes. Beyond PD-1/PD-L1, OC expresses multiple other immune checkpoints that contribute to immune evasion, and each representing potential immune targets. Novel immunotherapies are attempting to overcome the immunosuppressive state and induce specific immune responses using antibodies adoptive cell therapy or vaccines. Overall, the OC TME presents both opportunities and obstacles. Immunotherapeutic approaches continue to show promise, and next-generation inhibitors offer exciting opportunities. However, tailoring therapies to individual immune characteristics will be critical for the success of these treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Blanc-Durand
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Cancer Science Institute (CSI), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lai Clemence Wei Xian
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Cancer Science Institute (CSI), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, Singapore
| | - David S. P. Tan
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR) and Cancer Science Institute (CSI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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20
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Pawlowski KD, Duffy JT, Gottschalk S, Balyasnikova IV. Cytokine Modification of Adoptive Chimeric Antigen Receptor Immunotherapy for Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5852. [PMID: 38136398 PMCID: PMC10741789 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell-based therapies have demonstrated limited success in solid tumors, including glioblastoma (GBM). GBMs exhibit high heterogeneity and create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition, other challenges exist for CAR therapy, including trafficking and infiltration into the tumor site, proliferation, persistence of CARs once in the tumor, and reduced functionality, such as suboptimal cytokine production. Cytokine modification is of interest, as one can enhance therapy efficacy and minimize off-target toxicity by directly combining CAR therapy with cytokines, antibodies, or oncolytic viruses that alter cytokine response pathways. Alternatively, one can genetically modify CAR T-cells or CAR NK-cells to secrete cytokines or express cytokines or cytokine receptors. Finally, CARs can be genetically altered to augment or suppress intracellular cytokine signaling pathways for a more direct approach. Codelivery of cytokines with CARs is the most straightforward method, but it has associated toxicity. Alternatively, combining CAR therapy with antibodies (e.g., anti-IL-6, anti-PD1, and anti-VEGF) or oncolytic viruses has enhanced CAR cell infiltration into GBM tumors and provided proinflammatory signals to the TME. CAR T- or NK-cells secreting cytokines (e.g., IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18) have shown improved efficacy within multiple GBM subtypes. Likewise, expressing cytokine-modulating receptors in CAR cells that promote or inhibit cytokine signaling has enhanced their activity. Finally, gene editing approaches are actively being pursued to directly influence immune signaling pathways in CAR cells. In this review, we summarize these cytokine modification methods and highlight any existing gaps in the hope of catalyzing an improved generation of CAR-based therapies for glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen D. Pawlowski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA;
| | - Joseph T. Duffy
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60208, USA;
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60208, USA
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA;
| | - Irina V. Balyasnikova
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60208, USA;
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60208, USA
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21
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Nasiri F, Farrokhi K, Safarzadeh Kozani P, Mahboubi Kancha M, Dashti Shokoohi S, Safarzadeh Kozani P. CAR-T cell immunotherapy for ovarian cancer: hushing the silent killer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1302307. [PMID: 38146364 PMCID: PMC10749368 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1302307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
As the most lethal gynecologic oncological indication, carcinoma of the ovary has been ranked as the 5th cause of cancer-related mortality in women, with a high percentage of the patients being diagnosed at late stages of the disease and a five-year survival of ~ 30%. Ovarian cancer patients conventionally undergo surgery for tumor removal followed by platinum- or taxane-based chemotherapy; however, a high percentage of patients experience tumor relapse. Cancer immunotherapy has been regarded as a silver lining in the treatment of patients with various immunological or oncological indications; however, mirvetuximab soravtansine (a folate receptor α-specific mAb) and bevacizumab (a VEGF-A-specific mAb) are the only immunotherapeutics approved for the treatment of ovarian cancer patients. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has achieved tremendous clinical success in the treatment of patients with certain B-cell lymphomas and leukemias, as well as multiple myeloma. In the context of solid tumors, CAR-T therapies face serious obstacles that limit their therapeutic benefit. Such hindrances include the immunosuppressive nature of solid tumors, impaired tumor infiltration, lack of qualified tumor-associated antigens, and compromised stimulation and persistence of CAR-Ts following administration. Over the past years, researchers have made arduous attempts to apply CAR-T therapy to ovarian cancer. In this review, we outline the principles of CAR-T therapy and then highlight its limitations in the context of solid tumors. Ultimately, we focus on preclinical and clinical findings achieved in CAR-T-mediated targeting of different ovarian cancer-associated target antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Nasiri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Khadijeh Farrokhi
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
| | - Pouya Safarzadeh Kozani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maral Mahboubi Kancha
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Setareh Dashti Shokoohi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pooria Safarzadeh Kozani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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22
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Guerra C, Kalaitsidou M, Kueberuwa G, Hawkins R, Edmondson R. Engineering strategies to optimise adoptive cell therapy in ovarian cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 121:102632. [PMID: 37837788 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102632] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is amongst the ten most common cancer types in women, and it is one of the leading causes of death. Despite the promising results of targeted therapies, including anti-angiogenic agents and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), the majority of patients will relapse and develop treatment resistance, implying that novel therapeutic strategies are required. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) refers to the process by which autologous immune cells are used to eliminate cancer. Examples include tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), T cells genetically engineered with T cell receptors (TCR), or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells. Recently, ACT has revealed promising results in the treatment of haematological malignancies, however, its application to solid tumours is still limited due to lack of functionality and persistence of T cells, prevalence of an exhausted phenotype and impaired trafficking towards the tumour microenvironment (TME). In this review we explore the potential of ACT for the treatment of ovarian cancer and strategies to overcome its principal limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Guerra
- InstilBio UK, 48 Grafton St, Manchester M13 9XX, Manchester, United Kingdom; School of Medical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Milena Kalaitsidou
- InstilBio UK, 48 Grafton St, Manchester M13 9XX, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Gray Kueberuwa
- InstilBio UK, 48 Grafton St, Manchester M13 9XX, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Robert Hawkins
- InstilBio UK, 48 Grafton St, Manchester M13 9XX, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Richard Edmondson
