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Pandit S, Agarwalla P, Song F, Jansson A, Dotti G, Brudno Y. Implantable CAR T cell factories enhance solid tumor treatment. Biomaterials 2024; 308:122580. [PMID: 38640784 PMCID: PMC11125516 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122580] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has produced revolutionary success in hematological cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Nonetheless, its translation to solid tumors faces challenges due to manufacturing complexities, short-lived in vivo persistence, and transient therapeutic impact. We introduce 'Drydux' - an innovative macroporous biomaterial scaffold designed for rapid, efficient in-situ generation of tumor-specific CAR T cells. Drydux expedites CAR T cell preparation with a mere three-day turnaround from patient blood collection, presenting a cost-effective, streamlined alternative to conventional methodologies. Notably, Drydux-enabled CAR T cells provide prolonged in vivo release, functionality, and enhanced persistence exceeding 150 days, with cells transitioning to memory phenotypes. Unlike conventional CAR T cell therapy, which offered only temporary tumor control, equivalent Drydux cell doses induced lasting tumor remission in various animal tumor models, including systemic lymphoma, peritoneal ovarian cancer, metastatic lung cancer, and orthotopic pancreatic cancer. Drydux's approach holds promise in revolutionizing solid tumor CAR T cell therapy by delivering durable, rapid, and cost-effective treatments and broadening patient accessibility to this groundbreaking therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharda Pandit
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Pritha Agarwalla
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Feifei Song
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Anton Jansson
- Department of Product Development, Production and Design, School of Engineering, Jönköping University, Sweden
| | - Gianpietro Dotti
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yevgeny Brudno
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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2
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Cappabianca D, Pham D, Forsberg MH, Bugel M, Tommasi A, Lauer A, Vidugiriene J, Hrdlicka B, McHale A, Sodji QH, Skala MC, Capitini CM, Saha K. Metabolic priming of GD2 TRAC-CAR T cells during manufacturing promotes memory phenotypes while enhancing persistence. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101249. [PMID: 38699288 PMCID: PMC11063605 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101249] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Manufacturing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies is complex, with limited understanding of how medium composition impacts T cell phenotypes. CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins can precisely insert a CAR sequence while disrupting the endogenous T cell receptor alpha constant (TRAC) gene resulting in TRAC-CAR T cells with an enriched stem cell memory T cell population, a process that could be further optimized through modifications to the medium composition. In this study we generated anti-GD2 TRAC-CAR T cells using "metabolic priming" (MP), where the cells were activated in glucose/glutamine-low medium and then expanded in glucose/glutamine-high medium. T cell products were evaluated using spectral flow cytometry, metabolic assays, cytokine production, cytotoxicity assays in vitro, and potency against human GD2+ xenograft neuroblastoma models in vivo. Compared with standard TRAC-CAR T cells, MP TRAC-CAR T cells showed less glycolysis, higher CCR7/CD62L expression, more bound NAD(P)H activity, and reduced IFN-γ, IL-2, IP-10, IL-1β, IL-17, and TGF-β production at the end of manufacturing ex vivo, with increased central memory CAR T cells and better persistence observed in vivo. MP with medium during CAR T cell biomanufacturing can minimize glycolysis and enrich memory phenotypes ex vivo, which could lead to better responses against solid tumors in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Cappabianca
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Dan Pham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Matthew H. Forsberg
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Madison Bugel
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Anna Tommasi
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | | | | | - Brookelyn Hrdlicka
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Alexandria McHale
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Quaovi H. Sodji
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Melissa C. Skala
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Christian M. Capitini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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3
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Ferdous S, Shihab IF, Chowdhury R, Reuel NF. Reinforcement learning-guided control strategies for CAR T-cell activation and expansion. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024. [PMID: 38812405 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28753] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Reinforcement learning (RL), a subset of machine learning (ML), could optimize and control biomanufacturing processes, such as improved production of therapeutic cells. Here, the process of CAR T-cell activation by antigen-presenting beads and their subsequent expansion is formulated in silico. The simulation is used as an environment to train RL-agents to dynamically control the number of beads in culture to maximize the population of robust effector cells at the end of the culture. We make periodic decisions of incremental bead addition or complete removal. The simulation is designed to operate in OpenAI Gym, enabling testing of different environments, cell types, RL-agent algorithms, and state inputs to the RL-agent. RL-agent training is demonstrated with three different algorithms (PPO, A2C, and DQN), each sampling three different state input types (tabular, image, mixed); PPO-tabular performs best for this simulation environment. Using this approach, training of the RL-agent on different cell types is demonstrated, resulting in unique control strategies for each type. Sensitivity to input-noise (sensor performance), number of control step interventions, and advantages of pre-trained RL-agents are also evaluated. Therefore, we present an RL framework to maximize the population of robust effector cells in CAR T-cell therapy production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakib Ferdous
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Ratul Chowdhury
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Nigel F Reuel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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4
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Lizana-Vasquez GD, Mendez-Vega J, Cappabianca D, Saha K, Torres-Lugo M. In vitro encapsulation and expansion of T and CAR-T cells using 3D synthetic thermo-responsive matrices. RSC Adv 2024; 14:13734-13747. [PMID: 38681842 PMCID: PMC11046447 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra01968g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Suspension cell culture and rigid commercial substrates are the most common methods to clinically manufacture therapeutic CAR-T cells ex vivo. However, suspension culture and nano/micro-scale commercial substrates poorly mimic the microenvironment where T cells naturally develop, leading to profound impacts on cell proliferation and phenotype. To overcome this major challenge, macro-scale substrates can be used to emulate that environment with higher precision. This work employed a biocompatible thermo-responsive material with tailored mechanical properties as a potential synthetic macro-scale scaffold to support T cell encapsulation and culture. Cell viability, expansion, and phenotype changes were assessed to study the effect of two thermo-responsive hydrogel materials with stiffnesses of 0.5 and 17 kPa. Encapsulated Pan-T and CAR-T cells were able to grow and physically behave similar to the suspension control. Furthermore, matrix stiffness influenced T cell behavior. In the softer polymer, T cells had higher activation, differentiation, and maturation after encapsulation obtaining significant cell numbers. Even when terpolymer encapsulation affected the CAR-T cell viability and expansion, CAR T cells expressed favorable phenotypical profiles, which was supported with cytokines and lactate production. These results confirmed the biocompatibility of the thermo-responsive hydrogels and their feasibility as a promising 3D macro-scale scaffold for in vitro T cell expansion that could potentially be used for cell manufacturing process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaby D Lizana-Vasquez
- Deparment of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Road 108 Km. 1.0 Bo. Miradero. P.O. Box 9046 Mayagüez 00681-9046 Puerto Rico USA +1 787 832 4040 Ext. 2585
| | - Janet Mendez-Vega
- Deparment of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Road 108 Km. 1.0 Bo. Miradero. P.O. Box 9046 Mayagüez 00681-9046 Puerto Rico USA +1 787 832 4040 Ext. 2585
| | - Dan Cappabianca
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
| | - Madeline Torres-Lugo
- Deparment of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Road 108 Km. 1.0 Bo. Miradero. P.O. Box 9046 Mayagüez 00681-9046 Puerto Rico USA +1 787 832 4040 Ext. 2585
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5
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Cappabianca D, Pham D, Forsberg MH, Bugel M, Tommasi A, Lauer A, Vidugiriene J, Hrdlicka B, McHale A, Sodji Q, Skala MC, Capitini CM, Saha K. Metabolic priming of GD2 TRAC -CAR T cells during manufacturing promotes memory phenotypes while enhancing persistence. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.31.575774. [PMID: 38562720 PMCID: PMC10983869 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.31.575774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Manufacturing Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapies is complex, with limited understanding of how media composition impact T-cell phenotypes. CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins can precisely insert a CAR sequence while disrupting the endogenous T cell receptor alpha constant ( TRAC ) gene resulting in TRAC -CAR T cells with an enriched stem cell memory T-cell population, a process that could be further optimized through modifications to the media composition. In this study we generated anti-GD2 TRAC -CAR T cells using "metabolic priming" (MP), where the cells were activated in glucose/glutamine low media and then expanded in glucose/glutamine high media. T cell products were evaluated using spectral flow cytometry, metabolic assays, cytokine production, cytotoxicity assays in vitro and potency against human GD2+ xenograft neuroblastoma models in vivo . Compared to standard TRAC -CAR T cells, MP TRAC -CAR T cells showed less glycolysis, higher CCR7/CD62L expression, more bound NAD(P)H activity and reduced IFN-γ, IL-2, IP-10, IL-1β, IL-17, and TGFβ production at the end of manufacturing ex vivo , with increased central memory CAR T cells and better persistence observed in vivo . Metabolic priming with media during CAR T cell biomanufacturing can minimize glycolysis and enrich memory phenotypes ex vivo , which could lead to better responses against solid tumors in vivo .
