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Malakhova E, Pershin D, Kulakovskaya E, Vedmedskaia V, Fadeeva M, Lodoeva O, Sozonova T, Muzalevskii Y, Kazachenok A, Belchikov V, Shelikhova L, Molostova O, Volkov D, Maschan M. