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Amissah OB, Basnet R, Chen W, Habimana JDD, Baiden BE, Owusu OA, Saeed BJ, Li Z. Enhancing antitumor response by efficiently generating large-scale TCR-T cells targeting a single epitope across multiple cancer antigens. Cell Immunol 2024; 399-400:104827. [PMID: 38733699 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2024.104827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
The need to contrive interventions to curb the rise in cancer incidence and mortality is critical for improving patients' prognoses. Adoptive cell therapy is challenged with quality large-scale production, heightening its production cost. Several cancer types have been associated with the expression of highly-immunogenic CTAG1 and CTAG2 antigens, which share common epitopes. Targeting two antigens on the same cancer could improve the antitumor response of TCR-T cells. In this study, we exploited an efficient way to generate large-fold quality TCR-T cells and also demonstrated that the common epitopes of CTAG1 and CTAG2 antigens provide an avenue for improved cancer-killing via dual-antigen-epitope targeting. Our study revealed that xeno/sera-free medium could expand TCR-T cells to over 500-fold, posing as a better replacement for FBS-supplemented media. Human AB serum was also shown to be a good alternative in the absence of xeno/sera-free media. Furthermore, TCR-T cells stimulated with beads-coated T-activator showed a better effector function than soluble T-activator stimulated TCR-T cells. Additionally, TCR-T cells that target multiple antigens in the same cancer yield better anticancer activity than those targeting a single antigen. This showed that targeting multiple antigens with a common epitope may enhance the antitumor response efficacy of T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obed Boadi Amissah
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Rajesh Basnet
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenfang Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jean de Dieu Habimana
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Belinda Edwina Baiden
- College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Osei Asibey Owusu
- Department of Clinical and Medical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Babangida Jabir Saeed
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Zhiyuan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China; GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
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2
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Wang L, Liang Z, Guo Y, Habimana JDD, Ren Y, Amissah OB, Mukama O, Peng S, Ding X, Lv L, Li J, Chen M, Liu Z, Huang R, Zhang Y, Li Y, Li Z, Sun Y. STING agonist diABZI enhances the cytotoxicity of T cell towards cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:265. [PMID: 38615022 PMCID: PMC11016101 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06638-1] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Antigen-specific T cell receptor-engineered T cell (TCR-T) based immunotherapy has proven to be an effective method to combat cancer. In recent years, cross-talk between the innate and adaptive immune systems may be requisite to optimize sustained antigen-specific immunity, and the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a promising therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. The level of expression or presentation of antigen in tumor cells affects the recognition and killing of tumor cells by TCR-T. This study aimed at investigating the potential of innate immune stimulation of T cells and engineered T cells to enhance immunotherapy for low-expression antigen cancer cells. We systematically investigated the function and mechanism of cross-talk between STING agonist diABZI and adaptive immune systems. We established NY-ESO-1 full knockout Mel526 cells for this research and found that diABZI activated STING media and TCR signaling pathways. In addition, the results of flow cytometry showed that antigens presentation from cancer cells induced by STING agonist diABZI also improved the affinity of TCR-T cells function against tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Our findings revealed that diABZI enhanced the immunotherapy efficacy of TCR-T by activating STING media and TCR signaling pathways, improving interferon-γ expression, and increasing antigens presentation of tumor cells. This indicates that STING agonist could be used as a strategy to promote TCR-T cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Zhaoduan Liang
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health GuangDong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Yunzhuo Guo
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Jean de Dieu Habimana
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Yuefei Ren
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Obed Boadi Amissah
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Omar Mukama
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, 3900, Rwanda
| | - Siqi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuanyan Ding
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Linshuang Lv
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Junyi Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Min Chen
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Zhaoming Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Rongqi Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Yinchao Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Yi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zhiyuan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
- GZMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
| | - Yirong Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
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Li Y, Zhao W, Shen Y, Xu Y, Chen S, Pan L. T Cell Receptor-Directed Bispecific T Cell Engager Targeting MHC-Linked NY-ESO-1 for Tumor Immunotherapy. Biomedicines 2024; 12:776. [PMID: 38672132 PMCID: PMC11048172 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040776] [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: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibody-based bispecific T cell engagers (TCEs) that redirect T cells to kill tumor cells have shown a promising therapeutic effect on hematologic malignancies. However, tumor-specific targeting is still a challenge for TCEs, impeding the development of TCEs for solid tumor therapy. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) presents almost all intracellular peptides (including tumor-specific peptides) on the cell surface to be scanned by the TCR on T cells. With the premise of choosing optimal peptides, the final complex peptide-MHC could be the tumor-specific target for TCEs. Here, a novel TCR-directed format of a TCE targeting peptide-MHC was designed named IgG-T-TCE, which was modified from the IgG backbone and prepared in a mammalian cell expression system. The recombinant IgG-T-TCE-NY targeting NY-ESO-1157-165/HLA-A*02:01 could be generated in HEK293 cells with a glycosylated TCR and showed potency in T cell activation and redirecting T cells to specifically kill target tumor cells. We also found that the in vitro activity of IgG-T-TCE-NY could be leveraged by various anti-CD3 antibodies and Fc silencing. The IgG-T-TCE-NY efficiently inhibited tumor growth in a tumor-PBMC co-engrafted mouse model without any obvious toxicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Li
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.X.)
| | - Wenbin Zhao
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.X.)
- Zhejiang University Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Engineering Research Center of Innovative Anticancer Drugs, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Ying Shen
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.X.)
- Zhejiang University Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Engineering Research Center of Innovative Anticancer Drugs, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.X.)
| | - Shuqing Chen
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.X.)
| | - Liqiang Pan
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Y.L.); (W.Z.); (Y.S.); (Y.X.)
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4
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Mo G, Lu X, Wu S, Zhu W. Strategies and rules for tuning TCR-derived therapy. Expert Rev Mol Med 2023; 26:e4. [PMID: 38095091 PMCID: PMC11062142 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2023.27] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Manipulation of T cells has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. Notably, the use of T cells carrying engineered T cell receptors (TCR-T) offers a favourable therapeutic pathway, particularly in the treatment of solid tumours. However, major challenges such as limited clinical response efficacy, off-target effects and tumour immunosuppressive microenvironment have hindered the clinical translation of this approach. In this review, we mainly want to guide TCR-T investigators on several major issues they face in the treatment of solid tumours after obtaining specific TCR sequences: (1) whether we have to undergo affinity maturation or not, and what parameter we should use as a criterion for being more effective. (2) What modifications can be added to counteract the tumour inhibitory microenvironment to make our specific T cells to be more effective and what is the safety profile of such modifications? (3) What are the new forms and possibilities for TCR-T cell therapy in the future?
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoheng Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinyu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sha Wu
- Department of Immunology/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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5
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Wu D, Li Y. Application of adoptive cell therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunology 2023; 170:453-469. [PMID: 37435926 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a global health challenge. Novel treatment modalities are urgently needed to extend the overall survival of patients. The liver plays an immunomodulatory function due to its unique physiological structural characteristics. Therefore, following surgical resection and radiotherapy, immunotherapy regimens have shown great potential in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Adoptive cell immunotherapy is rapidly developing in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review, we summarize the latest research on adoptive immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. The focus is on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cells. Then tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), natural killer (NK) cells, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, and macrophages are briefly discussed. The main overview of the application and challenges of adoptive immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. It aims to provide the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the current status of HCC adoptive immunotherapy and offers some strategies. We hope to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengqiang Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Ningbo No. 6 Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Yujie Li
- Clinical Laboratory of Ningbo Medical Centre Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Zhejiang, Ningbo, China
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6
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Wang Y, Wang H. Lymph node targeting for immunotherapy. IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 2023; 20:100395. [PMID: 37719676 PMCID: PMC10504489 DOI: 10.1016/j.iotech.2023.100395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy that aims to boost the body's immune responses against pathogens or diseased cells has achieved significant progress for treating different diseases over the past several decades, especially with the success of checkpoint blockades, chimeric antigen receptor T therapy, and cancer vaccines in clinical cancer treatment. Effective immunotherapy necessitates the generation of potent and persistent humoral and T-cell responses, which lies in the ability of modulating and guiding antigen-presenting cells to prime antigen-specific T and B cells in the lymphoid tissues, notably in the lymph nodes proximal to the disease site. To this end, various types of strategies have been developed to facilitate the delivery of immunomodulatory agents to immune cells (e.g. dendritic cells and T cells) in the lymph nodes. Among them, intranodal injection enables the direct exposure of immunomodulators to immune cells in lymph nodes, but is limited by the technical challenge and intrinsic invasiveness. To address, multiple passive and active lymph node-targeting technologies have been developed. In this review, we will provide an overview of different lymph node-targeting technologies developed to date, as well as the mechanism and merits of each approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - H Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL), Urbana, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
- Carle College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
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Shi R, Zhou X, Pang L, Wang M, Li Y, Chen C, Ning H, Zhang L, Yue G, Qiu L, Zhao W, Qi Y, Wu Y, Gao Y. Peptide vaccine from cancer-testis antigen ODF2 can potentiate the cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration through IL-15 in non-MSI-H colorectal cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:985-1001. [PMID: 36251028 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-022-03307-0] [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: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 03/20/2023]
Abstract