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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Sayadmanesh A, Yekehfallah V, Valizadeh A, Abedelahi A, Shafaei H, Shanehbandi D, Basiri M, Baradaran B. Strategies for modifying the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to improve safety and reduce toxicity in CAR T cell therapy for cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111093. [PMID: 37897950 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111093] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Immune cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, which has shown promising efficacy in patients with some hematologic malignancies, has introduced several successfully approved CAR T cell therapy products. Nevertheless, despite significant advances, treatment with these products has major challenges regarding potential toxicity and sometimes fatal adverse effects for patients. These toxicities can result from cytokine release or on-target off-tumor toxicity that targets healthy host tissue following CAR T cell therapy. The present study focuses on the unexpected side effects of targeting normal host tissues with off-target toxicity. Also, recent safety strategies such as replacing or adding different components to CARs and redesigning CAR structures to eliminate the toxic impact of CAR T cells, including T cell antigen coupler (TAC), switch molecules, suicide genes, and humanized monoclonal antibodies in the design of CARs, are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Sayadmanesh
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Technology Development Center (ATMP-TDC), Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Yekehfallah
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amir Valizadeh
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Abedelahi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hajar Shafaei
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Dariush Shanehbandi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Basiri
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Technology Development Center (ATMP-TDC), Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Ruella M, Korell F, Porazzi P, Maus MV. Mechanisms of resistance to chimeric antigen receptor-T cells in haematological malignancies. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:976-995. [PMID: 37907724 PMCID: PMC10965011 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00807-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells have recently emerged as a powerful therapeutic approach for the treatment of patients with chemotherapy-refractory or relapsed blood cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Nevertheless, resistance to CAR-T cell therapies occurs in most patients. In this Review, we summarize the resistance mechanisms to CAR-T cell immunotherapy by analysing CAR-T cell dysfunction, intrinsic tumour resistance and the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. We discuss current research strategies to overcome multiple resistance mechanisms, including optimization of the CAR design, improvement of in vivo T cell function and persistence, modulation of the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and synergistic combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Ruella
- Division of Hematology and Oncology and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Felix Korell
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrizia Porazzi
- Division of Hematology and Oncology and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marcela V Maus
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Vu SH, Pham HH, Pham TTP, Le TT, Vo MC, Jung SH, Lee JJ, Nguyen XH. Adoptive NK Cell Therapy - a Beacon of Hope in Multiple Myeloma Treatment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1275076. [PMID: 38023191 PMCID: PMC10656693 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1275076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Major advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) have been achieved by effective new agents such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, or monoclonal antibodies. Despite significant progress, MM remains still incurable and, recently, cellular immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for relapsed/refractory MM. The emergence of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology has transformed immunotherapy by enhancing the antitumor functions of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, leading to effective control of hematologic malignancies. Recent advancements in gene delivery to NK cells have paved the way for the clinical application of CAR-NK cell therapy. CAR-NK cell therapy strategies have demonstrated safety, tolerability, and substantial efficacy in treating B cell malignancies in various clinical settings. However, their effectiveness in eliminating MM remains to be established. This review explores multiple approaches to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity, persistence, expansion, and manufacturing processes, and highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with CAR-NK cell therapy against MM. By shedding light on these aspects, this review aims to provide valuable insights into the potential of CAR-NK cell therapy as a promising approach for improving the treatment outcomes of MM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Son Hai Vu
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Ha Hong Pham
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thao Thi Phuong Pham
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thanh Thien Le
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Manh-Cuong Vo
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hoon Jung
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Jung Lee
- Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea
| | - Xuan-Hung Nguyen
- Hi-Tech Center and Vinmec-VinUni Institute of Immunology, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam
- College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam
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26
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Bailey SR, Berger TR, Graham C, Larson RC, Maus MV. Four challenges to CAR T cells breaking the glass ceiling. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2250039. [PMID: 36585889 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202250039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies using chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T) have had dramatic efficacy in the clinic and can even mediate curative responses in patients with hematologic malignancies. As living drugs, engineered cells can still be detected in some patients even years after the original infusion. The excitement around the cell therapy field continues to expand as recent reports have shown that CAR T cells can induce remission in patients with autoimmune disease. While these promising advances in the field garner hope for wide-spread utility of CAR T therapies across diseases, several roadblocks exist that currently limit the access and efficacy of this therapy in the clinic. Herein, we will discuss four major obstacles that the CAR T field faces, including toxicity, identifying tumor-specific antigens, improving function in solid tumors, and reducing manufacturing complexity and cost. CAR T cells have potential for a multitude of diseases, but these glass ceilings will need to be broken in order to improve clinical responses and make this potentially life-saving therapy accessible to a larger patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie R Bailey
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Trisha R Berger
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charlotte Graham
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca C Larson
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marcela V Maus
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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27
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Huldani H, Abdul-Jabbar Ali S, Al-Dolaimy F, Hjazi A, Denis Andreevich N, Oudaha KH, Almulla AF, Alsaalamy A, Kareem Oudah S, Mustafa YF. The potential role of interleukins and interferons in ovarian cancer. Cytokine 2023; 171:156379. [PMID: 37757536 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156379] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer poses significant challenges and remains a highly lethal disease with limited treatment options. In the context of ovarian cancer, interleukins (ILs) and interferons (IFNs), important cytokines that play crucial roles in regulating the immune system, have emerged as significant factors influencing its development. This article provides a comprehensive review of the involvement of various ILs, including those from the IL-1 family, IL-2 family, IL-6 family, IL-8 family, IL-10 family, and IL-17 family, in ovarian cancer. The focus is on their impact on tumor growth, metastasis, and their role in evading immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the article conducts an in-depth examination of the oncogenic or antitumor roles of each IL in the context of ovarian cancer pathogenesis and progression. Besides, we elucidated the enhancements in the treatment of ovarian cancer through the utilization of type-I IFN and type-II IFN. Recent research has shed light on the intricate mechanisms through which specific ILs and IFNs contribute to the advancement of the disease. By incorporating recent findings, this review also seeks to inspire further investigations into unexplored mechanisms, fostering ongoing research to develop more effective therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer. Moreover, through an in-depth analysis of IL- and IFN-associated clinical trials, we have highlighted their promising potential of in the treatment of ovarian cancer. These clinical trials serve to reinforce the significant outlook for utilizing ILs and IFNs as therapeutic agents in combating this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huldani Huldani