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6
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Ge C, Selvaganapathy PR, Geng F. Advancing our understanding of bioreactors for industrial-sized cell culture: health care and cellular agriculture implications. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C580-C591. [PMID: 37486066 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00408.2022] [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: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Bioreactors are advanced biomanufacturing tools that have been widely used to develop various applications in the fields of health care and cellular agriculture. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of bioreactors to enhance the efficiency and scalability of these technologies. In cell therapy, bioreactors have been used to expand and differentiate cells into specialized cell types that can be used for transplantation or tissue regeneration. In cultured meat production, bioreactors offer a controlled and efficient means of producing meat without the need for animal farming. Bioreactors can support the growth of muscle cells by providing the necessary conditions for cell proliferation, differentiation, and maturation, including the provision of oxygen and nutrients. This review article aims to provide an overview of the current state of bioreactor technology in both cell therapy and cultured meat production. It will examine the various bioreactor types and their applications in these fields, highlighting their advantages and limitations. In addition, it will explore the future prospects and challenges of bioreactor technology in these emerging fields. Overall, this review will provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners interested in using bioreactor technology to develop innovative solutions in the biomanufacturing of therapeutic cells and cultured meat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Ge
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Fei Geng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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7
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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: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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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8
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Bomb K, LeValley PJ, Woodward I, Cassel SE, Sutherland BP, Bhattacharjee A, Yun Z, Steen J, Kurdzo E, McCoskey J, Burris D, Levine K, Carbrello C, Lenhoff AM, Fromen CA, Kloxin AM. Cell therapy biomanufacturing: integrating biomaterial and flow-based membrane technologies for production of engineered T-cells. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2023; 8:2201155. [PMID: 37600966 PMCID: PMC10437131 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202201155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive T-cell therapies (ATCTs) are increasingly important for the treatment of cancer, where patient immune cells are engineered to target and eradicate diseased cells. The biomanufacturing of ATCTs involves a series of time-intensive, lab-scale steps, including isolation, activation, genetic modification, and expansion of a patient's T-cells prior to achieving a final product. Innovative modular technologies are needed to produce cell therapies at improved scale and enhanced efficacy. In this work, well-defined, bioinspired soft materials were integrated within flow-based membrane devices for improving the activation and transduction of T cells. Hydrogel coated membranes (HCM) functionalized with cell-activating antibodies were produced as a tunable biomaterial for the activation of primary human T-cells. T-cell activation utilizing HCMs led to highly proliferative T-cells that expressed a memory phenotype. Further, transduction efficiency was improved by several fold over static conditions by using a tangential flow filtration (TFF) flow-cell, commonly used in the production of protein therapeutics, to transduce T-cells under flow. The combination of HCMs and TFF technology led to increased cell activation, proliferation, and transduction compared to current industrial biomanufacturing processes. The combined power of biomaterials with scalable flow-through transduction techniques provides future opportunities for improving the biomanufacturing of ATCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Bomb
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Paige J. LeValley
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Ian Woodward
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Samantha E. Cassel
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | | | | | - Zaining Yun
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Jonathan Steen
- EMD Millipore Corporation, Bedford, MA, an affiliate of Merck, Newark, DE
| | - Emily Kurdzo
- EMD Millipore Corporation, Bedford, MA, an affiliate of Merck, Newark, DE
| | - Jacob McCoskey
- EMD Millipore Corporation, Bedford, MA, an affiliate of Merck, Newark, DE
| | - David Burris
- Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Kara Levine
- EMD Millipore Corporation, Bedford, MA, an affiliate of Merck, Newark, DE
| | | | - Abraham M. Lenhoff
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | | | - April M. Kloxin
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
- Material Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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9
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Gillette AA, Pham DL, Skala MC. Touch-free optical technologies to streamline the production of T cell therapies. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2023; 25:100434. [PMID: 36642996 PMCID: PMC9837746 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Currently approved adoptive T cell therapy relies on autologous (obtained from the same patient) T cells, which often suffer from poor quality that diminishes treatment efficacy. Due to the heterogeneous nature of T cell quality between and within patients, significant efforts are aimed at optimizing cell manipulation and growth conditions for potent T cell products. We believe that touch-free imaging and sensing technologies are critical to monitor single-cell features during T cell manufacturing to ensure consistent and optimally timed methods for cell manipulation and growth. Here, we discuss emerging label-free optical imaging and sensing methods, along with machine learning techniques that could enable in-line feedback to optimize T cell quality at multiple stages during manufacturing. These methods have the potential to streamline current workflow, accelerate the manufacture of safe high-quality T cell therapies, and improve our understanding of the dynamic, heterogeneous processes of T cell manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dan L Pham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Melissa C Skala
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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10
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Logun M, Colonna MB, Mueller KP, Ventarapragada D, Rodier R, Tondepu C, Piscopo NJ, Das A, Chvatal S, Hayes HB, Capitini CM, Brat DJ, Kotanchek T, Edison AS, Saha K, Karumbaiah L. Label-free in vitro assays predict the potency of anti-disialoganglioside chimeric antigen receptor T-cell products. Cytotherapy 2023; 25:670-682. [PMID: 36849306 PMCID: PMC10159906 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.01.008] [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: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have demonstrated remarkable efficacy against hematological malignancies; however, they have not experienced the same success against solid tumors such as glioblastoma (GBM). There is a growing need for high-throughput functional screening platforms to measure CAR T-cell potency against solid tumor cells. METHODS We used real-time, label-free cellular impedance sensing to evaluate the potency of anti-disialoganglioside (GD2) targeting CAR T-cell products against GD2+ patient-derived GBM stem cells over a period of 2 days and 7 days in vitro. We compared CAR T products using two different modes of gene transfer: retroviral transduction and virus-free CRISPR-editing. Endpoint flow cytometry, cytokine analysis and metabolomics data were acquired and integrated to create a predictive model of CAR T-cell potency. RESULTS Results indicated faster cytolysis by virus-free CRISPR-edited CAR T cells compared with retrovirally transduced CAR T cells, accompanied by increased inflammatory cytokine release, CD8+ CAR T-cell presence in co-culture conditions and CAR T-cell infiltration into three-dimensional GBM spheroids. Computational modeling identified increased tumor necrosis factor α concentrations with decreased glutamine, lactate and formate as being most predictive of short-term (2 days) and long-term (7 days) CAR T cell potency against GBM stem cells. CONCLUSIONS These studies establish impedance sensing as a high-throughput, label-free assay for preclinical potency testing of CAR T cells against solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Logun
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Maxwell B Colonna
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Katherine P Mueller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin USA
| | | | - Riley Rodier
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Chaitanya Tondepu
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Edgar L. Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Nicole J Piscopo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin USA
| | - Amritava Das
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | | | - Christian M Capitini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin USA; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin USA
| | - Daniel J Brat
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois USA
| | | | - Arthur S Edison
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin USA; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin USA
| | - Lohitash Karumbaiah
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Edgar L. Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
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11
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Jiang J, Huang Y, Zeng Z, Zhao C. Harnessing Engineered Immune Cells and Bacteria as Drug Carriers for Cancer Immunotherapy. ACS NANO 2023; 17:843-884. [PMID: 36598956 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c07607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy continues to be in the spotlight of oncology therapy research in the past few years and has been proven to be a promising option to modulate one's innate and adaptive immune systems for cancer treatment. However, the poor delivery efficiency of immune agents, potential off-target toxicity, and nonimmunogenic tumors significantly limit its effectiveness and extensive application. Recently, emerging biomaterial-based drug carriers, including but not limited to immune cells and bacteria, are expected to be potential candidates to break the dilemma of immunotherapy, with their excellent natures of intrinsic tumor tropism and immunomodulatory activity. More than that, the tiny vesicles and physiological components derived from them have similar functions with their source cells due to the inheritance of various surface signal molecules and proteins. Herein, we presented representative examples about the latest advances of biomaterial-based delivery systems employed in cancer immunotherapy, including immune cells, bacteria, and their derivatives. Simultaneously, opportunities and challenges of immune cells and bacteria-based carriers are discussed to provide reference for their future application in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Jiang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjuan Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Zishan Zeng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunshun Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
