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Watanabe T, La Shu S, Rio-Espinola AD, Ferreira JR, Bando K, Lemmens M, Pande P, de Wolf C, Chen CL, Elke E, Rao GK, van den Hoorn T, Mouriès LP, Myers MB, Yasuda S. Evaluating teratoma formation risk of pluripotent stem cell-derived cell therapy products: a consensus recommendation from the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute's International Cell Therapy Committee. Cytotherapy 2025:S1465-3249(25)00684-X. [PMID: 40392167 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2025.04.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2025] [Revised: 04/07/2025] [Accepted: 04/12/2025] [Indexed: 05/22/2025]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can differentiate into any cell of choice and hold significant promise in regenerative medicine and for treating diseases that currently lack adequate therapies. However, hPSCs are intrinsically tumorigenic and can form teratomas. Therefore, the presence of residual undifferentiated hPSCs must be rigorously assessed using sensitive methodologies to mitigate the potential tumorigenicity risks of hPSC-derived cell therapy products (CTPs). In this comprehensive review, we describe methods for detecting residual undifferentiated hPSCs and discuss the relative value of current in vitro assays versus conventional in vivo assays. We highlight that in vitro assays such as digital PCR detection of hPSC-specific RNA and the highly efficient culture assay, have superior detection sensitivity. Additionally, we outline important considerations for validating in vitro assays when applying them to assess each product. This article lays the groundwork for guiding internationally harmonized procedures for evaluating the potential teratoma formation risk of hPSC-derived CTPs and increasing confidence in the safety of these products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Watanabe
- Drug Safety Research and Evaluation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Japan.
| | - Shin La Shu
- Frederick National Laboratories for Cancer Research, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Joana Rita Ferreira
- Safety Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kiyoko Bando
- Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Office, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe, Japan
| | - Myriam Lemmens
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Parimal Pande
- Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Connie L Chen
- Health & Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI), Washington DC, USA
| | - Ericson Elke
- Bioscience Metabolism, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gautham K Rao
- Department of Translational Safety, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Meagan B Myers
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arizona, USA
| | - Satoshi Yasuda
- Division of Cell-Based Therapeutic Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Japan
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2
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Sun J, Yates C, Dingwall S, Ongtengco C, Power D, Gray P, Prowse A. Analysis of three characterization assays reveals ddPCR of LIN28A as the most sensitive for the detection of residual pluripotent stem cells in cellular therapy products. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:1374-1381. [PMID: 38934983 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.05.019] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS With the continuous development and advancement of human pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived cell therapies, an ever-increasing number of clinical indications can benefit from their application. Due to the capacity for PSCs to form teratomas, safety testing is required to ensure the absence of residual PSCs in a cell product. To mitigate these limitations, in vitro analytical methods can be utilized as quality control after the production of a PSC-derived cell product. Sensitivity of these analytic methods is critical in accurately quantifying residual PSC in the final cell product. In this study, we compared the sensitivity of three in vitro assays: qPCR, ddPCR and RT-LAMP. METHODS The spike-in samples were produced from three independent experiments, each spiked with different PSC lines (PSC1, NH50191, and WA09 referred to as H9) into a background of primary fibroblasts (Hs68). These samples were then subjected to qPCR, ddPCR and RT-LAMP to determine their detection limit in measuring a commonly used PSC marker, LIN28A. RESULTS The results indicated that the three analytic methods all exhibited consistent results across different cell-line spiked samples, with ddPCR demonstrating the highest sensitivity of the three methods. The LIN28A ddPCR assay could confidently detect 10 residual PSCs in a million fibroblasts. DISCUSSION In our hand, ddPCR LIN28A assay demonstrated the highest sensitivity for detection of residual PSCs compared to the other two assays. Correlating such in vitro safety results with corresponding in vivo studies demonstrating the tumorigenicity profile of PSC-derived cell therapy could accelerate the safe clinical translation of cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinda Sun
- Australia Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Clarissa Yates
- Australia Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Ketim Therapeutics, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Steve Dingwall
- Australia Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Cherica Ongtengco
- Australia Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Dominique Power
- Australia Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Viatris, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Peter Gray
- Australia Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Andrew Prowse
- Australia Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
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Zhong Y, Liu J. Emerging roles of CAR-NK cell therapies in tumor immunotherapy: current status and future directions. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:318. [PMID: 38987565 PMCID: PMC11236993 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02077-1] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy harnesses the body's immune system to combat malignancies, building upon an understanding of tumor immunosurveillance and immune evasion mechanisms. This therapeutic approach reactivates anti-tumor immune responses and can be categorized into active, passive, and combined immunization strategies. Active immunotherapy engages the immune system to recognize and attack tumor cells by leveraging host immunity with cytokine supplementation or vaccination. Conversely, passive immunotherapy employs exogenous agents, such as monoclonal antibodies (anti-CTLA4, anti-PD1, anti-PD-L1) or adoptive cell transfers (ACT) with genetically engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T or NK cells, to exert anti-tumor effects. Over the past decades, CAR-T cell therapies have gained significant traction in oncological treatment, offering hope through their targeted approach. However, the potential adverse effects associated with CAR-T cells, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS), off-tumor toxicity, and neurotoxicity, warrant careful consideration. Recently, CAR-NK cell therapy has emerged as a promising alternative in the landscape of tumor immunotherapy, distinguished by its innate advantages over CAR-T cell modalities. In this review, we will synthesize the latest research and clinical advancements in CAR-NK cell therapies. We will elucidate the therapeutic benefits of employing CAR-NK cells in oncology and critically examine the developmental bottlenecks impeding their broader application. Our discussion aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status and future potential of CAR-NK cells in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhong
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jingfeng Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammatory Diseases, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenzhen, China.