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia
| | | | | | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Khulood H Oudaha
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq
| | - Abbas F Almulla
- College of Technical Engineering, the Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq; College of Technical Engineering, the Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Iraq; College of Technical Engineering, the Islamic University of Babylon, Iraq
| | - Ali Alsaalamy
- College of Technical Engineering, Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University, Al-Muthanna 66002, Iraq
| | - Shamam Kareem Oudah
- College of Pharmacy, National University of Science and Technology, Dhi Qar, Iraq
| | - Yasser Fakri Mustafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul 41001, Iraq
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28
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Mun SS, Meyerberg J, Peraro L, Korontsvit T, Gardner T, Malviya M, Kyi C, O'Cearbhaill RE, Liu C, Dao T, Scheinberg DA. Dual targeting ovarian cancer by Muc16 CAR T cells secreting a bispecific T cell engager antibody for an intracellular tumor antigen WT1. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:3773-3786. [PMID: 37635172 PMCID: PMC10991175 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03529-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal of gynecological cancers. The therapeutic efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell directed against single antigens is limited by the heterogeneous target antigen expression in epithelial ovarian tumors. To overcome this limitation, we describe an engineered cell with both dual targeting and orthogonal cytotoxic modalities directed against two tumor antigens that are highly expressed on ovarian cancer cells: cell surface Muc16 and intracellular WT1. Muc16-specific CAR T cells (4H11) were engineered to secrete a bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) constructed from a TCR mimic antibody (ESK1) reactive with the WT1-derived epitope RMFPNAPYL (RMF) presented by HLA-A2 molecules. The secreted ESK1 BiTE recruited and redirected other T cells to WT1 on the tumor cells. We show that ESK1 BiTE-secreting 4H11 CAR T cells exhibited enhanced anticancer activity against cancer cells with low Muc16 expression, compared to 4H11 CAR T cells alone, both in vitro and in mouse tumor models. Dual orthogonal cytotoxic modalities with different specificities targeting both surface and intracellular tumor-associated antigens present a promising strategy to overcome resistance to CAR T cell therapy in epithelial ovarian cancer and other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Soo Mun
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jeremy Meyerberg
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Leila Peraro
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Tatyana Korontsvit
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Thomas Gardner
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Manish Malviya
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Chrisann Kyi
- Gynecologic Medical Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roisin E O'Cearbhaill
- Gynecologic Medical Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cheng Liu
- Eureka Therapeutics, Inc., Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Tao Dao
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - David A Scheinberg
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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29
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Yang LR, Li L, Meng MY, Li TT, Zhao YY, Yang SL, Gao H, Tang WW, Yang Y, Yang LL, Wang WJ, Liao LW, Hou ZL. IL-7 promotes CD19-directed CAR-T cells proliferation through miRNA-98-5p by targeting CDKN1A. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 124:110974. [PMID: 37757633 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
CAR-T targeting CD19 have achieved significant effects in the treatment of B-line leukemia and lymphoma. However, the treated patients frequently relapsed and could not achieve complete remission. Therefore, improving the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CAR-T cells, reducing exhaustion and enhancing infiltration capacity are still issues to be solved. The IL-7 has been shown to enhance the memory characteristics of CAR-T cells, but the specific mechanism has yet to be elaborated. miRNAs play an important role in T cell activity. However, whether miRNA is involved in the activation of CAR-T cells by IL-7 has not yet been reported. Our previous study had established the 3rd generation CAR-T cells. The present study further found that IL-7 significantly increased the proliferation of anti-CD19 CAR-T cells, the ratio of CD4 + CAR + cells and the S phase of cell cycle. In vivo study NAMALWA xenograft model showed that IL-7-stimulated CAR-T cells possessed stronger tumoricidal efficiency. Further we validated that IL-7 induced CAR-T cells had low expression of CDKN1A and high expression of miRNA-98-5p. Additionally, CDKN1A was associated with miRNA-98-5p. Our results, for the first time, suggested IL-7 could conspicuously enhance the proliferation of CAR-T cells through miRNA-98-5p targeting CDKN1A expression, which should be applied to CAR-T production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Rong Yang
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Department of Oncology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Li
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Yunnan Cell Biology and Clinical Translation Research Center, China
| | - Ming-Yao Meng
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Yunnan Cell Biology and Clinical Translation Research Center, China
| | - Tian-Tian Li
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Yi-Yi Zhao
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Yunnan Cell Biology and Clinical Translation Research Center, China
| | - Song-Lin Yang
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Hui Gao
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Yunnan Cell Biology and Clinical Translation Research Center, China
| | - Wei-Wei Tang
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Yunnan Cell Biology and Clinical Translation Research Center, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Li-Li Yang
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Wen-Ju Wang
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Yunnan Cell Biology and Clinical Translation Research Center, China
| | - Li-Wei Liao
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Yunnan Cell Biology and Clinical Translation Research Center, China.
| | - Zong-Liu Hou
- Central Laboratory of Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunological Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan Province, China; Yunnan Cell Biology and Clinical Translation Research Center, China.
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30
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Uscanga-Palomeque AC, Chávez-Escamilla AK, Alvizo-Báez CA, Saavedra-Alonso S, Terrazas-Armendáriz LD, Tamez-Guerra RS, Rodríguez-Padilla C, Alcocer-González JM. CAR-T Cell Therapy: From the Shop to Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15688. [PMID: 37958672 PMCID: PMC10649325 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a worldwide health problem. Nevertheless, new technologies in the immunotherapy field have emerged. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology is a novel biological form to treat cancer; CAR-T cell genetic engineering has positively revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. In this paper, we review the latest developments in CAR-T in cancer treatment. We present the structure of the different generations and variants of CAR-T cells including TRUCK (T cells redirected for universal cytokine killing. We explain the approaches of the CAR-T cells manufactured ex vivo and in vivo. Moreover, we describe the limitations and areas of opportunity for this immunotherapy and the current challenges of treating hematological and solid cancer using CAR-T technology as well as its constraints and engineering approaches. We summarize other immune cells that have been using CAR technology, such as natural killer (NK), macrophages (M), and dendritic cells (DC). We conclude that CAR-T cells have the potential to treat not only cancer but other chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashanti Concepción Uscanga-Palomeque
- Laboratorio de Inmunología y Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 66450, Nuevo León, Mexico; (A.K.C.-E.); (C.A.A.-B.); (S.S.-A.); (L.D.T.-A.); (R.S.T.-G.); (C.R.-P.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Juan Manuel Alcocer-González
- Laboratorio de Inmunología y Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza 66450, Nuevo León, Mexico; (A.K.C.-E.); (C.A.A.-B.); (S.S.-A.); (L.D.T.-A.); (R.S.T.-G.); (C.R.-P.)