About 85% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have the non-microsatellite instability-high (non-MSI-H) subtype, and many cannot benefit from immune checkpoint blockade. A potential reason for this is that most non-MSI-H colorectal cancers are immunologically "cold" due to poor CD8+ T cell infiltration. In the present study, we screened for potential cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) by comparing the bioinformatics of CD8+ T effector memory (Tem) cell infiltration between MSI-H and non-MSI-H CRC. Two ODF2-derived epitope peptides, P433 and P609, displayed immunogenicity and increased the proportion of CD8+ T effector memory (Tem) cells in vitro and in vivo. The adoptive transfer of peptide pool-induced CTLs inhibited tumor growth and enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration in tumor-bearing NOD/SCID mice. The mechanistic study showed that knockdown of ODF2 in CRC cells promoted interleukin-15 expression, which facilitated CD8+ T cell proliferation. In conclusion, ODF2, a CTA, was negatively correlated with CD8+ T cell infiltration in "cold" non-MSI-H CRC and was selected based on the results of bioinformatics analyses. The corresponding HLA-A2 restricted epitope peptide induced antigen-specific CTLs. Immunotherapy targeting ODF2 could improve CTA infiltration via upregulating IL-15 in non-MSI-H CRC. This tumor antigen screening strategy could be exploited to develop therapeutic vaccines targeting non-MSI-H CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Xiuman Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Liwei Pang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Mingshuang Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yubing Li
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Chunxia Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Haoming Ning
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Lihan Zhang
- Department of Integrated Chinse and Western Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008, China
| | - Guangxing Yue
- Department of Integrated Chinse and Western Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008, China
| | - Lu Qiu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Wenshan Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Bioactive Macromolecules, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- International Joint Laboratory for Protein and Peptide Drugs of Henan Province, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yuanming Qi
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Bioactive Macromolecules, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- International Joint Laboratory for Protein and Peptide Drugs of Henan Province, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yahong Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Bioactive Macromolecules, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
- International Joint Laboratory for Protein and Peptide Drugs of Henan Province, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Yanfeng Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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Schossig P, Coskun E, Arsenic R, Horst D, Sehouli J, Bergmann E, Andresen N, Sigler C, Busse A, Keller U, Ochsenreither S. Target Selection for T-Cell Therapy in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Systematic Prioritization of Self-Antigens. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032292. [PMID: 36768616 PMCID: PMC9916968 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cell-receptor therapy (ACT) could represent a promising approach in the targeted treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, the identification of suitable tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) as targets is challenging. We identified and prioritized TAAs for ACT and other immunotherapeutic interventions in EOC. A comprehensive list of pre-described TAAs was created and candidates were prioritized, using predefined weighted criteria. Highly ranked TAAs were immunohistochemically stained in a tissue microarray of 58 EOC samples to identify associations of TAA expression with grade, stage, response to platinum, and prognosis. Preselection based on expression data resulted in 38 TAAs, which were prioritized. Along with already published Cyclin A1, the TAAs KIF20A, CT45, and LY6K emerged as most promising targets, with high expression in EOC samples and several identified peptides in ligandome analysis. Expression of these TAAs showed prognostic relevance independent of molecular subtypes. By using a systematic vetting algorithm, we identified KIF20A, CT45, and LY6K to be promising candidates for immunotherapy in EOC. Results are supported by IHC and HLA-ligandome data. The described method might be helpful for the prioritization of TAAs in other tumor entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Schossig
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ebru Coskun
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ruza Arsenic
- Department of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Horst
- Insitute of Pathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jalid Sehouli
- Department of Gynecology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Tumorbank Ovarian Cancer Network, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Bergmann
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Andresen
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Sigler
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Antonia Busse
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Keller
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ochsenreither
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence:
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9
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Saha C, Bojdo J, Dunne NJ, Duary RK, Buckley N, McCarthy HO. Nucleic acid vaccination strategies for ovarian cancer. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:953887. [PMID: 36420446 PMCID: PMC9677957 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.953887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
High grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is one of the most lethal ovarian cancers that is characterised by asymptomatic tumour growth, insufficient knowledge of malignant cell origin and sub-optimal detection. HGSC has been recently shown to originate in the fallopian tube and not in the ovaries. Conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery depend upon the stage of the disease and have resulted in higher rates of relapse. Hence, there is a need for alternative treatments. Differential antigen expression levels have been utilised for early detection of the cancer and could be employed in vaccination strategies using nucleic acids. In this review the different vaccination strategies in Ovarian cancer are discussed and reviewed. Nucleic acid vaccination strategies have been proven to produce a higher CD8+ CTL response alongside CD4+ T-cell response when compared to other vaccination strategies and thus provide a good arena for antitumour immune therapy. DNA and mRNA need to be delivered into the intracellular matrix. To overcome ineffective naked delivery of the nucleic acid cargo, a suitable delivery system is required. This review also considers the suitability of cell penetrating peptides as a tool for nucleic acid vaccine delivery in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayanika Saha
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - James Bojdo
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. Dunne
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
- Centre for Medical Engineering Research, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (I-Form), School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
- Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Advanced Processing Technology Research Centre, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Raj Kumar Duary
- Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
| | - Niamh Buckley
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Helen O. McCarthy
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
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10
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Wallace Z, Kopycinski J, Yang H, McCully ML, Eggeling C, Chojnacki J, Dorrell L. Immune mobilising T cell receptors redirect polyclonal CD8 + T cells in chronic HIV infection to form immunological synapses. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18366. [PMID: 36319836 PMCID: PMC9626491 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23228-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell exhaustion develops in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection due to chronic viral antigenic stimulation. This adaptive response primarily affects virus-specific CD8+ T cells, which may remain dysfunctional despite viral load-reducing antiretroviral therapy; however, abnormalities may also be evident in non-HIV-specific populations. Both could limit the efficacy of cell therapies against viral reservoirs. Here, we show that bulk (polyclonal) CD8+ T cells from people living with HIV (PLWH) express proposed markers of dysfunctional HIV-specific T cells at high levels yet form lytic immunological synapses (IS) and eliminate primary resting infected (HIV Gaglo) CD4+ T cells, when redirected by potent bispecific T cell-retargeting molecules, Immune mobilising monoclonal T cell receptors (TCR) Against Virus (ImmTAV). While PLWH CD8+ T cells are functionally impaired when compared to CD8+ T cells from HIV-naïve donors, ImmTAV redirection enables them to eliminate Gaglo CD4+ T cells that are insensitive to autologous HIV-specific cytolytic T cells. ImmTAV molecules may therefore be able to target HIV reservoirs, which represent a major barrier to a cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoë Wallace
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Immunocore Ltd, 92 Park Drive, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK.
| | - Jakub Kopycinski
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hongbing Yang
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Christian Eggeling
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology & Institute of Applied Optics and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Jakub Chojnacki
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lucy Dorrell
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Immunocore Ltd, 92 Park Drive, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK
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11
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Li B. Why do tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes have variable efficacy in the treatment of solid tumors? Front Immunol 2022; 13:973881. [PMID: 36341370 PMCID: PMC9635507 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.973881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymphocytes in tumor tissue are called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and they play a key role in the control and treatment of tumor diseases. Since the discovery in 1987 that cultured TILs can kill tumor cells more than 100 times more effectively than T-cells cultured from peripheral blood in melanoma, it has been confirmed that cultured TILs can successfully cure clinical patients with melanoma. Since 1989, after we investigated TIL isolation performance from solid tumors, we modified some procedures to increase efficacy, and thus successfully established new TIL isolation and culture methods in 1994. Moreover, our laboratory and clinicians using our cultured TILs have published more than 30 papers. To improve the efficacy of TILs, we have been carrying out studies of TIL efficacy to treat solid tumor diseases for approximately 30 years. The three main questions of TIL study have been "How do TILs remain silent in solid tumor tissue?", "How do TILs attack homologous and heterologous antigens from tumor cells of solid tumors?", and "How do TILs infiltrate solid tumor tissue from a distance into tumor sites to kill tumor cells?". Research on these three issues has increasingly answered these questions. In this review I summarize the main issues surrounding TILs in treating solid tumors. This review aims to study the killing function of TILs from solid tumor tissues, thereby ultimately introducing the optimal strategy for patients suffering from solid tumors through personalized immunotherapy in the near future.
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12
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Gerber HP, Presta LG. TCR mimic compounds for pHLA targeting with high potency modalities in oncology. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1027548. [PMID: 36338746 PMCID: PMC9635445 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1027548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
pHLA complexes represent the largest class of cell surface markers on cancer cells, making them attractive for targeted cancer therapies. Adoptive cell therapies expressing TCRs that recognize tumor specific pHLAs take advantage of the unique selectivity and avidity of TCR: pHLA interactions. More recently, additional protein binding domains binding to pHLAs, known as TCR mimics (TCRm), were developed for tumor targeting of high potency therapeutic modalities, including bispecifics, ADCs, CAR T and -NK cells. TCRm compounds take advantage of the exquisite tumor specificity of certain pHLA targets, including cell lineage commitment markers and cancer testis antigens (CTAs). To achieve meaningful anti-tumor responses, it is critical that TCRm compounds integrate both, high target binding affinities and a high degree of target specificity. In this review, we describe the most advanced approaches to achieve both criteria, including affinity- and specificity engineering of TCRs, antibodies and alternative protein scaffolds. We also discuss the status of current TCRm based therapeutics developed in the clinic, key challenges, and emerging trends to improve treatment options for cancer patients treated with TCRm based therapeutics in Oncology.