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12
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Vandghanooni S, Eskandani M, Sanaat Z, Omidi Y. Recent advances in the production, reprogramming, and application of CAR-T cells for treating hematological malignancies. Life Sci 2022; 309:121016. [PMID: 36179813 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
As genetically engineered cells, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells express specific receptors on their surface to target and eliminate malignant cells. CAR proteins are equipped with elements that enhance the activity and survival of T cells. Once injected, CAR-T cells act as a "living drug" against tumor cells in the body. Up to now, CAR-T cell therapy has been demonstrated as a robust adoptive cell transfer (ACT) immunotherapeutic modality for eliminating tumor cells in refractory hematological malignancies. CAR-T cell therapy modality involves several steps, including the collecting of the blood from patients, the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the enrichment of CD4+/CD8+ T cell, the genetic reprogramming, the expansion of modified T cells, and the injection of genetically engineered T cells. The production of CAR-T cells is a multi-step procedure, which needs precise and safety management systems, including good manufacturing practice (GMP), and in-line quality control and assurance. The current study describes the structure of CARs and concentrates on the next generations of CARs that are engaged in enhancing the anti-tumor responses and safety of the engineered T cells. This paper also highlights the important concerns in quality control and nonclinical research of CAR-T cells, as well as general insights into the manufacture, reprogramming, and application of CAR-T cells based on new and enhanced techniques for treating hematological malignancies. Besides, the application of the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology and nanocarrier-based delivery systems containing CAR coding sequences to overcome the limitations of CAR-T cell therapy has also been explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Vandghanooni
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Morteza Eskandani
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zohreh Sanaat
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yadollah Omidi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
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13
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Abraham-Miranda J, Menges M, Atkins R, Mattie M, Kanska J, Turner J, Hidalgo-Vargas MJ, Locke FL. CAR-T manufactured from frozen PBMC yield efficient function with prolonged in vitro production. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1007042. [PMID: 36225930 PMCID: PMC9549966 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1007042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are engineered to identify and eliminate cells expressing a target antigen. Current manufacturing protocols vary between commercial CAR-T cell products warranting an assessment of these methods to determine which approach optimally balances successful manufacturing capacity and product efficacy. One difference between commercial product manufacturing methods is whether T cell engineering begins with fresh (unfrozen) patient cells or cells that have been cryopreserved prior to manufacture. Starting with frozen PBMC material allows for greater manufacturing flexibility, and the possibility of collecting and storing blood from patients prior to multiple lines of therapy. We prospectively analyzed if second generation anti-CD19 CAR-T cells with either CD28 or 4-1BB co-stimulatory domains have different phenotype or function when prepared side-by-side using fresh or cryopreserved PBMCs. We found that cryopreserved PBMC starting material is associated with slower CAR-T cell expansion during manufacture but does not affect phenotype. We also demonstrate that CAR-T cell activation, cytokine production and in vitro anti-tumor cytotoxicity were not different when CAR-T cells were manufactured from fresh or cryopreserved PBMC. As CAR-T cell therapy expands globally, the need for greater flexibility around the timing of manufacture will continue to grow. This study helps support the concept that cryopreservation of PBMCs could be the solution to these issues without compromising the quality of the final CAR-T product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Abraham-Miranda
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Meghan Menges
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Reginald Atkins
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Mike Mattie
- Kite Pharma, A Gilead Company, Santa Monica, CA, United States
| | - Justyna Kanska
- Kite Pharma, A Gilead Company, Santa Monica, CA, United States
| | - Joel Turner
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Melanie J. Hidalgo-Vargas
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Frederick L. Locke
- Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Frederick L. Locke,
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14
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Mueller KP, Piscopo NJ, Forsberg MH, Saraspe LA, Das A, Russell B, Smerchansky M, Cappabianca D, Shi L, Shankar K, Sarko L, Khajanchi N, La Vonne Denne N, Ramamurthy A, Ali A, Lazzarotto CR, Tsai SQ, Capitini CM, Saha K. Production and characterization of virus-free, CRISPR-CAR T cells capable of inducing solid tumor regression. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-004446. [PMID: 36382633 PMCID: PMC9454086 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have demonstrated high clinical response rates against hematological malignancies (e.g., CD19+ cancers) but have shown limited activity in patients with solid tumors. Recent work showed that precise insertion of a CAR at a defined locus improves treatment outcomes in the context of a CD19 CAR; however, it is unclear if such a strategy could also affect outcomes in solid tumors. Furthermore, CAR manufacturing generally relies on viral vectors for gene delivery, which comprise a complex and resource-intensive part of the manufacturing supply chain. METHODS Anti-GD2 CAR T cells were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 within 9 days using recombinant Cas9 protein and nucleic acids, without any viral vectors. The CAR was specifically targeted to the T cell receptor alpha constant gene (TRAC). T cell products were characterized at the level of the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and secretome using CHANGE-seq, targeted next-generation sequencing, scRNA-seq, spectral cytometry, and ELISA assays, respectively. Functionality was evaluated in vivo in an NSG™ xenograft neuroblastoma model. RESULTS In comparison to retroviral CAR T cells, virus-free CRISPR CAR (VFC-CAR) T cells exhibit TRAC-targeted genomic integration of the CAR transgene, elevation of transcriptional and protein characteristics associated with a memory-like phenotype, and low tonic signaling prior to infusion arising in part from the knockout of the T cell receptor. On exposure to the GD2 target antigen, anti-GD2 VFC-CAR T cells exhibit specific cytotoxicity against GD2+ cells in vitro and induce solid tumor regression in vivo. VFC-CAR T cells demonstrate robust homing and persistence and decreased exhaustion relative to retroviral CAR T cells against a human neuroblastoma xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS This study leverages virus-free genome editing technology to generate CAR T cells featuring a TRAC-targeted CAR, which could inform manufacturing of CAR T cells to treat cancers, including solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine P Mueller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Nicole J Piscopo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Matthew H Forsberg
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Louise A Saraspe
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Amritava Das
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Brittany Russell
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Madeline Smerchansky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Dan Cappabianca
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Keerthana Shankar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lauren Sarko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Namita Khajanchi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Nina La Vonne Denne
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Apoorva Ramamurthy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Adeela Ali
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Cicera R Lazzarotto
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Shengdar Q Tsai
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Christian M Capitini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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15
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Chanda MK, Shudde CE, Piper TL, Zheng Y, Courtney AH. Combined analysis of T cell activation and T cell-mediated cytotoxicity by imaging cytometry. J Immunol Methods 2022; 506:113290. [PMID: 35644255 PMCID: PMC9202232 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2022.113290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer have spurred the development of new drugs that seek to harness the ability of T cells to recognize and kill malignant cells. There is a substantial need to evaluate how these experimental drugs influence T cell functional outputs in co-culture systems that contain cancerous cells. We describe an imaging cytometry-based platform that can simultaneously quantify activated T cells and the capacity of these T cells to kill cancer cells. Our platform was developed using the Nur77-GFP reporter system because GFP expression provides a direct readout of T cell activation that is induced by T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling. We combined the Nur77-GFP reporter system with a cancer cell line that displays a TCR-specific antigen and evaluated the relationship between T cell activation and cancer cell death. We demonstrate that imaging cytometry can be used to quantify the number of activated cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTLs) and the capacity of these CTLs to recognize and kill adherent MC38 cancer cells. We tested whether this platform could evaluate heterogenous lymphocyte populations by quantifying the proportion of antigen-specific activated T cells in co-cultures that contain unresponsive lymphocytes. The effects of a SRC family kinase inhibitor on CTL activation and MC38 cell death were also determined. Our findings demonstrate that the Nur77-GFP reporter system can be used to evaluate the effects of diverse treatment conditions on T cell-cancer co-cultures in a microtiter plate-based format by imaging cytometry. We anticipate the combined analysis of T cell activation with T cell-mediated cancer cell death can be used to rapidly assess immuno-oncology drug candidates and T cell-based therapeutics.
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16
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Mueller K, Saha K. Single Cell Technologies to Dissect Heterogenous Immune Cell Therapy Products. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2021; 20:100343. [PMID: 34957355 PMCID: PMC8693636 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2021.100343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Single cell tools have dramatically transformed the life sciences; concurrently, autologous and allogeneic immune cell therapies have recently entered the clinic. Here we discuss methods, applications, and considerations for single cell technologies in the context of immune cell manufacturing. Molecular heterogeneity can be profiled at the level of the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and antigen receptor repertoire, in isolation or in tandem through multi-omic approaches. Such data inform heterogeneity within cell products and can be linked to potency readouts and clinical data, with the ultimate goal of identifying Critical Quality Attributes to predict patient outcomes. Non-destructive approaches hold promise for monitoring cell state and analyzing the impacts of gene edits within engineered products. Destructive omics approaches could be combined with non-destructive technologies to predict therapeutic potency. These technologies are poised to redefine cell manufacturing toward rapid, cost-effective, and high-throughput methods to detect and respond to dynamic cell states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Mueller
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
- Grainger Institute for Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
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17
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Zhang T, Larson R, Dave K, Polson N, Zhang H. Developing patient-centric specifications for autologous chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2021.100328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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18
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Centner CS, Moore JT, Baxter ME, Long ZT, Miller JM, Kovatsenko ES, Xie B, Menze MA, Berson RE, Bates PJ, Yaddanapudi K, Kopechek JA. Acoustofluidic-mediated molecular delivery to human T cells with a three-dimensional-printed flow chamber. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 150:4534. [PMID: 34972278 DOI: 10.1121/10.0009054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies have garnered significant interest to treat cancer and other diseases. Acoustofluidic technologies are in development to improve cell therapy manufacturing by facilitating rapid molecular delivery across the plasma membrane via ultrasound and microbubbles (MBs). In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) printed acoustofluidic device was used to deliver a fluorescent molecule, calcein, to human T cells. Intracellular delivery of calcein was assessed after varying parameters such as MB face charge, MB concentration, flow channel geometry, ultrasound pressure, and delivery time point after ultrasound treatment. MBs with a cationic surface charge caused statistically significant increases in calcein delivery during acoustofluidic treatment compared to MBs with a neutral surface charge (p < 0.001). Calcein delivery was significantly higher with a concentric spiral channel geometry compared to a rectilinear channel geometry (p < 0.001). Additionally, calcein delivery was significantly enhanced at increased ultrasound pressures of 5.1 MPa compared to lower ultrasound pressures between 0-3.8 MPa (p < 0.001). These results demonstrate that a 3D-printed acoustofluidic device can significantly enhance intracellular delivery of biomolecules to T cells, which may be a viable approach to advance cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor S Centner
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - John T Moore
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Mary E Baxter
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Zachary T Long
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Jacob M Miller
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | | | - Benjamin Xie
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Michael A Menze
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - R Eric Berson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | - Paula J Bates
- School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA
| | - Kavitha Yaddanapudi
- Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA
| | - Jonathan A Kopechek
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
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19
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Vucinic V, Quaiser A, Lückemeier P, Fricke S, Platzbecker U, Koehl U. Production and Application of CAR T Cells: Current and Future Role of Europe. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:713401. [PMID: 34490302 PMCID: PMC8418055 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.713401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapid developments in the field of CAR T cells offer important new opportunities while at the same time increasing numbers of patients pose major challenges. This review is summarizing on the one hand the state of the art in CAR T cell trials with a unique perspective on the role that Europe is playing. On the other hand, an overview of reproducible processing techniques is presented, from manual or semi-automated up to fully automated manufacturing of clinical-grade CAR T cells. Besides regulatory requirements, an outlook is given in the direction of digitally controlled automated manufacturing in order to lower cost and complexity and to address CAR T cell products for a greater number of patients and a variety of malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladan Vucinic
- University of Leipzig, Medical Clinic for Hematology, Cell Therapy and Hemostaseology, Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andrea Quaiser
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Philipp Lückemeier
- University of Leipzig, Medical Clinic for Hematology, Cell Therapy and Hemostaseology, Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Fricke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine III Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation, Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Uwe Platzbecker
- University of Leipzig, Medical Clinic for Hematology, Cell Therapy and Hemostaseology, Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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20
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Su FY, Mac QD, Sivakumar A, Kwong GA. Interfacing Biomaterials with Synthetic T Cell Immunity. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2100157. [PMID: 33887123 PMCID: PMC8349871 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202100157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The clinical success of cancer immunotherapy is providing exciting opportunities for the development of new methods to detect and treat cancer more effectively. A new generation of biomaterials is being developed to interface with molecular and cellular features of immunity and ultimately shape or control anti-tumor responses. Recent advances that are supporting the advancement of engineered T cells are focused here. This class of cancer therapy has the potential to cure disease in subsets of patients, yet there remain challenges such as the need to improve response rates and safety while lowering costs to expand their use. To provide a focused overview, recent strategies in three areas of biomaterials research are highlighted: low-cost cell manufacturing to broaden patient access, noninvasive diagnostics for predictive monitoring of immune responses, and strategies for in vivo control that enhance anti-tumor immunity. These research efforts shed light on some of the challenges associated with T cell immunotherapy and how engineered biomaterials that interface with synthetic immunity are gaining traction to solve these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Yi Su
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Quoc D Mac
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Anirudh Sivakumar
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Gabriel A Kwong
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Integrated Cancer Research Center, Georgia Immunoengineering Consortium, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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21
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Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Treat Graft Versus Host Disease: the Role of HLA-G and the Impact of its Polymorphisms. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 16:459-471. [PMID: 32088839 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-09960-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is widely performed for the treatment of hematologic diseases and is increasingly being used for the experimental treatment of various autoimmune diseases. Despite the rapid evolution of this therapy, the mortality rate of patients undergoing this procedure is still high, mainly due to the development of graft versus host disease (GvHD). Even with the administration of immunosuppressive therapy, some patients manifest the chronic form of the disease. For these cases, infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was proposed as a therapeutic strategy, considering the immunosuppressive potential of these cells. This review describes the main results obtained in cell therapy with MSCs for the treatment of GvHD. Despite the encouraging results found, some points differed among the studies. Although the factors that influence the different results are uncertain, some investigators have suggested that variations in immunosuppressive molecules are responsible for these divergences. We highlight the key role of the HLA-G gene in modulating the immune response, and the importance of the polymorphisms and alleles of this gene associated with the outcome of the transplants. We suggest that the HLA-G gene and its polymorphisms be analyzed as a factor in selecting the MSCs to be used in treating GvHD, given its strong immunosuppressive role.
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22
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Bioassay Development for Bispecific Antibodies-Challenges and Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105350. [PMID: 34069573 PMCID: PMC8160952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody therapeutics are expanding with promising clinical outcomes, and diverse formats of antibodies are further developed and available for patients of the most challenging disease areas. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have several significant advantages over monospecific antibodies by engaging two antigen targets. Due to the complicated mechanism of action, diverse structural variations, and dual-target binding, developing bioassays and other types of assays to characterize BsAbs is challenging. Developing bioassays for BsAbs requires a good understanding of the mechanism of action of the molecule, principles and applications of different bioanalytical methods, and phase-appropriate considerations per regulatory guidelines. Here, we review recent advances and case studies to provide strategies and insights for bioassay development for different types of bispecific molecules.