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31
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Gardam B, Gargett T, Brown MP, Ebert LM. Targeting the dendritic cell-T cell axis to develop effective immunotherapies for glioblastoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1261257. [PMID: 37928547 PMCID: PMC10623138 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1261257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is an aggressive primary brain tumor that has seen few advances in treatments for over 20 years. In response to this desperate clinical need, multiple immunotherapy strategies are under development, including CAR-T cells, immune checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic viruses and dendritic cell vaccines, although these approaches are yet to yield significant clinical benefit. Potential reasons for the lack of success so far include the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, the blood-brain barrier, and systemic changes to the immune system driven by both the tumor and its treatment. Furthermore, while T cells are essential effector cells for tumor control, dendritic cells play an equally important role in T cell activation, and emerging evidence suggests the dendritic cell compartment may be deeply compromised in glioblastoma patients. In this review, we describe the immunotherapy approaches currently under development for glioblastoma and the challenges faced, with a particular emphasis on the critical role of the dendritic cell-T cell axis. We suggest a number of strategies that could be used to boost dendritic cell number and function and propose that the use of these in combination with T cell-targeting strategies could lead to successful tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Gardam
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and South Australia (SA) Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Tessa Gargett
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and South Australia (SA) Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Michael P. Brown
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and South Australia (SA) Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Lisa M. Ebert
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and South Australia (SA) Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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32
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Tassi E, Bergamini A, Wignall J, Sant’Angelo M, Brunetto E, Balestrieri C, Redegalli M, Potenza A, Abbati D, Manfredi F, Cangi MG, Magliacane G, Scalisi F, Ruggiero E, Maffia MC, Trippitelli F, Rabaiotti E, Cioffi R, Bocciolone L, Candotti G, Candiani M, Taccagni G, Schultes B, Doglioni C, Mangili G, Bonini C. Epithelial ovarian cancer is infiltrated by activated effector T cells co-expressing CD39, PD-1, TIM-3, CD137 and interacting with cancer cells and myeloid cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1212444. [PMID: 37868997 PMCID: PMC10585363 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1212444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite predicted efficacy, immunotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has limited clinical benefit and the prognosis of patients remains poor. There is thus a strong need for better identifying local immune dynamics and immune-suppressive pathways limiting T-cell mediated anti-tumor immunity. Methods In this observational study we analyzed by immunohistochemistry, gene expression profiling and flow cytometry the antigenic landscape and immune composition of 48 EOC specimens, with a focus on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Results Activated T cells showing features of partial exhaustion with a CD137+CD39+PD-1+TIM-3+CD45RA-CD62L-CD95+ surface profile were exclusively present in EOC specimens but not in corresponding peripheral blood or ascitic fluid, indicating that the tumor microenvironment might sustain this peculiar phenotype. Interestingly, while neoplastic cells expressed several tumor-associated antigens possibly able to stimulate tumor-specific TILs, macrophages provided both co-stimulatory and inhibitory signals and were more abundant in TILs-enriched specimens harboring the CD137+CD39+PD-1+TIM-3+CD45RA-CD62L-CD95+ signature. Conclusion These data demonstrate that EOC is enriched in CD137+CD39+PD-1+TIM-3+CD45RA-CD62L-CD95+ T lymphocytes, a phenotype possibly modulated by antigen recognition on neoplastic cells and by a combination of inhibitory and co-stimulatory signals largely provided by infiltrating myeloid cells. Furthermore, we have identified immunosuppressive pathways potentially hampering local immunity which might be targeted by immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tassi
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Cell Therapy Immunomonitoring Laboratory (MITiCi), Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Bergamini
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Jessica Wignall
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Miriam Sant’Angelo
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Brunetto
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Balestrieri
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Miriam Redegalli
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Potenza
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Danilo Abbati
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Manfredi
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Cangi
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Gilda Magliacane
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabiola Scalisi
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Eliana Ruggiero
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Maffia
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Trippitelli
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Emanuela Rabaiotti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Cioffi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Bocciolone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Candotti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Candiani
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Taccagni
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Doglioni
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Mangili
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonini
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Cell Therapy Immunomonitoring Laboratory (MITiCi), Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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33
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Lahimchi MR, Maroufi F, Maali A. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells: The Intersection of Stem Cells and Immunotherapy. Cell Reprogram 2023; 25:195-211. [PMID: 37782910 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2023.0041] [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] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is a promising cell-based immunotherapy applicable to various cancers. High cost of production, immune rejection, heterogeneity of cell product, limited cell source, limited expandability, and relatively long production time have created the need to achieve a universal allogeneic CAR-T cell product for "off-the-shelf" application. Since the innovation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by Yamanaka et al., extensive efforts have been made to prepare an unlimited cell source for regenerative medicine, that is, immunotherapy. In the autologous grafting approach, iPSCs prepare the desired cell source for generating autologous CAR-T cells through more accessible and available sources. In addition, generating iPSC-derived CAR-T cells is a promising approach to achieving a suitable source for producing an allogeneic CAR-T cell product. In brief, the first step is reprogramming somatic cells (accessible from peripheral blood, skin, etc.) to iPSCs. In the next step, CAR expression and T cell lineage differentiation should be applied in different arrangements. In addition, in an allogeneic manner, human leukocyte antigen/T cell receptor (TCR) deficiency should be applied in iPSC colonies. The allogeneic iPSC-derived CAR-T cell experiments showed that simultaneous performance of HLA/TCR deficiency, CAR expression, and T cell lineage differentiation could bring the production to the highest efficacy in generating allogeneic iPSC-derived CAR-T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Faezeh Maroufi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Maali
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
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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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Zhou W, Miao J, Cheng Z, Wang Z, Wang J, Guo H, Wang P, Lu S, Si L, Zhang Z, Dunmall LC, Liu Y, Lemoine NR, Wang Y. Hypoxia-regulated secretion of IL-12 enhances antitumor activity and safety of CD19 CAR-T cells in the treatment of DLBCL. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 30:216-226. [PMID: 37663131 PMCID: PMC10471514 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.08.009] [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: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CD19 CAR-T) cell therapy has been demonstrated as one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating B cell malignancies. However, it has shown limited treatment efficacy for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This is, in part, due to the tumor heterogeneity and the hostile tumor microenvironment. Human interleukin-12 (IL-12), as a potent antitumor cytokine, has delivered encouraging outcomes in preclinical studies of DLBCL. However, potentially lethal toxicity associated with systemic administration precludes its clinical application. Here, an armed CD19 CAR expressing hypoxia-regulated IL-12 was developed (CAR19/hIL12ODD). In this vector, IL-12 secretion was restricted to hypoxic microenvironments within the tumor site by fusion of IL-12 with the oxygen degradation domain (ODD) of HIF1α. In vitro, CAR19/hIL12ODD-T cells could only secrete bioactive IL-12 under hypoxic conditions, accompanied by enhanced proliferation, robust IFN-γ secretion, increased abundance of CD4+, and central memory T cell phenotype. In vivo, adoptive transfer of CAR19/hIL12ODD-T cells significantly enhanced regression of large, established DLBCL xenografts in a novel immunodeficient Syrian hamster model. Notably, this targeted and controlled IL-12 treatment was without toxicity in this model. Taken together, our results suggest that armed CD19 CARs with hypoxia-controlled IL-12 (CAR19/hIL12ODD) might be a promising and safer approach for treating DLBCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenping Zhou