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13
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Kang S, Wang L, Xu L, Wang R, Kang Q, Gao X, Yu L. Decitabine enhances targeting of AML cells by NY-ESO-1-specific TCR-T cells and promotes the maintenance of effector function and the memory phenotype. Oncogene 2022; 41:4696-4708. [PMID: 36097193 PMCID: PMC9568428 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02455-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
NY-ESO-1 is a well-known cancer-testis antigen (CTA) with re-expression in numerous cancer types, but its expression is suppressed in myeloid leukemia cells. Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving decitabine (DAC) exhibit induced expression of NY-ESO-1 in blasts; thus, we investigated the effects of NY-ESO-1-specific TCR-engineered T (TCR-T) cells combined with DAC against AML. NY-ESO-1-specific TCR-T cells could efficiently eliminate AML cell lines (including U937, HL60, and Kasumi-1cells) and primary AML blasts in vitro by targeting the DAC-induced NY-ESO-1 expression. Moreover, the incubation of T cells with DAC during TCR transduction (designated as dTCR-T cells) could further enhance the anti-leukemia efficacy of TCR-T cells and increase the generation of memory-like phenotype. The combination of DAC with NY-ESO-1-specific dTCR-T cells showed a superior anti-tumor efficacy in vivo and prolonged the survival of an AML xenograft mouse model, with three out of five mice showing complete elimination of AML cells over 90 days. This outcome was correlated with enhanced expressions of IFN-γ and TNF-α, and an increased proportion of central memory T cells (CD45RO+CD62L+ and CD45RO+CCR7+). Taken together, these data provide preclinical evidence for the combined use of DAC and NY-ESO-1-specific dTCR-T cells for the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Synat Kang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Lixin Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Lu Xu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruiqi Wang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Qingzheng Kang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuefeng Gao
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China. .,Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Hematological Malignancies, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Clinical Medical Academy, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
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14
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Janakiraman H, Becker SA, Bradshaw A, Rubinstein MP, Camp ER. Critical evaluation of an autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cell-based humanized cancer model. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273076. [PMID: 36095023 PMCID: PMC9467357 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of humanized mouse models for oncology is rapidly expanding. Autologous patient-derived systems are particularly attractive as they can model the human cancer's heterogeneity and immune microenvironment. In this study, we developed an autologous humanized mouse cancer model by engrafting NSG mice with patient-derived xenografts and infused matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We first defined the time course of xenogeneic graft-versus-host-disease (xGVHD) and determined that only minimal xGVHD was observed for up to 8 weeks. Next, colorectal and pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenograft bearing NSG mice were infused with 5x106 human PBMCS for development of the humanized cancer models (iPDX). Early after infusion of human PBMCs, iPDX mice demonstrated engraftment of human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the blood of both colorectal and pancreatic cancer patient-derived models that persisted for up to 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, iPDX xenografts maintained the features of the primary human tumor including tumor grade and cell type. The iPDX tumors demonstrated infiltration of human CD3+ cells with high PD-1 expression although we observed significant intra and inter- model variability. In summary, the iPDX models reproduced key features of the corresponding human tumor. The observed variability and high PD-1 expression are important considerations that need to be addressed in order to develop a reproducible model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harinarayanan Janakiraman
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Scott A. Becker
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Bradshaw
- Department of Surgery, Medical University Of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - Mark P. Rubinstein
- The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Ernest Ramsay Camp
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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15
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Xu G, Luo Y, Wang H, Wang Y, Liu B, Wei J. Therapeutic bispecific antibodies against intracellular tumor antigens. Cancer Lett 2022; 538:215699. [PMID: 35487312 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs)-based therapeutics have been identified to be one of the most promising immunotherapy strategies. However, their target repertoire is mainly restricted to cell surface antigens rather than intracellular antigens, resulting in a relatively limited scope of applications. Intracellular tumor antigens are identified to account for a large proportion of tumor antigen profiles. Recently, bsAbs that target intracellular oncoproteins have raised much attention, broadening the targeting scope of tumor antigens and improving the efficacy of traditional antibody-based therapeutics. Consequently, this review will focus on this emerging field and discuss related research advances. We introduce the classification, characteristics, and clinical applications of bsAbs, the theoretical basis for targeting intracellular antigens, delivery systems of bsAbs, and the latest preclinical and clinical advances of bsAbs targeting several intracellular oncotargets, including those of cancer-testis antigens, differentiation antigens, neoantigens, and other antigens. Moreover, we summarize the limitations of current bsAbs, and propose several potential strategies against immune escape and T cell exhaustion as well as some future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanghui Xu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Yuting Luo
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Hanbing Wang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Yue Wang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Baorui Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Jia Wei
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School & Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China; Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
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16
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Froning KJ, Sereno A, Huang F, Demarest SJ. Generalizable design parameters for soluble T cell receptor-based T cell engagers. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-004281. [PMID: 35260435 PMCID: PMC8905924 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
While most biological and cellular immunotherapies recognize extracellular targets, T cell receptor (TCR) therapeutics are unique in their ability to recognize the much larger pool of intracellular antigens found on virus-infected or cancerous cells. Recombinant T cell receptor (rTCR)-based therapeutics are gaining momentum both preclinically and clinically highlighted by recent positive phase III human clinical trial results for a TCR/CD3 bifunctional protein in uveal melanoma. Unlike antibody-based T cell engagers whose molecular formats have been widely and extensively evaluated, little data exist describing the putative activities of varied bifunctional formats using rTCRs. Here we generate rTCR/anti-CD3 bifunctionals directed toward NY-ESO-1 or MAGE-A3 with a variety of molecular formats. We show that inducing strong redirected lysis activity against tumors displaying either NY-ESO-1 or MAGE-A3 is highly restricted to small, tandem binding formats with an rTCR/antiCD3 Fab demonstrating the highest potency, rTCR/anti-CD3 single chain variable domain fragment showing similar but consistently weaker potency, and IgG-like or IgG-Fc-containing molecules demonstrating poor activity. We believe this is a universal trait of rTCR bifunctionals, given the canonical TCR/human leukocyte antigen structural paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J Froning
- Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Arlene Sereno
- Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Flora Huang
- Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Stephen J Demarest
- Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, California, USA
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17
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Actin-like protein 8, a member of cancer/testis antigens, supports the aggressive development of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells via activating cell cycle signaling. Tissue Cell 2022; 75:101708. [PMID: 35051678 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Due to the malignancy of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), investigations of novel therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers are urgently needed. In our present study, significant up-regulation of Actin-like protein 8 (ACTL8) in OSCC patients was observed by bioinformatics analysis with RNA sequencing data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The results of Chi-square test revealed that there was a significant correlation between ACTL8 expression and tumor status (T1 + T2/T3+T4) (P = 0.004). Survival analysis indicated a negative correlation between ACTL8 overexpression and prognosis in OSCC (P = 3.984e-02). An ACTL8 knockdown experiment was conducted to evaluate the function of ACTL8 on OSCC cell biological behaviors. The results revealed that knockdown of ACTL8 significantly inhibited the growth and mobility, arrested cell cycle and promoted apoptosis of TCA-83 and CAL27 cells. Moreover, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and western blots demonstrated that activation of cell cycle signaling pathway was inhibited by knockdown of ACTL8, as we observed the down-regulation of 4 key proteins (CDK1, cyclin E1, cyclin B2 and c-Myc) in this pathway. The present investigation indicates that ACTL8 plays an oncogenic role in the pathogenesis of OSCC, suggesting that ACTL8 may be a promising therapeutic target and prognosis marker for human OSCC.
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18
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Van De Vyver A, Eigenmann M, Ovacik M, Pohl C, Herter S, Weinzierl T, Fauti T, Klein C, Lehr T, Bacac M, Walz AC. A Novel Approach for Quantifying the Pharmacological Activity of T-Cell Engagers Utilizing In Vitro Time Course Experiments and Streamlined Data Analysis. AAPS J 2021; 24:7. [PMID: 34862519 PMCID: PMC8817205 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-021-00637-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
CD3-bispecific antibodies are a new class of immunotherapeutic drugs against cancer. The pharmacological activity of CD3-bispecifics is typically assessed through in vitro assays of cancer cell lines co-cultured with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Assay results depend on experimental conditions such as incubation time and the effector-to-target cell ratio, which can hinder robust quantification of pharmacological activity. In order to overcome these limitations, we developed a new, holistic approach for quantification of the in vitro dose–response relationship. Our experimental design integrates a time-independent analysis of the dose–response across different time points as an alternative to the static, “snap-shot” analysis based on a single time point commonly used in dose–response assays. We show that the potency values derived from static
in vitro experiments depend on the incubation time, which leads to inconsistent results across multiple assays and compounds. We compared the potency values from the time-independent analysis with a model-based approach. We find comparably accurate potency estimates from the model-based and time-independent analyses and that the time-independent analysis provides a robust quantification of pharmacological activity. This approach may allow for an improved head-to-head comparison of different compounds and test systems and may prove useful for supporting first-in-human dose selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Van De Vyver
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH-4070, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Miro Eigenmann
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH-4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Meric Ovacik
- Preclinical Translational Pharmacokinetics, South San Francisco, CA, Genentech, USA
| | - Christian Pohl
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zürich, Wagistrasse 10, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Sylvia Herter
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zürich, Wagistrasse 10, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Tina Weinzierl
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zürich, Wagistrasse 10, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Fauti
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zürich, Wagistrasse 10, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Christian Klein
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zürich, Wagistrasse 10, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Thorsten Lehr
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Marina Bacac
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Zürich, Wagistrasse 10, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Antje-Christine Walz
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH-4070, Basel, Switzerland.