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23
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Effects of Chemotherapy Agents on Circulating Leukocyte Populations: Potential Implications for the Success of CAR-T Cell Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092225. [PMID: 34066414 PMCID: PMC8124952 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary CAR-T cell therapy is a new approach to cancer treatment that is based on manipulating a patient’s own T cells such that they become able to seek and destroy cancer cells in a highly specific manner. This approach is showing remarkable efficacy in treating some types of blood cancers but so far has been much less effective against solid cancers. Here, we review the diverse effects of chemotherapy agents on circulating leukocyte populations and find that, despite some negative effects over the short term, chemotherapy can favourably modulate the immune systems of cancer patients over the longer term. Since blood is the starting material for CAR-T cell production, we propose that these effects could significantly influence the success of manufacturing, and anti-cancer activity, of CAR-T cells. Thus, if timed correctly, chemotherapy-induced changes to circulating immune cells could allow CAR-T cells to unleash more effective anti-tumour responses. Abstract Adoptive T-cell therapy using autologous T cells genetically modified to express cancer-specific chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) has emerged as a novel approach for cancer treatment. CAR-T cell therapy has been approved in several major jurisdictions for treating refractory or relapsed cases of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, in solid cancer patients, several clinical studies of CAR-T cell therapy have demonstrated minimal therapeutic effects, thus encouraging interest in better integrating CAR-T cells with other treatments such as conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Increasing evidence shows that not only do chemotherapy drugs have tumoricidal effects, but also significantly modulate the immune system. Here, we discuss immunomodulatory effects of chemotherapy drugs on circulating leukocyte populations, including their ability to enhance cytotoxic effects and preserve the frequency of CD8+ T cells and to deplete immunosuppressive populations including regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. By modulating the abundance and phenotype of leukocytes in the blood (the ‘raw material’ for CAR-T cell manufacturing), we propose that prior chemotherapy could facilitate production of the most effective CAR-T cell products. Further research is required to directly test this concept and identify strategies for the optimal integration of CAR-T cell therapies with cytotoxic chemotherapy for solid cancers.
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24
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Xu N, Tse B, Yang L, Tang TCY, Haber M, Micklethwaite K, Dolnikov A. Priming Leukemia with 5-Azacytidine Enhances CAR T Cell Therapy. Immunotargets Ther 2021; 10:123-140. [PMID: 33954150 PMCID: PMC8091475 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s296161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Despite the success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in clinical studies, a significant proportion of responding patients eventually relapsed, with the latter correlating with low CAR T cell expansion and persistence. Methods and Results Using patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models of CD19+ B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), we show that priming leukemia-bearing mice with 5-azacytidine (AZA) enhances CAR T cell therapy. AZA given 1 day prior to CAR T cell infusion delayed leukemia growth and promoted CAR T cell expansion and effector function. Priming leukemia cells with AZA increased CAR T cell/target cell conjugation and target cell killing, promoted CAR T cell divisions and expanded IFNγ+ effector T cells in co-cultures with CD19+ leukemia Nalm-6 and Raji cells. Transcriptome analysis revealed activation of diverse immune pathways in leukemia cells isolated from mice treated with AZA. We propose that epigenetic priming with AZA induces transcriptional changes that sensitize tumor cells to subsequent CAR T cell treatment. Among the candidate genes up-regulated by AZA is TNFSF4 which encodes OX40L, one of the strongest T cell co-stimulatory ligands. OX40L binds OX40, the TNF receptor superfamily member highly specific for activated T cells. TNFSF4 is heterogeneously expressed in a panel of pediatric PDXs, and high TNFSF4 expression correlated with increased CAR T cell numbers identified in co-cultures with individual PDXs. High OX40L expression in Nalm-6 cells increased their susceptibility to CAR T cell killing while OX40L blockade reduced leukemia cell killing. Conclusion We propose that treatment with AZA activates OX40L/OX40 co-stimulatory signaling in CAR T cells. Our data suggest that the clinical use of AZA before CAR T cells could be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Xu
- Children's Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Benjamin Tse
- Children's Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lu Yang
- Children's Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tiffany C Y Tang
- Children's Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Haber
- Children's Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kenneth Micklethwaite
- Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program, Department of Hematology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Cellular Therapies Laboratory, NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alla Dolnikov
- Children's Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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25
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Abdeen AA, Cosgrove BD, Gersbach CA, Saha K. Integrating Biomaterials and Genome Editing Approaches to Advance Biomedical Science. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2021; 23:493-516. [PMID: 33909475 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-122019-121602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The recent discovery and subsequent development of the CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-CRISPR-associated protein 9) platform as a precise genome editing tool have transformed biomedicine. As these CRISPR-based tools have matured, multiple stages of the gene editing process and the bioengineering of human cells and tissues have advanced. Here, we highlight recent intersections in the development of biomaterials and genome editing technologies. These intersections include the delivery of macromolecules, where biomaterial platforms have been harnessed to enable nonviral delivery of genome engineering tools to cells and tissues in vivo. Further, engineering native-like biomaterial platforms for cell culture facilitates complex modeling of human development and disease when combined with genome engineering tools. Deeper integration of biomaterial platforms in these fields could play a significant role in enabling new breakthroughs in the application of gene editing for the treatment of human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr A Abdeen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, USA
| | - Brian D Cosgrove
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA;
| | - Charles A Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA; .,Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, USA.,McPherson Eye Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA;
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26
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Garcia-Aponte OF, Herwig C, Kozma B. Lymphocyte expansion in bioreactors: upgrading adoptive cell therapy. J Biol Eng 2021; 15:13. [PMID: 33849630 PMCID: PMC8042697 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-021-00264-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioreactors are essential tools for the development of efficient and high-quality cell therapy products. However, their application is far from full potential, holding several challenges when reconciling the complex biology of the cells to be expanded with the need for a manufacturing process that is able to control cell growth and functionality towards therapy affordability and opportunity. In this review, we discuss and compare current bioreactor technologies by performing a systematic analysis of the published data on automated lymphocyte expansion for adoptive cell therapy. We propose a set of requirements for bioreactor design and identify trends on the applicability of these technologies, highlighting the specific challenges and major advancements for each one of the current approaches of expansion along with the opportunities that lie in process intensification. We conclude on the necessity to develop targeted solutions specially tailored for the specific stimulation, supplementation and micro-environmental needs of lymphocytes’ cultures, and the benefit of applying knowledge-based tools for process control and predictability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Fabian Garcia-Aponte
- Research Area Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Herwig
- Research Area Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Bence Kozma
- Research Area Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria
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27
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Baudequin T, Nyland R, Ye H. Objectives, benefits and challenges of bioreactor systems for the clinical-scale expansion of T lymphocyte cells. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 49:107735. [PMID: 33781889 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Cell therapies based on T cell have gathered interest over the last decades for treatment of cancers, becoming recently the most investigated lineage for clinical trials. Although results of adoptive cell therapies are very promising, obtaining large batches of T cell at clinical scale is still challenging nowadays. We propose here a review study focusing on how bioreactor systems could increase expansion rates of T cell culture specifically towards efficient, reliable and reproducible cell therapies. After describing the specificities of T cell culture, in particular activation, phenotypical characterization and cell density considerations, we detail the main objectives of bioreactors in this context, namely scale-up, GMP-compliance and reduced time and costs. Then, we report recent advances on the different classes of bioreactor systems commonly investigated for non-adherent cell expansion, in comparison with the current "gold standard" of T cell culture (flasks and culture bag). Results obtained with hollow fibres, G-Rex® flasks, Wave bioreactor, multiple-step bioreactors, spinner flasks as well as original homemade designs are discussed to highlight advantages and drawbacks in regards to T cells' specificities. Although there is currently no consensus on an optimal bioreactor, overall, most systems reviewed here can improve T cell culture towards faster, easier and/or cheaper protocols. They also offer strong outlooks towards automation, process control and complete closed systems, which could be mandatory developments for a massive clinical breakthrough. However, proper controls are sometimes lacking to conclude clearly on the features leading to the progresses regarding cell expansion, and the field could benefit from process engineering methods, such as quality by design, to perform multi parameters studies and face these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothée Baudequin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Robin Nyland
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Hua Ye
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom.