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Jinxin Miao
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 45006, China
| | - Zhenguo Cheng
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Zhimin Wang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Jianyao Wang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Haoran Guo
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Pengju Wang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Shuangshuang Lu
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Lingling Si
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Zhongxian Zhang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Louisa Chard Dunmall
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ London, UK
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Nicholas R. Lemoine
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ London, UK
| | - Yaohe Wang
- Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, EC1M 6BQ London, UK
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Bourne CM, Wallisch P, Dacek MM, Gardner TJ, Pierre S, Vogt K, Corless BC, Bah MA, Romero-Pichardo JE, Charles A, Kurtz KG, Tan DS, Scheinberg DA. Host Interactions with Engineered T-cell Micropharmacies. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:1253-1265. [PMID: 37379366 PMCID: PMC10472090 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Genetically engineered, cytotoxic, adoptively transferred T cells localize to antigen-positive cancer cells inside patients, but tumor heterogeneity and multiple immune escape mechanisms have prevented the eradication of most solid tumor types. More effective, multifunctional engineered T cells are in development to overcome the barriers to the treatment of solid tumors, but the interactions of these highly modified cells with the host are poorly understood. We previously engineered prodrug-activating enzymatic functions into chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, endowing them with a killing mechanism orthogonal to conventional T-cell cytotoxicity. These drug-delivering cells, termed Synthetic Enzyme-Armed KillER (SEAKER) cells, demonstrated efficacy in mouse lymphoma xenograft models. However, the interactions of an immunocompromised xenograft with such complex engineered T cells are distinct from those in an immunocompetent host, precluding an understanding of how these physiologic processes may affect the therapy. Herein, we expanded the repertoire of SEAKER cells to target solid-tumor melanomas in syngeneic mouse models using specific targeting with T-cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells. We demonstrate that SEAKER cells localized specifically to tumors, and activated bioactive prodrugs, despite host immune responses. We additionally show that TCR-engineered SEAKER cells were efficacious in immunocompetent hosts, demonstrating that the SEAKER platform is applicable to many adoptive cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Bourne
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Patrick Wallisch
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Megan M. Dacek
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Thomas J. Gardner
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Stephanie Pierre
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Kristen Vogt
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Broderick C. Corless
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Mamadou A. Bah
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jesus E. Romero-Pichardo
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Angel Charles
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Keifer G. Kurtz
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Derek S. Tan
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Chemical Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - David A. Scheinberg
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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37
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Zhang P, Zhang G, Wan X. Challenges and new technologies in adoptive cell therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:97. [PMID: 37596653 PMCID: PMC10439661 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01492-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapies (ACTs) have existed for decades. From the initial infusion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to the subsequent specific enhanced T cell receptor (TCR)-T and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies, many novel strategies for cancer treatment have been developed. Owing to its promising outcomes, CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized the field of ACTs, particularly for hematologic malignancies. Despite these advances, CAR-T cell therapy still has limitations in both autologous and allogeneic settings, including practicality and toxicity issues. To overcome these challenges, researchers have focused on the application of CAR engineering technology to other types of immune cell engineering. Consequently, several new cell therapies based on CAR technology have been developed, including CAR-NK, CAR-macrophage, CAR-γδT, and CAR-NKT. In this review, we describe the development, advantages, and possible challenges of the aforementioned ACTs and discuss current strategies aimed at maximizing the therapeutic potential of ACTs. We also provide an overview of the various gene transduction strategies employed in immunotherapy given their importance in immune cell engineering. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility that strategies capable of creating a positive feedback immune circuit, as healthy immune systems do, could address the flaw of a single type of ACT, and thus serve as key players in future cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengchao Zhang
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Guizhong Zhang
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaochun Wan
- Center for Protein and Cell-based Drugs, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
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38
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Lee EHJ, Murad JP, Christian L, Gibson J, Yamaguchi Y, Cullen C, Gumber D, Park AK, Young C, Monroy I, Yang J, Stern LA, Adkins LN, Dhapola G, Gittins B, Chang WC, Martinez C, Woo Y, Cristea M, Rodriguez-Rodriguez L, Ishihara J, Lee JK, Forman SJ, Wang LD, Priceman SJ. Antigen-dependent IL-12 signaling in CAR T cells promotes regional to systemic disease targeting. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4737. [PMID: 37550294 PMCID: PMC10406808 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40115-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapeutic responses are hampered by limited T cell trafficking, persistence, and durable anti-tumor activity in solid tumors. However, these challenges can be largely overcome by relatively unconstrained synthetic engineering strategies. Here, we describe CAR T cells targeting tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG72), utilizing the CD28 transmembrane domain upstream of the 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain as a driver of potent anti-tumor activity and IFNγ secretion. CAR T cell-mediated IFNγ production facilitated by IL-12 signaling is required for tumor cell killing, which is recapitulated by engineering an optimized membrane-bound IL-12 (mbIL12) molecule in CAR T cells. These T cells show improved antigen-dependent T cell proliferation and recursive tumor cell killing in vitro, with robust in vivo efficacy in human ovarian cancer xenograft models. Locoregional administration of mbIL12-engineered CAR T cells promotes durable anti-tumor responses against both regional and systemic disease in mice. Safety and efficacy of mbIL12-engineered CAR T cells is demonstrated using an immunocompetent mouse model, with beneficial effects on the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Collectively, our study features a clinically-applicable strategy to improve the efficacy of locoregionally-delivered CAR T cells engineered with antigen-dependent immune-modulating cytokines in targeting regional and systemic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Hee Jun Lee
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - John P Murad
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Lea Christian
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Jackson Gibson
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Yukiko Yamaguchi
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Cody Cullen
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Diana Gumber
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Anthony K Park
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Cari Young
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Isabel Monroy
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Jason Yang
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Lawrence A Stern
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Lauren N Adkins
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Gaurav Dhapola