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Watanabe T, Yasuda S, Kusakawa S, Kuroda T, Furukawa H, Futamura M, Shimizu S, Morishita A, Hata S, Koeda A, Komatsu K, Sato Y. Multisite studies for optimization of a highly efficient culture assay used for in vitro detection of residual undifferentiated human pluripotent stem cells intermingled in cell therapy products. Regen Ther 2024; 26:315-323. [PMID: 38983832 PMCID: PMC11231703 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2024.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction MEASURE2 (Multisite Evaluation Study on Analytical Methods for Non-clinical Safety Assessment of HUman-derived REgenerative Medical Products 2) is a Japanese experimental public-private partnership initiative that aims to standardize testing methods for tumorigenicity evaluation of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cell therapy products (CTPs). MEASURE2 organized multisite studies to optimize the methodology of the highly efficient culture (HEC) assay, a sensitive culture-based in vitro assay for detecting residual undifferentiated hPSCs in CTPs. Methods In these multisite studies, 1) the efficiency of colony formation by human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) under two different culture conditions and 2) the sorting efficiency of microbeads conjugated to various anti-hPSC markers during hiPSC enrichment were evaluated using samples in which hiPSCs were spiked into hiPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Results The efficiency of colony formation was significantly higher under culture conditions with the combination of Chroman 1, Emricasan, Polyamines, and Trans-ISRIB (CEPT) than with Y-27632, which is widely used for the survival of hPSCs. Between-laboratory variance was also smaller under the condition with CEPT than with Y-27632. The sorting efficiency of microbeads conjugated with the anti-Tra-1-60 antibody was sufficiently higher (>80%) than those of the other various microbeads investigated. Conclusions Results of these multisite studies are expected to contribute to improvements in the sensitivity and robustness of the HEC assay, as well as to the future standardization of the tumorigenicity risk assessment of hPSC-derived CTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Watanabe
- Drug Safety Research and Evaluation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yasuda
- Division of Cell-Based Therapeutic Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shinji Kusakawa
- Division of Cell-Based Therapeutic Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takuya Kuroda
- Division of Cell-Based Therapeutic Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hatsue Furukawa
- Safety Business Unit, Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners, Inc., Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Mayumi Futamura
- Drug Discovery Support Division, Tsukuba Research Institute, BoZo Research Center Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shigekazu Shimizu
- CMIC Bioresearch Center, CMIC Pharma Science Co., Ltd., Yamanashi, Japan
| | | | | | - Akiko Koeda
- Research Administration Department, Ina Research Inc., Nagano, Japan
| | - Kana Komatsu
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Ina Research Inc., Nagano, Japan
| | - Yoji Sato
- Division of Cell-Based Therapeutic Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
- Division of Drugs, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
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Wu Y, Zhang Z, Wu S, Chen Z, Pu Y. Estimating residual undifferentiated cells in human chemically induced pluripotent stem cell derived islets using lncRNA as biomarkers. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16435. [PMID: 37777562 PMCID: PMC10542758 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43798-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can generate insulin-producing beta cells for diabetes treatment, but residual undifferentiated cells may cause tumors. We developed a highly sensitive assay to detect these cells in islet cells derived from human chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (hCiPSCs), which are transgene-free and safer. We used RNA-seq data to find protein-coding and non-coding RNAs that were only expressed in hCiPSCs, not in islet cells. We confirmed these biomarkers by RT-qPCR and ddPCR. We chose long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) markers, which performed better than protein-coding RNA markers. We found that LNCPRESS2, LINC00678 and LOC105370482 could detect 1, 1 and 3 hCiPSCs in 106 islet cells by ddPCR, respectively. We tested our method on several hCiPSC lines, which could quantify 0.0001% undifferentiated cell in 106 islet cells by targeting hCiPSCs-specific lncRNA transcripts, ensuring the safety and quality of hCiPSC-derived islet cells for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandan Wu
- Hangzhou Reprogenix Bioscience Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Zhenzhen Zhang
- Hangzhou Reprogenix Bioscience Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Shuangshuang Wu
- Hangzhou Reprogenix Bioscience Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Zhaolong Chen
- Hangzhou Reprogenix Bioscience Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Yue Pu
- Hangzhou Reprogenix Bioscience Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