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19
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McDaid WJ, Lissin N, Pollheimer E, Greene M, Leach A, Smyth P, Bossi G, Longley D, Cole DK, Scott CJ. Enhanced target-specific delivery of docetaxel-loaded nanoparticles using engineered T cell receptors. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:15010-15020. [PMID: 34533174 PMCID: PMC8447836 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04001d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
For effective targeted therapy of cancer with chemotherapy-loaded nanoparticles (NPs), antigens that are selective for cancer cells should be targeted to minimise off-tumour toxicity. Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are attractive cancer targets as they can present peptides from tumour-selective proteins on the cell surface, which can be recognised by T cells via T cell receptors (TCRs). In this study, docetaxel-loaded polymeric NPs were conjugated to recombinant affinity-enhanced TCRs to target breast cancer cells presenting a tumour-selective peptide-HLA complex. The TCR-conjugated nanoparticles enabled enhanced delivery of docetaxel and induced cell death through tumour-specific peptide-HLA targeting. These in vitro data demonstrate the potential of targeting tumour-restricted peptide-HLA epitopes using high affinity TCR-conjugated nanoparticles, representing a novel treatment strategy to deliver therapeutic drugs specifically to cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J McDaid
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Alderley Park, Congleton Rd, Alderley Edge, Macclesfield, UK, SK10 4TG
| | - Nikolai Lissin
- Immunocore Ltd, 101 Park Dr, Milton, Abingdon, United Kingdom OX14 4RY
| | - Ellen Pollheimer
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
| | - Michelle Greene
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
| | - Adam Leach
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
- Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Rd, Sutton, London, SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Peter Smyth
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
| | - Giovanna Bossi
- Immunocore Ltd, 101 Park Dr, Milton, Abingdon, United Kingdom OX14 4RY
| | - Daniel Longley
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
| | - David K Cole
- Immunocore Ltd, 101 Park Dr, Milton, Abingdon, United Kingdom OX14 4RY
| | - Christopher J Scott
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, BT9 7AE.
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20
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Lancman G, Sastow DL, Cho HJ, Jagannath S, Madduri D, Parekh SS, Richard S, Richter J, Sanchez L, Chari A. Bispecific Antibodies in Multiple Myeloma: Present and Future. Blood Cancer Discov 2021; 2:423-433. [PMID: 34661161 PMCID: PMC8510808 DOI: 10.1158/2643-3230.bcd-21-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite many recent advances in therapy, there is still no plateau in overall survival curves in multiple myeloma. Bispecific antibodies are a novel immunotherapeutic approach designed to bind antigens on malignant plasma cells and cytotoxic immune effector cells. Early-phase clinical trials targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), GPRC5D, and FcRH5 have demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with mainly low-grade cytokine release syndrome, cytopenias, and infections. Although dose escalation is ongoing in several studies, early efficacy data show response rates in the most active dose cohorts between 61% and 83% with many deep responses; however, durability remains to be established. Further clinical trial data are eagerly anticipated. SIGNIFICANCE Overall survival of triple-class refractory multiple myeloma remains poor. Bispecific antibodies are a novel immunotherapeutic modality with a favorable safety profile and impressive preliminary efficacy in heavily treated patients. Although more data are needed, bispecifics will likely become an integral part of the multiple myeloma treatment paradigm in the near future. Studies in earlier lines of therapy and in combination with other active anti-multiple myeloma agents will help further define the role of bispecifics in multiple myeloma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Lancman
- Tisch Cancer Insitute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | | | - Hearn J Cho
- Tisch Cancer Insitute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Sundar Jagannath
- Tisch Cancer Insitute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Deepu Madduri
- Tisch Cancer Insitute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Samir S Parekh
- Tisch Cancer Insitute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Shambavi Richard
- Tisch Cancer Insitute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Joshua Richter
- Tisch Cancer Insitute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Larysa Sanchez
- Tisch Cancer Insitute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Ajai Chari
- Tisch Cancer Insitute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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21
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Swan D, Routledge D, Harrison S. The evolving status of immunotherapies in multiple myeloma: the future role of bispecific antibodies. Br J Haematol 2021; 196:488-506. [PMID: 34472091 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.17805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Treatment outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) have improved dramatically over the past 10 years. However, patients with high-risk disease such as those with Stage III disease by the Revised International Staging System, the presence of adverse cytogenetics, or who are refractory to proteosome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs and monoclonal antibodies may have dismal outcomes. These patients represent an urgent ongoing need in MM. One of the hallmarks of MM is immune dysfunction and a tumour-permissive immune microenvironment. Ameliorating the immune-paresis could lead to improved outcomes. The role of immunotherapies has been growing at an exponential pace with numerous agents under development in clinical trials. In the present review, we provide an overview of immunotherapies in MM, focussing on bispecific antibodies (BsAbs). We review efficacy outcomes from the published clinical trials and consider the important safety aspects of these therapies, in particular the risk of cytokine-release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, and how these compare with patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor T cells. We discuss the MM epitopes being targeted by BsAbs, either in clinical or preclinical stages, and we consider where these therapies might best fit within the future ever-changing paradigm of MM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn Swan
- Department of Haematology, St James' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David Routledge
- Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Simon Harrison
- Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
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22
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Pharaon RR, Xing Y, Agulnik M, Villaflor VM. The Role of Immunotherapy to Overcome Resistance in Viral-Associated Head and Neck Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:649963. [PMID: 34336649 PMCID: PMC8322686 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.649963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A subset of head and neck cancers arising in the oropharynx and the nasopharynx are associated with human papillomavirus or Epstein-Barr virus. Unfortunately, limited treatment options exist once patients develop recurrent or metastatic disease in these cancers. Interest has risen in utilizing novel strategies including combination immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, and adoptive cellular therapy, to improve treatment response and outcomes. Several ongoing studies are investigating the potential to overcome resistance to standard of care chemoradiation therapy with monotherapy or combination immunotherapy strategies in these viral-associated head and neck cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Victoria M. Villaflor
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
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23
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Jin KT, Du WL, Lan HR, Liu YY, Mao CS, Du JL, Mou XZ. Development of humanized mouse with patient-derived xenografts for cancer immunotherapy studies: A comprehensive review. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:2592-2606. [PMID: 33938090 PMCID: PMC8253285 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, however, not all tumor types and patients are completely responsive to this approach. Establishing predictive pre-clinical models would allow for more accurate and practical immunotherapeutic drug development. Mouse models are extensively used as in vivo system for biomedical research. However, due to the significant differences between rodents and human, it is impossible to translate most of the findings from mouse models to human. Pharmacological development and advancing personalized medicine using patient-derived xenografts relies on producing mouse models in which murine cells and genes are substituted with their human equivalent. Humanized mice (HM) provide a suitable platform to evaluate xenograft growth in the context of a human immune system. In this review, we discussed recent advances in the generation and application of HM models. We also reviewed new insights into the basic mechanisms, pre-clinical evaluation of onco-immunotherapies, current limitations in the application of these models as well as available improvement strategies. Finally, we pointed out some issues for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Tao Jin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
| | - Wen-Lin Du
- Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huan-Rong Lan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
| | - Yu-Yao Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
| | - Chun-Sen Mao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
| | - Jin-Lin Du
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
| | - Xiao-Zhou Mou
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
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24
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Herrera LRM. Reverse Vaccinology Approach in Constructing a Multi-Epitope Vaccine Against Cancer-Testis Antigens Expressed in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2021; 22:1495-1506. [PMID: 34048178 PMCID: PMC8408400 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2021.22.5.1495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The 5-year survival rate of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has not significantly improved despite advancements in the currently applied treatments. Thus, efforts are put forth in developing novel immunotherapeutic agents targeting cancer-testis antigens (CTA) in NSCLC. This work utilized reverse vaccinology approach in designing a novel multi-epitope vaccine targeting melanoma-associated antigen 3 (MAGEA3), MAGEA4, New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-1 (NY-ESO-1), and Kita-Kyushu lung cancer antigen 1 (KK-LC1), being the most frequently expressed CTAs in NSCLC. Methods: Epitopes were mapped from the sequences of CTAs. The population coverage (PC) of identified CD4+ and CD8+ epitopes were estimated. Candidate linear B cell (BL), CD4+, and CD8+ epitopes were adjoined in a multi-epitope construct (Mvax) with flagellin domain as an adjuvant. Antigenicity, and cross-reactivity of Mvax were examined. The tertiary structure of Mvax was modelled, and validated. All epitopes included in the vaccine were docked with their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) binders. The immunogenicity of epitopes in Mvax was validated through molecular dynamics analysis. Results: Mvax contains 22 epitopes from MAGEA3, MAGEA4, NY-ESO-1, and KK-LC1. It is classified as antigenic, non-allergen, non-toxic, and possesses physicochemical stability. Epitopes have no significant hits with other human proteins, except for 2 other CTAs frequently expressed in NSCLC. The stretch of BL epitopes in Mvax confers flexibility, and accessibility emphasizing its antigenicity. The tertiary structure analysis showed that Mvax model has good structural quality. All epitopes included in the vaccine are highly immunogenic as indicated by favorable binding affinity, low binding energy, and acceptable root-mean-square deviation (RMSD). CD4+ and CD8+ epitopes have global PC of 81.81%, and 84.15%, respectively. Conclusion: Overall, in silico evaluations show that Mvax is a potential immunotherapeutic agent against NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leana Rich M Herrera
- Department of Physical Sciences, College of Science, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila City, Philippines
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25