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Brenna Gittins
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Wen-Chung Chang
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Catalina Martinez
- Department of Clinical and Translational Project Development, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Yanghee Woo
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Mihaela Cristea
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | | | - Jun Ishihara
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, 86 Wood Lane, London, W120BZ, UK
| | - John K Lee
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, 98019, USA
| | - Stephen J Forman
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Leo D Wang
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Saul J Priceman
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
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Meringa AD, Hernández-López P, Cleven A, de Witte M, Straetemans T, Kuball J, Beringer DX, Sebestyen Z. Strategies to improve γδTCRs engineered T-cell therapies for the treatment of solid malignancies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1159337. [PMID: 37441064 PMCID: PMC10333927 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1159337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A. D. Meringa
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - P. Hernández-López
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - A. Cleven
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - M. de Witte
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - T. Straetemans
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - J. Kuball
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - D. X. Beringer
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Z. Sebestyen
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Shin MH, Oh E, Kim Y, Nam DH, Jeon SY, Yu JH, Minn D. Recent Advances in CAR-Based Solid Tumor Immunotherapy. Cells 2023; 12:1606. [PMID: 37371075 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology is one of the most advanced engineering platforms for cancer immunotherapy. CAR-T cells have shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, their limitations in solid tumors include an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), insufficient tumor infiltration, toxicity, and the absence of tumor-specific antigens. Although recent advances in CAR-T cell design-such as the incorporation of co-stimulatory domains and the development of armored CAR-T cells-have shown promising results in treating solid tumors, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. To overcome these limitations, other immune cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages (M), have been developed as attractive options for efficient cancer immunotherapy of solid tumors. CAR-NK cells exhibit substantial clinical improvements with "off-the-shelf" availability and low toxicity. CAR-M cells have promising therapeutic potential because macrophages can infiltrate the TME of solid tumors. Here, we review the recent advances and future perspectives associated with engineered immune cell-based cancer immunotherapies for solid tumors. We also summarize ongoing clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of engineered immune cells, such as CAR-T, CAR-NK, and CAR-M, for targeting solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hwa Shin
- Immune Research Institute, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunha Oh
- Immune Research Institute, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunjeong Kim
- Immune Research Institute, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Hwan Nam
- Immune Research Institute, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Republic of Korea
| | - So Young Jeon
- Immune Research Institute, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hyuk Yu
- Immune Research Institute, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Republic of Korea
| | - Dohsik Minn
- Immune Research Institute, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Republic of Korea
- Department of Diagnostic Immunology, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Republic of Korea
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McGray AJR, Chiello JL, Tsuji T, Long M, Maraszek K, Gaulin N, Rosario SR, Hess SM, Abrams SI, Kozbor D, Odunsi K, Zsiros E. BiTE secretion by adoptively transferred stem-like T cells improves FRα+ ovarian cancer control. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006863. [PMID: 37647218 PMCID: PMC10314690 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-006863] [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] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer immunotherapies can produce complete therapeutic responses, however, outcomes in ovarian cancer (OC) are modest. While adoptive T-cell transfer (ACT) has been evaluated in OC, durable effects are rare. Poor therapeutic efficacy is likely multifactorial, stemming from limited antigen recognition, insufficient tumor targeting due to a suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), and limited intratumoral accumulation/persistence of infused T cells. Importantly, host T cells infiltrate tumors, and ACT approaches that leverage endogenous tumor-infiltrating T cells for antitumor immunity could effectively magnify therapeutic responses. METHODS Using retroviral transduction, we have generated T cells that secrete a folate receptor alpha (FRα)-directed bispecific T-cell engager (FR-B T cells), a tumor antigen commonly overexpressed in OC and other tumor types. The antitumor activity and therapeutic efficacy of FR-B T cells was assessed using FRα+ cancer cell lines, OC patient samples, and preclinical tumor models with accompanying mechanistic studies. Different cytokine stimulation of T cells (interleukin (IL)-2+IL-7 vs IL-2+IL-15) during FR-B T cell production and the resulting impact on therapeutic outcome following ACT was also assessed. RESULTS FR-B T cells efficiently lysed FRα+ cell lines, targeted FRα+ OC patient tumor cells, and were found to engage and activate patient T cells present in the TME through secretion of T cell engagers. Additionally, FR-B T cell therapy was effective in an immunocompetent in vivo OC model, with response duration dependent on both endogenous T cells and FR-B T cell persistence. IL-2/IL-15 preconditioning prior to ACT produced less differentiated FR-B T cells and enhanced therapeutic efficacy, with mechanistic studies revealing preferential accumulation of TCF-1+CD39-CD69- stem-like CD8+ FR B T cells in the peritoneal cavity over solid tumors. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of FR-B T cells in OC and suggest FR-B T cells can persist in extratumoral spaces while actively directing antitumor immunity. As the therapeutic activity of infused T cell therapies in solid tumor indications is often limited by poor intratumoral accumulation of transferred T cells, engager-secreting T cells that can effectively leverage endogenous immunity may have distinct mechanistic advantages for enhancing therapeutic responses rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Robert McGray
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jessie L Chiello
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Takemasa Tsuji
- Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
- University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mark Long
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Kathryn Maraszek
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Nicole Gaulin
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Spencer R Rosario
- Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Suzanne M Hess
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Scott I Abrams
- Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Danuta Kozbor
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Kunle Odunsi
- Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
- University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Emese Zsiros
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Drougkas K, Karampinos K, Karavolias I, Koumprentziotis IA, Ploumaki I, Triantafyllou E, Trontzas I, Kotteas E. Comprehensive clinical evaluation of CAR-T cell immunotherapy for solid tumors: a path moving forward or a dead end? J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:2709-2734. [PMID: 36564524 PMCID: PMC10129996 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04547-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a form of adoptive cell therapy that has demonstrated tremendous results in the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies, leading to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of four CD19-targeted CAR-T cell products. With the unprecedented success of CAR-T cell therapy in hematological malignancies, hundreds of preclinical studies and clinical trials are currently undergoing to explore the translation of this treatment to solid tumors. However, the clinical experience in non-hematologic malignancies has been less encouraging, with only a few patients achieving complete responses. Tumor-associated antigen heterogeneity, inefficient CAR-T cell trafficking and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment are considered as the most pivotal roadblocks in solid tumor CAR-T cell therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed the relevant literature/clinical trials for CAR-T cell immunotherapy for solid tumors from Pubmed and ClinicalTrials.gov. CONCLUSION Herein, we provide an update on solid tumor CAR-T cell clinical trials, focusing on the studies with published results. We further discuss some of the key hurdles that CAR-T cell therapy is encountering for solid tumor treatment as well as the strategies that are exploited to overcome these obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Drougkas
- Oncology Unit, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 152 Mesogeion Avenue, 11527, Athens, Greece.