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Wang Z. Assessing Tumorigenicity in Stem Cell-Derived Therapeutic Products: A Critical Step in Safeguarding Regenerative Medicine. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:857. [PMID: 37508884 PMCID: PMC10376867 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10070857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells hold promise in regenerative medicine due to their ability to proliferate and differentiate into various cell types. However, their self-renewal and multipotency also raise concerns about their tumorigenicity during and post-therapy. Indeed, multiple studies have reported the presence of stem cell-derived tumors in animal models and clinical administrations. Therefore, the assessment of tumorigenicity is crucial in evaluating the safety of stem cell-derived therapeutic products. Ideally, the assessment needs to be performed rapidly, sensitively, cost-effectively, and scalable. This article reviews various approaches for assessing tumorigenicity, including animal models, soft agar culture, PCR, flow cytometry, and microfluidics. Each method has its advantages and limitations. The selection of the assay depends on the specific needs of the study and the stage of development of the stem cell-derived therapeutic product. Combining multiple assays may provide a more comprehensive evaluation of tumorigenicity. Future developments should focus on the optimization and standardization of microfluidics-based methods, as well as the integration of multiple assays into a single platform for efficient and comprehensive evaluation of tumorigenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongjie Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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Watanabe T, Yasuda S, Chen CL, Delsing L, Fellows MD, Foldes G, Kusakawa S, Mouriès LP, Sato Y. International evaluation study of a highly efficient culture assay for detection of residual human pluripotent stem cells in cell therapies. Regen Med 2023; 18:219-227. [PMID: 36852420 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2022-0207] [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] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim & methods: The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Cell Therapy-TRAcking, Circulation & Safety Technical Committee launched an international, multisite study to evaluate the sensitivity and reproducibility of the highly efficient culture (HEC) assay, an in vitro assay to detect residual undifferentiated human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in cell therapy products. Results: All facilities detected colonies of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) when five hiPSCs were spiked into 1 million hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Spiking with a trace amount of hiPSCs revealed that repeatability accounts for the majority of reproducibility while the true positive rate was high. Conclusion: The results indicate that the HEC assay is highly sensitive and robust and can be generally applicable for tumorigenicity evaluation of hPSC-derived cell therapy products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Watanabe
- Drug Safety Research & Evaluation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-Chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yasuda
- Division of Cell-Based Therapeutic Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-9501, Japan
| | - Connie L Chen
- Health & Environmental Sciences Institute, 740 Fifteenth Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Louise Delsing
- CVRM Safety, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Science, R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 43150, Sweden
| | - Mick D Fellows
- CVRM Safety, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Science, R&D, AstraZeneca, Darwin Building 310, Milton Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 OWG, UK
| | - Gabor Foldes
- National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, W120NN, UK.,Current address, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Milstein Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Shinji Kusakawa
- Division of Cell-Based Therapeutic Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-9501, Japan
| | - Lucilia Pereira Mouriès
- Health & Environmental Sciences Institute, 740 Fifteenth Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Yoji Sato
- Division of Cell-Based Therapeutic Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-9501, Japan
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Dashnau JL, Xue Q, Nelson M, Law E, Cao L, Hei D. A risk-based approach for cell line development, manufacturing and characterization of genetically engineered, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived allogeneic cell therapies. Cytotherapy 2023; 25:1-13. [PMID: 36109321 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Advances in cellular reprogramming and gene-editing approaches have opened up the potential for a new class of ex vivo cell therapies based on genetically engineered, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived allogeneic cells. While these new therapies share some similarities with their primary cell-derived autologous and allogeneic cell therapy predecessors, key differences exist in the processes used for generating genetically engineered, iPSC-derived allogeneic therapies. Specifically, in iPSC-derived allogeneic therapies, donor selection and gene-editing are performed once over the lifetime of the product as opposed to as part of the manufacturing of each product batch. The introduction of a well-characterized, fully modified, clonally derived master cell bank reduces risks that have been inherent to primary-cell derived autologous and allogeneic therapies. Current regulatory guidance, which was largely developed based on the learnings gained from earlier generation therapies, leaves open questions around considerations for donor eligibility, starting materials and critical components, cell banking and genetic stability. Here, a risk-based approach is proposed to address these considerations, while regulatory guidance continues to evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qiong Xue
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Monica Nelson
- Century Therapeutics, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Eric Law
- Century Therapeutics, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lan Cao
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Derek Hei
- Clade Therapeutics, One Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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