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Zhao Q, Jiang Y, Xiang S, Kaboli PJ, Shen J, Zhao Y, Wu X, Du F, Li M, Cho CH, Li J, Wen Q, Liu T, Yi T, Xiao Z. Engineered TCR-T Cell Immunotherapy in Anticancer Precision Medicine: Pros and Cons. Front Immunol 2021; 12:658753. [PMID: 33859650 PMCID: PMC8042275 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.658753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This review provides insight into the role of engineered T-cell receptors (TCRs) in immunotherapy. Novel approaches have been developed to boost anticancer immune system, including targeting new antigens, manufacturing new engineered or modified TCRs, and creating a safety switch for endo-suicide genes. In order to re-activate T cells against tumors, immune-mobilizing monoclonal TCRs against cancer (ImmTAC) have been developed as a novel class of manufactured molecules which are bispecific and recognize both cancer and T cells. The TCRs target special antigens such as NY-ESO-1, AHNAKS2580F or ERBB2H473Y to boost the efficacy of anticancer immunotherapy. The safety of genetically modified T cells is very important. Therefore, this review discusses pros and cons of different approaches, such as ImmTAC, Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK), and inducible caspase-9 in cancer immunotherapy. Clinical trials related to TCR-T cell therapy and monoclonal antibodies designed for overcoming immunosuppression, and recent advances made in understanding how TCRs are additionally examined. New approaches that can better detect antigens and drive an effective T cell response are discussed as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijie Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China.,Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Shixin Xiang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Parham Jabbarzadeh Kaboli
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Yueshui Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Xu Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Fukuan Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Mingxing Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Chi Hin Cho
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Hospital (T.C.M.) Affiliated to Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Qinglian Wen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Oncology Rehabilitation, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tao Yi
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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26
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Qiu CX, Bai XF, Shen Y, Zhou Z, Pan LQ, Xu YC, Zhao WB, Chen SQ. Specific Inhibition of Tumor Growth by T Cell Receptor-Drug Conjugates Targeting Intracellular Cancer-Testis Antigen NY-ESO-1/LAGE-1. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:2767-2778. [PMID: 33237767 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Despite the significant therapeutic advances in T-cell immunotherapy, many malignancies remain unresponsive, which might be because of the negative regulation of T cells by the tumor microenvironment (TME). T cells discriminate tumor cells and normal cells through T-cell receptors (TCRs); therefore, we generated a novel type of TCR-drug conjugates (TDCs) by referring antibody-drug conjugations (ADCs) to overcome the effects of the TME on T cells while preserving the specificity of TCR for tumor recognition. We selected HLA-A2/NY-ESO-1157-165 (peptide NY-ESO-1157-165 in complex with human leukocyte antigen serotype HLA-A*02:01) as the antigen and the antigen-specific TCR (1G4113) as the carrier. By sortase A-mediated ligation, we obtained three NY-TCR-vcMMAEs and further studied their properties, antitumor activity, and toxicity in vitro and in vivo. We found that all the NY-TCR-vcMMAEs had high endocytosis efficiency and specifically killed HLA-A2/NY-ESO-1157-165 positive tumor cells. In xenograft models, one of the TDCs, NY-TCR-2M, was effectively and specifically distributed into tumor tissues and inhibited tumor growth without inducing obvious toxicity. Our results demonstrated that TCRs can be carriers of toxic payloads and that the TDCs thus formed can specifically inhibit tumor growth, neglecting the immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Xiao Qiu
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xue-Fei Bai
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ying Shen
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhan Zhou
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Li-Qiang Pan
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ying-Chun Xu
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wen-Bin Zhao
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shu-Qing Chen
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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27
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Tian H, Lyu Y, Yang YG, Hu Z. Humanized Rodent Models for Cancer Research. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1696. [PMID: 33042811 PMCID: PMC7518015 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the most popular laboratory animal models, rodents have been playing crucial roles in mechanistic investigations of oncogenesis as well as anticancer drug or regimen discoveries. However, rodent tumors show different or no responses to therapies against human cancers, and thus, in recent years, increased attention has been given to mouse models with xenografted or spontaneous human cancer cells. By combining with the human immune system (HIS) mice, these models have become more sophisticated and robust, enabling in vivo exploration of human cancer immunology and immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the pros and cons of these humanized mouse models, with a focus on their potential as an in vivo platform for human cancer research. We also discuss the strategies for further improving these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Tian
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Yanan Lyu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
| | - Yong-Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China.,International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zheng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Changchun, China
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28
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Shi W, Tong Z, Qiu Q, Yue N, Guo W, Zou F, Zhou D, Li J, Huang W, Qian H. Novel HLA-A2 restricted antigenic peptide derivatives with high affinity for the treatment of breast cancer expressing NY-ESO-1. Bioorg Chem 2020; 103:104138. [PMID: 32745760 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy based on specific tumor antigen has become the focus for breast cancer, and research into cancer/testes antigens (CTA) is progressing. As an important member in the CTA, NY-ESO-1 plays a crucial role in the treatment and prognosis of breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to improve the binding ability to MHC by designing and synthesizing stable NY-ESO-1-derived peptides, based on NetMHC 4.0 webserver (http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/NetMHC/) and HLP webserver (http://crdd.osdd.net/raghava/hlp/pep_both.htm). Moreover, after modification of the lead compound, affinity of the peptides to human leukocyte antigen-A2 (HLA-A2) was determined by a flow cytometry and an inverted fluorescence microscope in T2 cells that show high expression of HLA-A2. The results demonstrated that the affinity of peptides II-4 and II-10 to HLA-A2 was significantly better when compared to others (II-Lead, II-1 ~ II-3, II-5 ~ II-9, II-11 ~ II-15). Further studies indicated that II-4 and II-10, especially II-4, significantly promoted the maturation of HLA-A2-positive human peripheral blood-derived dendritic cells (DCs) from morphology and surface markers, the activation of CD8 + T lymphocytes, and the type-specific killing effect on HLA-A2+/NY-ESO-1+ MDA-MB-231 cells. Molecular docking studies suggested a strong interaction between peptide II-4 and HLA-A2, thereby indicating that the II-4 is a promising candidate with antigenic potential in the field of immunotherapy that needs more studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shi
- Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Zhenzhen Tong
- Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Qianqian Qiu
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Yancheng Teachers' University, Yancheng 224002, PR China; Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Na Yue
- Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Weiwei Guo
- Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Feng Zou
- Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Daoguang Zhou
- Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Jiuhui Li
- Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Wenlong Huang
- Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Hai Qian
- Center of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
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29
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Froning K, Maguire J, Sereno A, Huang F, Chang S, Weichert K, Frommelt AJ, Dong J, Wu X, Austin H, Conner EM, Fitchett JR, Heng AR, Balasubramaniam D, Hilgers MT, Kuhlman B, Demarest SJ. Computational stabilization of T cell receptors allows pairing with antibodies to form bispecifics. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2330. [PMID: 32393818 PMCID: PMC7214467 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16231-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant T cell receptors (TCRs) can be used to redirect naïve T cells to eliminate virally infected or cancerous cells; however, they are plagued by low stability and uneven expression. Here, we use molecular modeling to identify mutations in the TCR constant domains (Cα/Cβ) that increase the unfolding temperature of Cα/Cβ by 20 °C, improve the expression of four separate α/β TCRs by 3- to 10-fold, and improve the assembly and stability of TCRs with poor intrinsic stability. The stabilizing mutations rescue the expression of TCRs destabilized through variable domain mutation. The improved stability and folding of the TCRs reduces glycosylation, perhaps through conformational stabilization that restricts access to N-linked glycosylation enzymes. The Cα/Cβ mutations enables antibody-like expression and assembly of well-behaved bispecific molecules that combine an anti-CD3 antibody with the stabilized TCR. These TCR/CD3 bispecifics can redirect T cells to kill tumor cells with target HLA/peptide on their surfaces in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Froning
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Jack Maguire
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Arlene Sereno
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Flora Huang
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Shawn Chang
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Kenneth Weichert
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Anton J Frommelt
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Jessica Dong
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Xiufeng Wu
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Heather Austin
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Elaine M Conner
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Jonathan R Fitchett
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Aik Roy Heng
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | | | - Mark T Hilgers
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Brian Kuhlman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Stephen J Demarest
- Eli Lilly Biotechnology Center, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
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30
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Caraccio C, Krishna S, Phillips DJ, Schürch CM. Bispecific Antibodies for Multiple Myeloma: A Review of Targets, Drugs, Clinical Trials, and Future Directions. Front Immunol 2020; 11:501. [PMID: 32391000 PMCID: PMC7193016 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy and the second most common hematological neoplasm in adults, comprising 1.8% of all cancers. With an annual incidence of ~30,770 cases in the United States, MM has a high mortality rate, leading to 12,770 deaths per year. MM is a genetically complex, highly heterogeneous malignancy, with significant inter- and intra-patient clonal variability. Recent years have witnessed dramatic improvements in the diagnostics, classification, and treatment of MM. However, patients with high-risk disease have not yet benefited from therapeutic advances. High-risk patients are often primary refractory to treatment or relapse early, ultimately resulting in progression toward aggressive end-stage MM, with associated extramedullary disease or plasma cell leukemia. Therefore, novel treatment modalities are needed to improve the outcomes of these patients. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) are immunotherapeutics that simultaneously target and thereby redirect effector immune cells to tumor cells. BsAbs have shown high efficacy in B cell malignancies, including refractory/relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Various BsAbs targeting MM-specific antigens such as B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), CD38, and CD138 are currently in pre-clinical and clinical development, with promising results. In this review, we outline these advances, focusing on BsAb drugs, their targets, and their potential to improve survival, especially for high-risk MM patients. In combination with current treatment strategies, BsAbs may pave the way toward a cure for MM.