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece.
| | - Konstantinos Karampinos
- Oncology Unit, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 152 Mesogeion Avenue, 11527, Athens, Greece
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
| | - Ioannis Karavolias
- Oncology Unit, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 152 Mesogeion Avenue, 11527, Athens, Greece
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
| | - Ioannis-Alexios Koumprentziotis
- Oncology Unit, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 152 Mesogeion Avenue, 11527, Athens, Greece
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
| | - Ioanna Ploumaki
- Oncology Unit, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 152 Mesogeion Avenue, 11527, Athens, Greece
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
| | - Efthymios Triantafyllou
- Oncology Unit, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 152 Mesogeion Avenue, 11527, Athens, Greece
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
| | - Ioannis Trontzas
- Oncology Unit, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 152 Mesogeion Avenue, 11527, Athens, Greece
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA, CT
| | - Elias Kotteas
- Oncology Unit, Sotiria General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 152 Mesogeion Avenue, 11527, Athens, Greece
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Shah D, Soper B, Shopland L. Cytokine release syndrome and cancer immunotherapies - historical challenges and promising futures. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1190379. [PMID: 37304291 PMCID: PMC10248525 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1190379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Cancer immunotherapy involves reinvigorating the patient's own immune system to fight against cancer. While novel approaches like Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells, bispecific T cell engagers, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising efficacy, Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) is a serious adverse effect and remains a major concern. CRS is a phenomenon of immune hyperactivation that results in excessive cytokine secretion, and if left unchecked, it may lead to multi-organ failure and death. Here we review the pathophysiology of CRS, its occurrence and management in the context of cancer immunotherapy, and the screening approaches that can be used to assess CRS and de-risk drug discovery earlier in the clinical setting with more predictive pre-clinical data. Furthermore, the review also sheds light on the potential immunotherapeutic approaches that can be used to overcome CRS associated with T cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deep Shah
- In vivo Services, The Jackson Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Brian Soper
- Technical Information Services, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
| | - Lindsay Shopland
- In vivo Services, The Jackson Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, United States
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Domínguez-Prieto V, Qian S, Villarejo-Campos P, Meliga C, González-Soares S, Guijo Castellano I, Jiménez-Galanes S, García-Arranz M, Guadalajara H, García-Olmo D. Understanding CAR T cell therapy and its role in ovarian cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1104547. [PMID: 37274261 PMCID: PMC10233107 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1104547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide in women and the most lethal gynecologic malignancy due to the lack of accurate screening tools for early detection and late symptom onset. The absence of early-onset symptoms often delays diagnosis until the disease has progressed to advanced stages, frequently when there is peritoneal involvement. Although ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous malignancy with different histopathologic types, treatment for advanced tumors is usually based on chemotherapy and cytoreduction surgery. CAR T cells have shown promise for the treatment of hematological malignancies, though their role in treating solid tumors remains unclear. Outcomes are less favorable owing to the low capacity of CAR T cells to migrate to the tumor site, the influence of the protective tumor microenvironment, and the heterogeneity of surface antigens on tumor cells. Despite these results, CAR T cells have been proposed as a treatment approach for peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal and gastric origin. Local intraperitoneal administration of CAR T cells has been found to be superior to systemic administration, as this route is associated with increased tumor reduction, a more durable effect, protection against local relapse and distant metastases, and fewer systemic adverse effects. In this article we review the application of CAR T cells for the treatment of ovarian cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siyuan Qian
- Department of Surgery, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Cecilia Meliga
- Department of Surgery, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara González-Soares
- Department of Surgery, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Mariano García-Arranz
- Department of Surgery, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- New Therapies Laboratory, Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital (IIS-FJD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Héctor Guadalajara
- Department of Surgery, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Surgery, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Damián García-Olmo
- Department of Surgery, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Surgery, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- New Therapies Laboratory, Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital (IIS-FJD), Madrid, Spain
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Mun SS, Peraro L, Meyerberg J, Korontsvit T, Malviya M, Gardner T, Kyi C, O'Cearbhaill RE, Liu C, Dao T, Scheinberg DA. Dual targeting ovarian cancer by Muc16 CAR-T cells secreting a bispecific T cell engager antibody for an intracellular tumor antigen WT1. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2887299. [PMID: 37214945 PMCID: PMC10197740 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2887299/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal of gynecological cancers. The therapeutic efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell directed against single antigens is limited by the heterogeneous target antigen expression in epithelial ovarian tumors. To overcome this limitation, we describe an engineered cell with both dual targeting and orthogonal cytotoxic modalities directed against two tumor antigens that are highly expressed on ovarian cancer cells: cell surface Muc16 and intracellular WT1. Muc16-specific CAR-T cells (4H11) were engineered to secrete a bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) constructed from a TCR mimic antibody (ESK1) reactive with the WT1-derived epitope RMFPNAPYL (RMF) presented by HLA-A2 molecules. The secreted ESK1 BiTE recruited and redirected other T cells to WT1 on the tumor cells. We show that ESK1 BiTE-secreting 4H11 CAR-T cells exhibited enhanced anticancer activity against cancer cells with low Muc16 expression, compared to 4H11 CAR-T cells alone, both in vitro and in mouse tumor models. Dual orthogonal cytotoxic modalities with different specificities targeting both surface and intracellular tumor-associated antigens present a promising strategy to overcome resistance to CAR-T cell therapy in epithelial ovarian cancer and other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tao Dao
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
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Kao CY, Mills JA, Burke CJ, Morse B, Marques BF. Role of Cytokines and Growth Factors in the Manufacturing of iPSC-Derived Allogeneic Cell Therapy Products. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050677. [PMID: 37237491 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines and other growth factors are essential for cell expansion, health, function, and immune stimulation. Stem cells have the additional reliance on these factors to direct differentiation to the appropriate terminal cell type. Successful manufacturing of allogeneic cell therapies from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) requires close attention to the selection and control of cytokines and factors used throughout the manufacturing process, as well as after administration to the patient. This paper employs iPSC-derived natural killer cell/T cell therapeutics to illustrate the use of cytokines, growth factors, and transcription factors at different stages of the manufacturing process, ranging from the generation of iPSCs to controlling of iPSC differentiation into immune-effector cells through the support of cell therapy after patient administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Yuan Kao
- Process and Product Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jason A Mills
- Process and Product Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Carl J Burke
- Process and Product Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Barry Morse
- Research and Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bruno F Marques