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28
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Yang P, Cao X, Cai H, Feng P, Chen X, Zhu Y, Yang Y, An W, Yang Y, Jie J. The exosomes derived from CAR-T cell efficiently target mesothelin and reduce triple-negative breast cancer growth. Cell Immunol 2020; 360:104262. [PMID: 33373818 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2020.104262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Genetically engineered T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) have rapidly developed into a powerful and innovative therapeutic modality for cancer patients. However, the problem of dose-dependent systemic toxicity cannot be ignored. In this study, exosomes derived from mesothelin (MSLN)-targeted CAR-T cells were isolated, and we found that they maintain most characteristics of the parental T cells, including surface expression of the CARs and CD3. Furthermore, CAR-carrying exosomes significantly inhibited the growth of both endogenous and exogenous MSLN-positive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The expression of the effector molecules perforin and granzyme B may be a mechanism of tumor killing. More importantly, a highly effective tumor inhibition rate without obvious side effects was observed with the administration of CAR-T cell exosomes in vivo. Thus, the use of CAR-T cell exosomes has great therapeutic potential against MSLN-expressing TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxiang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China; Institute of Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Science, Harbin Medical University, 150081 Harbin, China
| | - Xingjian Cao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, 226001, Nantong, China
| | - Huilong Cai
- Institute of Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Science, Harbin Medical University, 150081 Harbin, China
| | - Panfeng Feng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, 226001 Nantong, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, 226001, Nantong, China
| | - Yihua Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, 226001, Nantong, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Institute of Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Science, Harbin Medical University, 150081 Harbin, China
| | - Weiwei An
- Institute of Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Science, Harbin Medical University, 150081 Harbin, China
| | - Yumin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, 226001 Nantong, China.
| | - Jing Jie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, 226001, Nantong, China.
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29
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Lin WY, Wang HH, Chen YW, Lin CF, Fan HC, Lee YY. Gene Modified CAR-T Cellular Therapy for Hematologic Malignancies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228655. [PMID: 33212810 PMCID: PMC7697548 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With advances in the understanding of characteristics of molecules, specific antigens on the surface of hematological malignant cells were identified and multiple therapies targeting these antigens as neoplasm treatments were developed. Among them, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which got United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for relapsed/refractory (r/r) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) as well as for recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) within the past five years, and for r/r mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) this year, represents one of the most rapidly evolving immunotherapies. Nevertheless, its applicability to other hematological malignancies, as well as its efficacy and persistence are fraught with clinical challenges. Currently, more than one thousand clinical trials in CAR T-cell therapy are ongoing and its development is changing rapidly. This review introduces the current status of CAR T-cell therapy in terms of the basic molecular aspects of CAR T-cell therapy, its application in hematological malignancies, adverse reactions during clinical use, remaining challenges, and future utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ying Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan;
| | - Hsin-Hui Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Immunology and Nephrology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan;
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
- Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Wei Chen
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan;
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan;
| | - Chun-Fu Lin
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan;
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Hueng-Chuen Fan
- Department of Pediatrics, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Wuchi, Taichung 435403, Taiwan;
- Department of Medical Research, Tungs’ Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Wuchi, Taichung 435403, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Department of Rehabilitation, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli 356, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Yen Lee
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan;
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-28757491; Fax: +886-2-28757588
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30
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Chin MW, Norman MDA, Gentleman E, Coppens MO, Day RM. A Hydrogel-Integrated Culture Device to Interrogate T Cell Activation with Physicochemical Cues. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:47355-47367. [PMID: 33027591 PMCID: PMC7586298 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c16478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The recent rise of adoptive T cell therapy (ATCT) as a promising cancer immunotherapy has triggered increased interest in therapeutic T cell bioprocessing. T cell activation is a critical processing step and is known to be modulated by physical parameters, such as substrate stiffness. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about how biophysical factors regulate immune cells, such as T cells. Understanding how T cell activation is modulated by physical and biochemical cues may offer novel methods to control cell behavior for therapeutic cell processing. Inspired by T cell mechanosensitivity, we developed a multiwell, reusable, customizable, two-dimensional (2D) polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogel-integrated culture device to study the physicochemical stimulation of Jurkat T cells. Substrate stiffness and ligand density were tuned by concentrations of the hydrogel cross-linker and antibody in the coating solution, respectively. We cultured Jurkat T cells on 2D hydrogels of different stiffnesses that presented surface-immobilized stimulatory antibodies against CD3 and CD28 and demonstrated that Jurkat T cells stimulated by stiff hydrogels (50.6 ± 15.1 kPa) exhibited significantly higher interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion, but lower proliferation, than those stimulated by softer hydrogels (7.1 ± 0.4 kPa). In addition, we found that increasing anti-CD3 concentration from 10 to 30 μg/mL led to a significant increase in IL-2 secretion from cells stimulated on 7.1 ± 0.4 and 9.3 ± 2.4 kPa gels. Simultaneous tuning of substrate stiffness and stimulatory ligand density showed that the two parameters synergize (two-way ANOVA interaction effect: p < 0.001) to enhance IL-2 secretion. Our results demonstrate the importance of physical parameters in immune cell stimulation and highlight the potential of designing future immunostimulatory biomaterials that are mechanically tailored to balance stimulatory strength and downstream proliferative capacity of therapeutic T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew
H. W. Chin
- Centre
for Precision Healthcare, Division of Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- Centre
for Nature Inspired Engineering, University
College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Michael D. A. Norman
- Centre
for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Eileen Gentleman
- Centre
for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Marc-Olivier Coppens
- Centre
for Nature Inspired Engineering, University
College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University College
London, London WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom
| | - Richard M. Day
- Centre
for Precision Healthcare, Division of Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- Centre
for Nature Inspired Engineering, University
College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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31
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Editor's Pick: Tumour-Associated Hypoxia: Can We Give Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells More Breathing Space? EUROPEAN MEDICAL JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.33590/emj/20-00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells has encountered important limitations in the transition of their use from liquid to solid tumours. Success is dependent upon T-cell trafficking to, and functional persistence within, tumours that often present a metabolically and immunologically hostile microenvironment. Moreover, CAR targets that are tumour specific are extremely scarce. To address these issues, several strategies have been proposed to improve both tumour selectivity and safety. One approach involves the engineering of CAR-T cells that only deploy their effector function at tumour sites. Conceptually, a solution for this exploits the oxygen-limited nature of advanced tumour deposits through the engineering of CAR that are exclusively expressed or activated under conditions of profound hypoxia. T cells have a complex inter-relationship with oxygen, which also needs to be factored into the refinement of these technologies. Ideally, oxygen-sensing CAR should only function when oxygen tension is below 2%, as is commonly the case in solid tumours but rare in healthy tissue. Successful advancement of such technologies presents opportunities for solid tumour immunotherapy because it should broaden the target repertoire that may safely be exploited in this context.
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32
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Ran T, Eichmüller SB, Schmidt P, Schlander M. Cost of decentralized
CAR
T‐cell production in an academic nonprofit setting. Int J Cancer 2020; 147:3438-3445. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ran
- Division of Health Economics German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
| | - Stefan B. Eichmüller
- Research Group GMP & T Cell Therapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
| | - Patrick Schmidt
- Research Group GMP & T Cell Therapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and University Hospital Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
| | - Michael Schlander
- Division of Health Economics German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
- Medical Faculty Mannheim University of Heidelberg Mannheim Germany
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33
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Nawaz W, Xu S, Li Y, Huang B, Wu X, Wu Z. Nanotechnology and immunoengineering: How nanotechnology can boost CAR-T therapy. Acta Biomater 2020; 109:21-36. [PMID: 32294554 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy has achieved remarkable clinical efficacy against hematological cancers and has been approved by FDA for treatment of B-cell tumors. However, the complex manufacturing process and limited success in solid tumors hamper its widespread applications, thus prompting the development of new strategies for overcoming the abovementioned hurdles. In the last decade, nanotechnology has provided sustainable strategies for improving cancer immunotherapy through vaccine development and delivery of immunomodulatory drugs. Nanotechnology can boost CAR-T therapy and may overcome the existing challenges by emerging as a carrier for CAR-T therapy or in combination with CAR-T, it may inhibit solid tumors more effectively than conventional approaches. The revealing of cellular mechanisms, barriers and potential strategies that could be used to manipulate and/or modify cells would enable unprecedented advances in nanotechnology for biologics delivery. This review outlines the journey and barriers of nanoparticles (NPs) across the cell. Subsequently, the approaches to tackle the barriers and strategies to modulate NPs as a carrier for CAR-T therapy are discussed. Finally, the role of NPs in CAR-T therapy and the potential challenges are summarized. This review aims to provide the readers with a detailed overview of NP-based CAR-T therapy research and distil this information into an accessible form conducive to design desired CAR-T therapy using NP approach. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is the most vibrant field in immuno-oncology today, with enormous benefits to patients with B-cell malignancies. However, a rapid and straightforward procedure for CAR-T generation is an exigent need to broaden its therapeutic avenue. Nanotechnology has emerged as a novel alternative approach for CAR-T generation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in-depth review that briefly highlights the various aspects of nanotechnology in CAR-T therapy, including the strategies to brand NPs as an effective carrier for CAR cargo, its potential advantages, challenges, and future roadmap. It provides readers with a detailed overview of NP-based CAR-T therapy research, and researchers would be able to distill this information into an accessible form conducive to design the desired CAR therapy using the nanotechnology approach.