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He Q, Jiang X, Zhou X, Weng J. Targeting cancers through TCR-peptide/MHC interactions. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:139. [PMID: 31852498 PMCID: PMC6921533 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0812-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cell therapy has achieved dramatic success in a clinic, and the Food and Drug Administration approved two chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cell (CAR-T) therapies that target hematological cancers in 2018. A significant issue faced by CAR-T therapies is the lack of tumor-specific biomarkers on the surfaces of solid tumor cells, which hampers the application of CAR-T therapies to solid tumors. Intracellular tumor-related antigens can be presented as peptides in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the cell surface, which interact with the T cell receptors (TCR) on antigen-specific T cells to stimulate an anti-tumor response. Multiple immunotherapy strategies have been developed to eradicate tumor cells through targeting the TCR-peptide/MHC interactions. Here, we summarize the current status of TCR-based immunotherapy strategies, with particular focus on the TCR structure, activated signaling pathways, the effects and toxicity associated with TCR-based therapies in clinical trials, preclinical studies examining immune-mobilizing monoclonal TCRs against cancer (ImmTACs), and TCR-fusion molecules. We propose several TCR-based therapeutic strategies to achieve optimal clinical responses without the induction of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua He
- Department of Center Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 621 Gangwan Rd, Huangpu Qu, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Xianhan Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Xinke Zhou
- Department of Center Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 621 Gangwan Rd, Huangpu Qu, Guangzhou, 510700, China. .,Department of General Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China.
| | - Jinsheng Weng
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1414 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Shen Y, Li YM, Zhou JJ, Zhou Z, Xu YC, Zhao WB, Chen SQ. The Antitumor Activity of TCR-Mimic Antibody-Drug Conjugates (TCRm-ADCs) Targeting the Intracellular Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) Oncoprotein. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20163912. [PMID: 31408937 PMCID: PMC6720711 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20163912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) oncoprotein is an intracellular oncogenic transcription factor which is barely expressed in normal adult tissues but over expressed in a variety of leukemias and solid cancers. WT1-derived HLA-A*02:01 T cell epitope, RMFPNAPYL (RMF), is a validated target for T cell-based immunotherapy. We generated two T cell receptor mimic antibody-drug conjugates (TCRm-ADCs), ESK-MMAE, and Q2L-MMAE, against WT1 RMF/HLA-A*02:01 complex with distinct affinities, which mediate specific antitumor activity. Although ESK-MMAE showed higher tumor growth inhibition ratio in vivo, the efficacy of them was not so promising, which might be due to low expression of peptide/HLA targets. Therefore, we explored a bispecific TCRm-ADC that exerted more potent tumor cytotoxicity compared with TCRm-ADCs. Hence, our findings validate the feasibility of the presenting intracellular peptides as the targets of ADCs, which broadens the antigen selection range of antibody-based drugs and provides new strategies for precision medicine in tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Shen
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Biopharmaceutics & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yi-Ming Li
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Biopharmaceutics & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jing-Jing Zhou
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Biopharmaceutics & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhan Zhou
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Biopharmaceutics & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ying-Chun Xu
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Biopharmaceutics & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wen-Bin Zhao
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Biopharmaceutics & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Shu-Qing Chen
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Biopharmaceutics & Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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Evaluating CD8 + T Cell Responses In Vitro. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 31147942 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9450-2_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
The 51Cr-release assay described in the 1960s has been for decades the gold standard cytolytic assay but for safety reasons is no longer in use in many laboratories. Whereas other radioactive tests were later on described, they never ousted the 51Cr-release assay. More thorough understanding of CTL biology and killing pathways has more recently resulted in the design of reliable nonradioactive tests to analyze CD8+ T cell responses. Allowing for real-time evaluation of target cell viability, some of them are particularly attractive and are described here together with traditional assays.
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Abstract
Most studies of T lymphocytes focus on recognition of classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II molecules presenting oligopeptides, yet there are numerous variations and exceptions of biological significance based on recognition of a wide variety of nonclassical MHC molecules. These include αβ and γδ T cells that recognize different class Ib molecules (CD1, MR-1, HLA-E, G, F, et al.) that are nearly monomorphic within a given species. Collectively, these T cells can be considered “unconventional,” in part because they recognize lipids, metabolites, and modified peptides. Unlike classical MHC-specific cells, unconventional T cells generally exhibit limited T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoires and often produce innate immune cell-like rapid effector responses. Exploiting this system in new generation vaccines for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB), other infectious agents, and cancer was the focus of a recent workshop, “Immune Surveillance by Non-classical MHC Molecules: Improving Diversity for Antigens,” sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Here, we summarize salient points presented regarding the basic immunobiology of unconventional T cells, recent advances in methodologies to measure unconventional T-cell activity in diseases, and approaches to harness their considerable clinical potential.
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Iizuka A, Nonomura C, Ashizawa T, Kondou R, Ohshima K, Sugino T, Mitsuya K, Hayashi N, Nakasu Y, Maruyama K, Yamaguchi K, Akiyama Y. A T-cell-engaging B7-H4/CD3-bispecific Fab-scFv Antibody Targets Human Breast Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:2925-2934. [PMID: 30737243 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-3123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The B7 homolog 4 (B7-H4, VTCN1) is an immune checkpoint molecule that negatively regulates immune responses and is known to be overexpressed in many human cancers. Previously, we generated a mouse anti-human B7-H4 mAb that did not have a significant antitumor effect in vivo probably because of molecule instability. In this study, we designed a B7-H4/CD3-bispecific antibody (BsAb) and investigated its antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo using a humanized mouse model. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN cDNAs of the antibody-binding fragment (Fab)-single-chain variable fragment (scFv) and scFv-scFv of the anti-B7-H4/CD3 BsAb were synthesized, and the BsAb antibodies were produced in HEK293 cells. The antitumor activity against human breast cancer cells by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) with BsAb was measured by lactate dehydrogenase release in vitro, and in vivo using hPBMC-transplanted MHC class I- and class II-deficient NOG mice. RESULTS hPBMCs with anti-B7-H4/CD3 BsAbs successfully lysed the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 (EC50: 0.2 ng/mL) and other B7-H4+ cell lines in vitro. When BsAb was injected in a humanized mouse model, there was an immediate and strong antitumor activity against MDA-MB-468, HCC-1954, and HCC-1569 tumors and CD8+ and granzyme B+ CTL infiltration into the tumor, and there were no adverse effects after long-term observation. CD8+ T-cell depletion by an anti-CD8 antibody mostly reduced the antitumor effect of BsAb in vivo. CONCLUSIONS An anti-B7-H4/CD3 BsAb may be a good therapeutic tool for patients with B7-H4+ breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Iizuka
- Immunotherapy Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Chizu Nonomura
- Immunotherapy Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Tadashi Ashizawa
- Immunotherapy Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Ryota Kondou
- Immunotherapy Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Keiichi Ohshima
- Medical Genetics Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Takashi Sugino
- Division of Pathology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Koichi Mitsuya
- Division of Neurosurgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Nakamasa Hayashi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yoko Nakasu
- Division of Neurosurgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kouji Maruyama
- Experimental Animal Facility, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Ken Yamaguchi
- Office of the President, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yasuto Akiyama
- Immunotherapy Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Shizuoka, Japan. .,Division of Neurosurgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
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Liang Z, Li Y, Tian Y, Zhang H, Cai W, Chen A, Chen L, Bao Y, Xiang B, Kan H, Li Y. High-affinity human programmed death-1 ligand-1 variant promotes redirected T cells to kill tumor cells. Cancer Lett 2019; 447:164-173. [PMID: 30677447 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Tumor cells can escape immune surveillance through the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) axis suppressing T cells. However, we recently demonstrated that high-affinity variants of soluble human programmed death-ligand 1 (shPD-L1) could diminish the suppression. We propose that in comparison to the wild-type shPD-L1, the further affinity enhancement will confer the molecule with opposite characteristics that augment T-cell activation and immunotherapeutic drug potential. In this study, a new shPD-L1 variant, L3C7c, has been generated to demonstrate ∼167 fold greater affinity than wild-type hPD-L1. The L3C7c-Fc fusion protein demonstrated completely opposite effects of conventional PD-1 axis by promoting redirected T-cell proliferation, activation and cytotoxicity in vitro, as being slightly better than that of anti-PD1-Ab (Pembrolizumab). Moreover, L3C7c-Fc was more effective than Pembrolizumab in enhancing redirected T cells' ability to suppress Mel624 melanoma growth in vivo. As a downsized L3C7c-Fc variant, L3C7v-Fc improved the anti-tumor efficacy in vivo when combined with dendritic cell vaccines. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate that high-affinity hPD-L1 variants could be developed as the next generation reagents for tumor immunotherapy based on the blockade of the PD-1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoduan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
| | - Yanyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China; School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, Jinzhai road, Hefei, Anhui province, China.
| | - Ye Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
| | - Huanling Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China; School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96, Jinzhai road, Hefei, Anhui province, China.