- Process and Product Development, Century Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Bourne CM, Wallisch P, Dacek M, Gardner T, Pierre S, Vogt K, Corless BC, Bah MA, Romero Pichardo J, Charles A, Kurtz KG, Tan DS, Scheinberg DA. Host-cell Interactions of Engineered T cell Micropharmacies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.05.535717. [PMID: 37205431 PMCID: PMC10187158 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.05.535717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Genetically engineered, cytotoxic, adoptive T cells localize to antigen positive cancer cells inside patients, but tumor heterogeneity and multiple immune escape mechanisms have prevented the eradication of most solid tumor types. More effective, multifunctional engineered T cells are in development to overcome the barriers to the treatment of solid tumors, but the interactions of these highly modified cells with the host are poorly understood. We previously engineered prodrug-activating enzymatic functions into chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, endowing them with an orthogonal killing mechanism to conventional T-cell cytotoxicity. These drug-delivering cells, termed Synthetic Enzyme-Armed KillER (SEAKER) cells, demonstrated efficacy in mouse lymphoma xenograft models. However, the interactions of an immunocompromised xenograft with such complex engineered T cells are distinct from those in an immunocompetent host, precluding an understanding of how these physiologic processes may affect the therapy. Here, we also expand the repertoire of SEAKER cells to target solid-tumor melanomas in syngeneic mouse models using specific targeting with TCR-engineered T cells. We demonstrate that SEAKER cells localize specifically to tumors, and activate bioactive prodrugs, despite host immune responses. We additionally show that TCR-engineered SEAKER cells are efficacious in immunocompetent hosts, demonstrating that the SEAKER platform is applicable to many adoptive cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Bourne
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
| | - Patrick Wallisch
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, 10021
| | - Megan Dacek
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, 10021
| | - Thomas Gardner
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
| | - Stephanie Pierre
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kristen Vogt
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, 10065
| | - Broderick C. Corless
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, 10021
| | - Mamadou A. Bah
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
| | - Jesus Romero Pichardo
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Angel Charles
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
| | - Keifer G. Kurtz
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, 10021
| | - Derek S. Tan
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, 10065
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Chemical Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, 10065
| | - David A. Scheinberg
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, 10021
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, 10065
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Mavi AK, Gaur S, Gaur G, Babita, Kumar N, Kumar U. CAR T-cell therapy: Reprogramming patient's immune cell to treat cancer. Cell Signal 2023; 105:110638. [PMID: 36822565 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110638] [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: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a game changer in cancer treatment. Although CAR-T cell therapy has achieved significant clinical responses in specific subgroups of B cell leukaemia or lymphoma, various difficulties restrict CAR-T cell therapy's therapeutic effectiveness in solid tumours and haematological malignancies. Severe life-threatening toxicities, poor anti-tumour effectiveness, antigen escape, restricted trafficking, and limited tumour penetration are all barriers to successful CAR-T cell treatment. Furthermore, CAR-T cell interactions with the host and tumour microenvironment have a significant impact on their activity. Furthermore, developing and implementing these therapies necessitates a complicated staff. Innovative methodologies and tactics to engineering more potent CAR-T cells with greater anti-tumour activity and less toxicity are required to address these important difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kumar Mavi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Sonal Gaur
- Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur, Rajasthan 304022, India
| | - Gauri Gaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala, Haryana 133203, India
| | - Babita
- Department of Pharmacology, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201310, India
| | - Neelesh Kumar
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand 263145, India
| | - Umesh Kumar
- School of Biosciences, Institute of Management Studies Ghaziabad (University Courses Campus), NH09, Adhyatmik Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201015, India.
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Jaspers JE, Khan JF, Godfrey WD, Lopez AV, Ciampricotti M, Rudin CM, Brentjens RJ. IL-18-secreting CAR T cells targeting DLL3 are highly effective in small cell lung cancer models. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e166028. [PMID: 36951942 PMCID: PMC10145930 DOI: 10.1172/jci166028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) generally have a poor prognosis and a median overall survival of only about 13 months, indicating the urgent need for novel therapies. Delta-like protein 3 (DLL3) has been identified as a tumor-specific cell surface marker on neuroendocrine cancers, including SCLC. In this study, we developed a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against DLL3 that displays antitumor efficacy in xenograft and murine SCLC models. CAR T cell expression of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-18 greatly enhanced the potency of DLL3-targeting CAR T cell therapy. In a murine metastatic SCLC model, IL-18 production increased the activation of both CAR T cells and endogenous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. We also observed an increased infiltration, repolarization, and activation of antigen-presenting cells. Additionally, human IL-18-secreting anti-DLL3 CAR T cells showed an increased memory phenotype, less exhaustion, and induced durable responses in multiple SCLC models, an effect that could be further enhanced with anti-PD-1 blockade. All together, these results define DLL3-targeting CAR T cells that produce IL-18 as a potentially promising novel strategy against DLL3-expressing solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janneke E. Jaspers
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - William D. Godfrey
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea V. Lopez
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Metamia Ciampricotti
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Charles M. Rudin
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
- Thoracic Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Renier J. Brentjens
- Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Dacek MM, Kurtz KG, Wallisch P, Pierre SA, Khayat S, Bourne CM, Gardner TJ, Vogt KC, Aquino N, Younes A, Scheinberg DA. Potentiating antibody-dependent killing of cancers with CAR T cells secreting CD47-SIRPα checkpoint blocker. Blood 2023; 141:2003-2015. [PMID: 36696633 PMCID: PMC10163312 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has shown success in the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies; however, relapse remains a significant issue. To overcome this, we engineered "Orexi" CAR T cells to locally secrete a high-affinity CD47 blocker, CV1, at the tumor and treated tumors in combination with an orthogonally targeted monoclonal antibody. Traditional CAR T cells plus the antibody had an additive effect in xenograft models, and this effect was potentiated by CAR T-cell local CV1 secretion. Furthermore, OrexiCAR-secreted CV1 reversed the immunosuppression of myelomonocytoid cells both in vitro and within the tumor microenvironment. Local secretion of the CD47 inhibitor bypasses the CD47 sink found on all cells in the body and may prevent systemic toxicities. This combination of CAR T-cell therapy, local CD47 blockade, and orthogonal antibody may be a combinatorial strategy to overcome the limitations of each monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M. Dacek
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Keifer G. Kurtz
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Patrick Wallisch
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Stephanie A. Pierre
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY
- Tri-institutunal MD-PhD Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Shireen Khayat
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY
| | - Christopher M. Bourne
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Thomas J. Gardner
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY
| | - Kristen C. Vogt
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Nica Aquino
- Antitumor Assessment Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Anas Younes
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - David A. Scheinberg
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
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