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34
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Akhavan D, Alizadeh D, Wang D, Weist MR, Shepphird JK, Brown CE. CAR T cells for brain tumors: Lessons learned and road ahead. Immunol Rev 2020; 290:60-84. [PMID: 31355493 PMCID: PMC6771592 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors, including glioblastoma, represent some of the most difficult to treat of solid tumors. Nevertheless, recent progress in immunotherapy, across a broad range of tumor types, provides hope that immunological approaches will have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with brain tumors. Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T cells, a promising immunotherapeutic modality, utilizes the tumor targeting specificity of any antibody or receptor ligand to redirect the cytolytic potency of T cells. The remarkable clinical response rates of CD19-targeted CAR T cells and early clinical experiences in glioblastoma demonstrating safety and evidence for disease modifying activity support the potential of further advancements ultimately providing clinical benefit for patients. The brain, however, is an immune specialized organ presenting unique and specific challenges to immune-based therapies. Remaining barriers to be overcome for achieving effective CAR T cell therapy in the central nervous system (CNS) include tumor antigenic heterogeneity, an immune-suppressive microenvironment, unique properties of the CNS that limit T cell entry, and risks of immune-based toxicities in this highly sensitive organ. This review will summarize preclinical and clinical data for CAR T cell immunotherapy in glioblastoma and other malignant brain tumors, including present obstacles to advancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Akhavan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Darya Alizadeh
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Dongrui Wang
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Michael R Weist
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Jennifer K Shepphird
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Christine E Brown
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California.,Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
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Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has revolutionized the immunotherapy field with high rate complete responses especially for hematological diseases. Despite the diversity of tumor specific-antigens, the manufacturing process is consistent and involves multiple steps, including selection of T cells, activation, genetic modification, and in vitro expansion. Among these complex manufacturing phases, the choice of culture system to generate a high number of functional cells needs to be evaluated and optimized. Flasks, bags, and rocking motion bioreactor are the most used platforms for CAR-T cell expansion in the current clinical trials but are far from being standardized. New processing options are available and a systematic effort seeking automation, standardization and the increase of production scale, would certainly help to bring the costs down and ultimately democratize this personalized therapy. In this review, we describe different cell expansion platforms available as well as the quality control requirements for clinical-grade production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Mizukami
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Kamilla Swiech
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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36
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Holstein SA, Lunning MA. CAR T‐Cell Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies: A Voyage in Progress. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2019; 107:112-122. [DOI: 10.1002/cpt.1674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Holstein
- Division of Oncology and Hematology Department of Internal Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Nebraska USA
| | - Matthew A. Lunning
- Division of Oncology and Hematology Department of Internal Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Nebraska USA
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37
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Moço PD, Aharony N, Kamen A. Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors for Homology-Directed Generation of CAR-T Cells. Biotechnol J 2019; 15:e1900286. [PMID: 31642193 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy with T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) is an emerging and promising treatment against refractory cancers. However, the currently adopted methods of modification of T cells pose a risk of insertional oncogenesis because lentiviral and retroviral vectors integrate the CAR transgene in a semi-random fashion. In addition, this therapy is only available using autologous cells, which create problems in production and limit the access for patients who have their T cells depleted. One modification method that shows the ability to overcome both drawbacks is the knock-in of the CAR simultaneously knocking-out genes that prevent allogeneic therapy, such as the endogenous T cell receptor. In this mini-review, the authors present recent efforts to develop safer universal CAR-T cells. More specifically, the combined application of target-directed nucleases, which create a double-strand break at a specific genome locus, and the delivery of CAR DNA via adeno-associated viral vectors for subsequent integration via homologous recombination and silencing of the targeted gene is focused on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo D Moço
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montréal, H3A 0E9, Canada
| | - Noga Aharony
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montréal, H3A 0E9, Canada
| | - Amine Kamen
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montréal, H3A 0E9, Canada
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38
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Current status and hurdles for CAR-T cell immune therapy. BLOOD SCIENCE 2019; 1:148-155. [PMID: 35402809 PMCID: PMC8974909 DOI: 10.1097/bs9.0000000000000025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have emerged as novel and promising immune therapies for the treatment of multiple types of cancer in patients with hematological malignancies. There are several key components critical for development and application of CAR-T therapy. First, the design of CAR vectors can considerably affect several aspects of the physiological functions of these T cells. Moreover, despite the wide use of γ-retrovirus and lentivirus in mediating gene transfer into T cells, optimal CAR delivery systems are also being developed and evaluated. In addition, several classes of mouse models have been used to evaluate the efficacies of CAR-T cells; however, each model has its own limitations. Clinically, although surprising complete remission (CR) rates were observed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), lymphoma, and multiple myeloma (MM), there is still a lack of specific targets for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Leukemia relapse remains a major challenge, and its mechanism is presently under investigation. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity are life-threatening adverse effects that need to be carefully treated. Several factors that compromise the activities of anti-solid cancer CAR-T cells have been recognized, and further improvements targeting these factors are the focus of the development of novel CAR-T cells. Overcoming the current hurdles will lead to optimal responses of CAR-T cells, thus paving the way for their wide clinical application.