| | - Wenxuan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
| | - Anan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
| | - Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
| | - Yifeng Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
| | - Bo Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838, North Guangzhou Avenue, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
| | - Heping Kan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838, North Guangzhou Avenue, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
| | - Yi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 190 Kai Yuan Avenue, Science Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
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Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang L. Expression of cancer-testis antigens in esophageal cancer and their progress in immunotherapy. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019; 145:281-291. [PMID: 30656409 PMCID: PMC6373256 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-019-02840-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Esophageal cancer is a common disease in China with low survival rate due to no obvious early symptoms and lack of effective screening strategies. Traditional treatments usually do not produce desirable results in patients with advanced esophageal cancer, so immunotherapy which relies on tumor-related antigens is needed to combat low survival rates effectively. Cancer–testis antigens (CTA), a large family of tumor-related antigens, have a strong in vivo immunogenicity and tumor-restricted expressing patterns in normal adult tissues. These two characteristics are ideal features of anticancer immunotherapy targets and, therefore, promoted the development of some studies of CTA-based therapy. To provide ideas for the role of the cancer–testis antigens MAGE-A, NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1, and TTK in esophageal cancer, we summarized their expression, prognostic value, and development in immunotherapy. Methods The relevant literature from PubMed is reviewed in this study. Results In esophageal cancer, although the relationship between expression of MAGE-A, NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1, and TTK and prognosis value is still in a controversial situation, MAGE-A, NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1, and TTK are highly expressed and can induce specific CTL cells to produce particular killing effect on tumor cells, and some clinical trials have demonstrated that immunotherapy for esophageal cancer patients is effective and safe, which provides a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of esophageal cancer in the future. Conclusion In this review, we summarize expression and prognostic value of MAGE-A, NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1, and TTK in esophageal cancer and point out recent advances in immunotherapy about them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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Zhang J, Wang L. The Emerging World of TCR-T Cell Trials Against Cancer: A Systematic Review. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2019; 18:1533033819831068. [PMID: 30798772 PMCID: PMC6391541 DOI: 10.1177/1533033819831068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell receptor-engineered T-cell therapy and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy are 2 types of adoptive T-cell therapy that genetically modify natural T cells to treat cancers. Although chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy has yielded remarkable efficacy for hematological malignancies of the B-cell lineages, most solid tumors fail to respond significantly to chimeric antigen receptor T cells. T-cell receptor-engineered T-cell therapy, on the other hand, has shown unprecedented promise in treating solid tumors and has attracted growing interest. In order to create an unbiased, comprehensive, and scientific report for this fast-moving field, we carefully analyzed all 84 clinical trials using T-cell receptor-engineered T-cell therapy and downloaded from ClinicalTrials.gov updated by June 11, 2018. Informative features and trends were observed in these clinical trials. The number of trials initiated each year is increasing as expected, but an interesting pattern is observed. NY-ESO-1, as the most targeted antigen type, is the target of 31 clinical trials; melanoma is the most targeted cancer type and is the target of 33 clinical trials. Novel antigens and underrepresented cancers remain to be targeted in future studies and clinical trials. Unlike chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, only about 16% of the 84 clinical trials target against hematological malignancies, consistent with T-cell receptor-engineered T-cell therapy's high potential for solid tumors. Six pharma/biotech companies with novel T-cell receptor-engineered T-cell ideas and products were examined in this review. Multiple approaches have been utilized in these companies to increase the T-cell receptor's affinity and efficiency and to minimize cross-reactivity. The major challenges in the development of the T-cell receptor-engineered T-cell therapy due to tumor microenvironment were also discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxiang Zhang
- The High School Affiliated to Renmin University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lingyu Wang
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Buckle AM, Borg NA. Integrating Experiment and Theory to Understand TCR-pMHC Dynamics. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2898. [PMID: 30581442 PMCID: PMC6293202 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The conformational dynamism of proteins is well established. Rather than having a single structure, proteins are more accurately described as a conformational ensemble that exists across a rugged energy landscape, where different conformational sub-states interconvert. The interaction between αβ T cell receptors (TCR) and cognate peptide-MHC (pMHC) is no exception, and is a dynamic process that involves substantial conformational change. This review focuses on technological advances that have begun to establish the role of conformational dynamics and dynamic allostery in TCR recognition of the pMHC and the early stages of signaling. We discuss how the marriage of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with experimental techniques provides us with new ways to dissect and interpret the process of TCR ligation. Notably, application of simulation techniques lags behind other fields, but is predicted to make substantial contributions. Finally, we highlight integrated approaches that are being used to shed light on some of the key outstanding questions in the early events leading to TCR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Buckle
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Natalie A Borg
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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Yang H, Wallace Z, Dorrell L. Therapeutic Targeting of HIV Reservoirs: How to Give T Cells a New Direction. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2861. [PMID: 30564246 PMCID: PMC6288286 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV cannot be cured by current antiretroviral therapy (ART) because it persists in a transcriptionally silent form in long-lived CD4+ cells. Leading efforts to develop a functional cure have prioritized latency reversal to expose infected cells to immune surveillance, coupled with enhancement of the natural cytolytic function of immune effectors, or "kick and kill." The most clinically advanced approach to improving the kill is therapeutic immunization, which aims to augment or re-focus HIV-specific cytolytic T cell responses. However, no vaccine strategy has enabled sustained virological control after ART withdrawal. Novel approaches are needed to overcome the limitations of natural adaptive immune responses, which relate to their specificity, potency, durability, and access to tissue reservoirs. Adoptive T cell therapy to treat HIV infection was first attempted over two decades ago, without success. Since then, progress in the field of cancer immunotherapy, together with recognition of the similarities in tumor microenvironments and HIV reservoirs has reignited interest in the application of T cell therapies to HIV eradication. Advances in engineering of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-transduced T cells have led to improved potency, persistence and latterly, resistance to HIV infection. Immune retargeting platforms have incorporated non-neutralizing and broadly neutralizing antibodies to generate Bispecific T cell Engagers (BiTEs) and Dual-Affinity Re-Targeting proteins (DARTs). T cell receptor engineering has enabled the development of the first bispecific Immune-mobilizing monoclonal T Cell receptors Against Viruses (ImmTAV) molecules. Here, we review the potential for these agents to provide a better "kill" and the challenges ahead for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbing Yang
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Zoë Wallace
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.,Immunocore Ltd., Oxon, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Dorrell
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.,Immunocore Ltd., Oxon, United Kingdom.,Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Border EC, Sanderson JP, Weissensteiner T, Gerry AB, Pumphrey NJ. Affinity-enhanced T-cell receptors for adoptive T-cell therapy targeting MAGE-A10: strategy for selection of an optimal candidate. Oncoimmunology 2018; 8:e1532759. [PMID: 30713784 PMCID: PMC6343776 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1532759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating T-cells that have passed thymic selection generally bear T-cell receptors (TCRs) with sub-optimal affinity for cancer-associated antigens, resulting in a limited ability to detect and eliminate tumor cells. Engineering TCRs to increase their affinity for cancer targets is a promising strategy for generating T-cells with enhanced potency for adoptive immunotherapy in cancer patients. However, this manipulation also risks generating cross-reactivity to antigens expressed by normal tissue, with potentially serious consequences. Testing in animal models might not detect such cross-reactivity due to species differences in the antigenic repertoire. To mitigate the risk of off-target toxicities in future clinical trials, we therefore developed an extensive in vitro testing strategy. This approach involved systematic substitution at each position of the antigenic peptide sequence using all natural amino acids to generate a profile of peptide specificity (“X-scan”). The likelihood of off-target reactivity was investigated by searching the human proteome for sequences matching this profile, and testing against a panel of primary cell lines. Starting from a diverse panel of parental TCRs, we engineered several affinity-enhanced TCRs specific for the cancer-testis antigen MAGE-A10. Two of these TCRs had affinities and specificities which appeared to be equally optimal when tested in conventional biochemical and cellular assays. The X-scan method, however, permitted us to select the most specific and potent candidate for further pre-clinical and clinical testing.