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Poorebrahim M, Sadeghi S, Fakhr E, Abazari MF, Poortahmasebi V, Kheirollahi A, Askari H, Rajabzadeh A, Rastegarpanah M, Linē A, Cid-Arregui A. Production of CAR T-cells by GMP-grade lentiviral vectors: latest advances and future prospects. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2019; 56:393-419. [PMID: 31314617 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2019.1633512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells represent a paradigm shift in cancer immunotherapy and a new milestone in the history of oncology. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved two CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapies (Kymriah™, Novartis, and Yescarta™, Kite Pharma/Gilead Sciences) that have remarkable efficacy in some B-cell malignancies. The CAR approach is currently being evaluated in multiple pivotal trials designed for the immunotherapy of hematological malignancies as well as solid tumors. To generate CAR T-cells ex vivo, lentiviral vectors (LVs) are particularly appealing due to their ability to stably integrate relatively large DNA inserts, and to efficiently transduce both dividing and nondividing cells. This review discusses the latest advances and challenges in the design and production of CAR T-cells, and the good manufacturing practices (GMP)-grade production process of LVs used as a gene transfer vehicle. New developments in the application of CAR T-cell therapy are also outlined with particular emphasis on next-generation allogeneic CAR T-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansour Poorebrahim
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Solmaz Sadeghi
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR , Tehran , Iran
| | - Elham Fakhr
- Department of Translational Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Mohammad Foad Abazari
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Vahdat Poortahmasebi
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran
| | - Asma Kheirollahi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran , Tehran , Iran
| | - Hassan Askari
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Alireza Rajabzadeh
- Applied Cell Sciences and Tissue Engineering Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Malihe Rastegarpanah
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Aija Linē
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre , Riga , Latvia
| | - Angel Cid-Arregui
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR , Tehran , Iran.,Targeted Tumor Vaccines Group, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) , Heidelberg , Germany
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Yang S, Wen J, Li H, Xu L, Liu Y, Zhao N, Zeng Z, Qi J, Jiang W, Han W, Zu Y. Aptamer-Engineered Natural Killer Cells for Cell-Specific Adaptive Immunotherapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1900903. [PMID: 31026116 PMCID: PMC6541510 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201900903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a key component of the innate immune system as they can attack cancer cells without prior sensitization. However, due to lack of cell-specific receptors, NK cells are not innately able to perform targeted cancer immunotherapy. Aptamers are short single-stranded oligonucleotides that specifically recognize their targets with high affinity in a similar manner to antibodies. To render NK cells with target-specificity, synthetic CD30-specific aptamers are anchored on cell surfaces to produce aptamer-engineered NK cells (ApEn-NK) without genetic alteration or cell damage. Under surface-anchored aptamer guidance, ApEn-NK specifically bind to CD30-expressing lymphoma cells but do not react to off-target cells. The resulting specific cell binding of ApEn-NK triggers higher apoptosis/death rates of lymphoma cells compared to parental NK cells. Additionally, experiments with primary human NK cells demonstrate the potential of ApEn-NK to specifically target and kill lymphoma cells, thus presenting a potential new approach for targeted immunotherapy by NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuanghui Yang
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jianguo Wen
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Huan Li
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanting Liu
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nianxi Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zihua Zeng
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jianjun Qi
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wenqi Jiang
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wei Han
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Hematology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Youli Zu
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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Capitini CM. CAR-T immunotherapy: how will it change treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and beyond? Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2019; 6:563-566. [PMID: 30775189 DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2018.1529562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Introduction The recent approval of CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for refractory or second relapse of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) has led to a paradigm shift. Besides being an alternative to chemotherapy and antibody-based approaches, CAR-T cells have become the first successful example of "personalized medicine." Areas covered In clinical trials, tisagenlecleucel demonstrated higher response rates than prior therapies, and led to durable remissions lasting up to years for some children. Toxicities like cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, while potentially reversible, have limited usage of CAR-T cells at certified centers with expertise in cellular therapy. Strategies to deal with B-ALL relapse after CAR-T remain an open area of research. Expert opinion Going forward, improvements will likely be seen in managing the side effects of CAR-T therapy as well as usage of CAR-T cells upfront as a replacement for chemotherapy or allogeneic bone marrow transplant for B-ALL. Further advances will need to reduce the biomanufacturing time needed to generate CAR-T cells as well as develop biomarkers that predict CAR-T persistence and/or toxicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M Capitini
- Department of Pediatrics and Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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Roddie C, O'Reilly M, Dias Alves Pinto J, Vispute K, Lowdell M. Manufacturing chimeric antigen receptor T cells: issues and challenges. Cytotherapy 2019; 21:327-340. [PMID: 30685216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Clinical trials of adoptively transferred CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have delivered unprecedented responses in patients with relapsed refractory B-cell malignancy. These results have prompted Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of two CAR T-cell products in this high-risk patient population. The widening range of indications for CAR T-cell therapy and increasing patient numbers present a significant logistical challenge to manufacturers aiming for reproducible delivery systems for high-quality clinical CAR T-cell products. This review discusses current and novel CAR T-cell processing methodologies and the quality control systems needed to meet the increasing clinical demand for these exciting new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Roddie
- Research Department of Haematology, University College London, London, UK; Department of Haematology, University College London Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London.
| | - Maeve O'Reilly
- Research Department of Haematology, University College London, London, UK; Department of Haematology, University College London Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London
| | | | - Ketki Vispute
- Research Department of Haematology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Lowdell
- Research Department of Haematology, University College London, London, UK
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Pi CH, Yu G, Dosa PI, Hubel A. Characterizing modes of action and interaction for multicomponent osmolyte solutions on Jurkat cells. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:631-643. [PMID: 30475391 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the post-thaw recovery of Jurkat cells cryopreserved in three combinations of five osmolytes including trehalose, sucrose, glycerol, mannitol, and creatine. Cellular response was characterized using low-temperature Raman spectroscopy, and variation of post-thaw recovery was analyzed using statistical modeling. Combinations of osmolytes displayed distinct trends of post-thaw recovery, and a nonlinear relationship between compositions and post-thaw recovery was observed, suggesting interactions not only between different solutes but also between solutes and cells. The post-thaw recovery for optimized cryoprotectants in different combinations of osmolytes at a cooling rate of 1°C/min was comparable to that measured with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide. Statistical modeling was used to understand the importance of individual osmolytes as well as interactions between osmolytes on post-thaw recovery. Both higher concentrations of glycerol and certain interactions between sugars and glycerol were found to typically increase the post-thaw recovery. Raman images showed the influence of osmolytes and combinations of osmolytes on ice crystal shape, which reflected the interactions between osmolytes and water. Differences in the composition also influenced the presence or absence of intracellular ice formation, which could also be detected by Raman. These studies help us understand the modes of action for cryoprotective agents in these osmolyte solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hsing Pi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Guanglin Yu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Peter I Dosa
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Allison Hubel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Mueller K, Carlson-Stevermer J, Saha K. Increasing the precision of gene editing in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2018; 7:83-90. [PMID: 31086832 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
New gene editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 enable precision genome engineering within cell lines, primary cells, and model organisms, with some formulations now entering the clinic. "Precision" applies to various aspects of gene editing, and can be tailored for each application. Here we review recent advances in four types of precision in gene editing: 1) increased DNA cutting precision (e.g., on-target:off-target nuclease specificity), 2) increased on-target knock-in of sequence variants and transgenes (e.g., increased homology-directed repair), 3) increased transcriptional control of edited genes, and 4) increased specificity in delivery to a specific cell or tissue. Design of next-generation gene and cell therapies will likely exploit a combination of these advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Mueller
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Jared Carlson-Stevermer
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
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Tuwahatu CA, Yeung CC, Lam YW, Roy VAL. The molecularly imprinted polymer essentials: curation of anticancer, ophthalmic, and projected gene therapy drug delivery systems. J Control Release 2018; 287:24-34. [PMID: 30110614 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The development of polymeric materials as drug delivery systems has advanced from systems that rely on classical passive targeting to carriers that can sustain the precisely controlled release of payloads upon physicochemical triggers in desired microenvironment. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), materials designed to capture specific molecules based on their molecular shape and charge distribution, are attractive candidates for fulfilling these purposes. In particular, drug-imprinted polymers coupled with active targeting mechanisms have been explored as potential drug delivery systems. In this review, we have curated important recent efforts in the development of drug-imprinted polymers in a variety of clinical applications, especially oncology and ophthalmology. MIP possesses properties that may complement the traditional delivery systems of these two disciplines, such as passive enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) in cancer tumors, and passive drug diffusion in delivering ophthalmic therapeutics. Furthermore, the prospects of MIP integration with the emerging gene therapies will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Antonio Tuwahatu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Chung Yeung
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yun Wah Lam
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vellaisamy Arul Lenus Roy
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
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Fang F, Xiao W, Tian Z. Challenges of NK cell-based immunotherapy in the new era. Front Med 2018; 12:440-450. [PMID: 30047028 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-018-0653-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer cells (NKs) have a great potential for cancer immunotherapy because they can rapidly and directly kill transformed cells in the absence of antigen presensitization. Various cellular sources, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), stem cells, and NK cell lines, have been used for producing NK cells. In particular, NK cells that expanded from allogeneic PBMCs exhibit better efficacy than those that did not. However, considering the safety, activities, and reliability of the cell products, researchers must develop an optimal protocol for producing NK cells from PBMCs in the manufacture setting and clinical therapeutic regimen. In this review, the challenges on NK cell-based therapeutic approaches and clinical outcomes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Fang
- Institute of Immunology and the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Weihua Xiao
- Institute of Immunology and the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, 230027, China.
| | - Zhigang Tian
- Institute of Immunology and the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, 230027, China.
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Cabral JMS, Palecek SP. Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing. Biotechnol J 2018; 13. [PMID: 29392889 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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