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Harper J, Adams KJ, Bossi G, Wright DE, Stacey AR, Bedke N, Martinez-Hague R, Blat D, Humbert L, Buchanan H, Le Provost GS, Donnellan Z, Carreira RJ, Paston SJ, Weigand LU, Canestraro M, Sanderson JP, Botta Gordon-Smith S, Lowe KL, Rygiel KA, Powlesland AS, Vuidepot A, Hassan NJ, Cameron BJ, Jakobsen BK, Dukes J. An approved in vitro approach to preclinical safety and efficacy evaluation of engineered T cell receptor anti-CD3 bispecific (ImmTAC) molecules. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205491. [PMID: 30321203 PMCID: PMC6188753 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Robust preclinical testing is essential to predict clinical safety and efficacy and provide data to determine safe dose for first-in-man studies. There are a growing number of examples where the preclinical development of drugs failed to adequately predict clinical adverse events in part due to their assessment with inappropriate preclinical models. Preclinical investigations of T cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies prove particularly challenging as these biologics are human-specific and thus the conventional testing in animal models is inadequate. As these molecules harness the full force of the immune system, and demonstrate tremendous potency, we set out to design a preclinical package that would ensure adequate evaluation of these therapeutics. Immune Mobilising Monoclonal TCR Against Cancer (ImmTAC) molecules are bi-specific biologics formed of an affinity-enhanced TCR fused to an anti-CD3 effector function. ImmTAC molecules are designed to activate human T lymphocytes and target peptides within the context of a human leukocyte antigen (HLA), thus require an intact human immune system and peptidome for suitable preclinical screening. Here we draw upon the preclinical testing of four ImmTAC molecules, including IMCgp100, the first ImmTAC molecule to reach the clinic, to present our comprehensive, informative and robust approach to in vitro preclinical efficacy and safety screening. This package comprises a broad range of cellular and molecular assays using human tissues and cultured cells to test efficacy, safety and specificity, and hence predict human responses in clinical trials. We propose that this entirely in vitro package offers a potential model to be applied to screening other TCR-based biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Harper
- Immunocore Ltd, Abingdon, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Nicole Bedke
- Immunocore Ltd, Abingdon, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dan Blat
- Immunocore Ltd, Abingdon, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kate L. Lowe
- Immunocore Ltd, Abingdon, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joseph Dukes
- Immunocore Ltd, Abingdon, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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43
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Humanized Mice for the Study of Immuno-Oncology. Trends Immunol 2018; 39:748-763. [DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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44
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Bykova NA, Malko DB, Efimov GA. In Silico Analysis of the Minor Histocompatibility Antigen Landscape Based on the 1000 Genomes Project. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1819. [PMID: 30166983 PMCID: PMC6105694 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is routinely used to treat hematopoietic malignancies. The eradication of residual tumor cells during engraftment is mediated by donor cytotoxic T lymphocytes reactive to alloantigens. In a HLA-matched transplantation context, alloantigens are encoded by various polymorphic genes situated outside the HLA locus, also called minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHAs). Recently, MiHAs have been recognized as promising targets for post-transplantation T-cell immunotherapy as they have several appealing advantages over tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and neoantigens, i.e., they are more abundant than TAAs, which potentially facilitates multiple targeting; and unlike neoantigens, they are encoded by germline polymorphisms, some of which are common and thus, suitable for off-the-shelf therapy. The genetic sources of MiHAs are nonsynonymous polymorphisms that cause differences between the recipient and donor proteomes and subsequently, the immunopeptidomes. Systematic description of the alloantigen landscape in HLA-matched transplantation is still lacking as previous studies focused only on a few immunogenic and common MiHAs. Here, we perform a thorough in silico analysis of the public genomic data to classify genetic polymorphisms that lead to MiHA formation and estimate the number of potentially available MiHA mismatches. Our findings suggest that a donor/recipient pair is expected to have at least several dozen mismatched strong MHC-binding SNP-associated peptides per HLA allele (116 ± 26 and 65 ± 15 for non-related pairs and siblings respectively in European populations as predicted by two independent algorithms). Over 70% of them are encoded by relatively frequent polymorphisms (minor allele frequency > 0.1) and thus, may be targetable by off-the-shelf therapeutics. We showed that the most appealing targets (probability of mismatch over 20%) reside in the asymmetric allele frequency region, which spans from 0.15 to 0.47 and corresponds to an order of several hundred (213 ± 47) possible targets per HLA allele that can be considered for immunogenicity validation. Overall, these findings demonstrate the significant potential of MiHAs as targets for T-cell immunotherapy and emphasize the need for the systematic discovery of novel MiHAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia A Bykova
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry B Malko
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Grigory A Efimov
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology, National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow, Russia
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45
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Ochoa de Olza M, Oliva M, Hierro C, Matos I, Martin-Liberal J, Garralda E. Early-drug development in the era of immuno-oncology: are we ready to face the challenges? Ann Oncol 2018; 29:1727-1740. [PMID: 29945232 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The classical development of drugs has progressively faded away, and we are currently in an era of seamless drug-development, where first-in-human trials include unusually big expansion cohorts in the search for early signs of activity and rapid regulatory approval. The fierce competition between different pharmaceutical companies and the hype for immune combinations obliges us to question the current way in which we are evaluating these drugs. In this review, we discuss critical issues and caveats in immunotherapy development. A particular emphasis is put on the limitations of pre-clinical toxicology studies, where both murine models and cynomolgus monkeys have underpredicted toxicity in humans. Moreover, relevant issues surrounding dose determination during phase I trials, such as dose-escalation methods or flat versus body-weight dosing, are discussed. A proposal of how to face these different challenges is offered, in order to achieve maximum efficacy with minimum toxicity for our patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ochoa de Olza
- Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Molecular Therapeutics Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - M Oliva
- Drug Development Program, Department of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - C Hierro
- Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Molecular Therapeutics Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - I Matos
- Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Molecular Therapeutics Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Martin-Liberal
- Molecular Therapeutics Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain; Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Garralda
- Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Molecular Therapeutics Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
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46
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D'Angelo SP, Melchiori L, Merchant MS, Bernstein D, Glod J, Kaplan R, Grupp S, Tap WD, Chagin K, Binder GK, Basu S, Lowther DE, Wang R, Bath N, Tipping A, Betts G, Ramachandran I, Navenot JM, Zhang H, Wells DK, Van Winkle E, Kari G, Trivedi T, Holdich T, Pandite L, Amado R, Mackall CL. Antitumor Activity Associated with Prolonged Persistence of Adoptively Transferred NY-ESO-1 c259T Cells in Synovial Sarcoma. Cancer Discov 2018; 8:944-957. [PMID: 29891538 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-17-1417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 295] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the safety and activity of autologous T cells expressing NY-ESO-1c259, an affinity-enhanced T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizing an HLA-A2-restricted NY-ESO-1/LAGE1a-derived peptide, in patients with metastatic synovial sarcoma (NY-ESO-1c259T cells). Confirmed antitumor responses occurred in 50% of patients (6/12) and were characterized by tumor shrinkage over several months. Circulating NY-ESO-1c259T cells were present postinfusion in all patients and persisted for at least 6 months in all responders. Most of the infused NY-ESO-1c259T cells exhibited an effector memory phenotype following ex vivo expansion, but the persisting pools comprised largely central memory and stem-cell memory subsets, which remained polyfunctional and showed no evidence of T-cell exhaustion despite persistent tumor burdens. Next-generation sequencing of endogenous TCRs in CD8+ NY-ESO-1c259T cells revealed clonal diversity without contraction over time. These data suggest that regenerative pools of NY-ESO-1c259T cells produced a continuing supply of effector cells to mediate sustained, clinically meaningful antitumor effects.Significance: Metastatic synovial sarcoma is incurable with standard therapy. We employed engineered T cells targeting NY-ESO-1, and the data suggest that robust, self-regenerating pools of CD8+ NY-ESO-1c259T cells produce a continuing supply of effector cells over several months that mediate clinically meaningful antitumor effects despite prolonged exposure to antigen. Cancer Discov; 8(8); 944-57. ©2018 AACR.See related commentary by Keung and Tawbi, p. 914This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 899.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra P D'Angelo
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York. E-mail:
| | - Luca Melchiori
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - John Glod
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Stephan Grupp
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - William D Tap
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Karen Chagin
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Samik Basu
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel E Lowther
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ruoxi Wang
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Natalie Bath
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Alex Tipping
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Gareth Betts
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - Hua Zhang
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Daniel K Wells
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, California
| | - Erin Van Winkle
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Gabor Kari
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Trupti Trivedi
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Tom Holdich
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lini Pandite
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rafael Amado
- Adaptimmune, Oxford, United Kingdom, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Crystal L Mackall
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, California.,Stanford University, Stanford, California
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47
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Legut M, Sewell AK. Designer T-cells and T-cell receptors for customized cancer immunotherapies. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2018; 41:96-103. [PMID: 29852403 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, focused on harnessing and empowering the immune system against tumours, has transformed modern oncology. One of the most promising avenues in development involves using genetically engineered T-cells to target cancer antigens via specific T-cell receptors (TCRs). TCRs have a naturally low affinity towards cancer-associated antigens, and therefore show scope for improvement. Here we describe approaches to procure TCRs with enhanced affinity and specificity towards cancer, using protein engineering or selection of natural TCRs from unadulterated repertoires. In particular, we discuss novel methods facilitating the targeting of tumour-specific mutations. Finally, we provide a prospective outlook on the potential development of novel, off-the-shelf immunotherapies by leveraging recent advances in genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Legut
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Henry Wellcome Building, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Henry Wellcome Building, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK.
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48
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Martinez EM, Klebanoff SD, Secrest S, Romain G, Haile ST, Emtage PCR, Gilbert AE. High-Throughput Flow Cytometric Method for the Simultaneous Measurement of CAR-T Cell Characterization and Cytotoxicity against Solid Tumor Cell Lines. SLAS DISCOVERY 2018; 23:603-612. [PMID: 29634393 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218768745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput flow cytometry is an attractive platform for the analysis of adoptive cellular therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T) because it allows for the concurrent measurement of T cell-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (TDCC) and the functional characterization of engineered T cells with respect to percentage of CAR transduction, T cell phenotype, and measurement of T cell function such as activation in a single assay. The use of adherent tumor cell lines can be challenging in these flow-based assays. Here, we present the development of a high-throughput flow-based assay to measure TDCC for a CAR-T construct co-cultured with multiple adherent tumor cell lines. We describe optimal assay conditions (such as adherent cell dissociation techniques to minimize impact on cell viability) that result in robust cytotoxicity assays. In addition, we report on the concurrent use of T cell transduction and activation antibody panels (CD25) that provide further dissection of engineered T cell function. In conclusion, we present the development of a high-throughput flow cytometry method allowing for in vitro interrogation of solid tumor, targeting CAR-T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, CAR transduction, and engineered T cell characterization in a single assay.
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49
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Abstract
Harnessing the power of the human immune system to treat cancer is the essence of immunotherapy. Monoclonal antibodies engage the innate immune system to destroy targeted cells. For the last 30years, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity have been the main mechanisms of anti-tumor action of unconjugated antibody drugs. Efforts to exploit the potentials of other immune cells, in particular T cells, culminated in the recent approval of two T cell engaging bispecific antibody (T-BsAb) drugs, thereby stimulating new efforts to accelerate similar platforms through preclinical and clinical trials. In this review, we have compiled the worldwide effort in exploring T cell engaging bispecific antibodies. Our special emphasis is on the lessons learned, with the hope to derive insights in this fast evolving field with tremendous clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - N V Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, United States.
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50
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Ehlerding EB, Sun L, Lan X, Zeng D, Cai W. Dual-Targeted Molecular Imaging of Cancer. J Nucl Med 2018; 59:390-395. [PMID: 29301927 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.117.199877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging is critical to personalized and precision medicine. Although singly targeted imaging probes are making an impact both clinically and preclinically, molecular imaging strategies using bispecific probes have enabled improved visualization of cancer in recent years through synergistic targeting of two ligands. In this Focus on Molecular Imaging review, we outline how peptide-, antibody-, and nanoparticle-based platforms have affected this emerging strategy, providing examples and pointing out areas in which the greatest clinical impact may be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily B Ehlerding
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Lingyi Sun
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Xiaoli Lan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dexing Zeng
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Weibo Cai
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin .,Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin; and.,Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
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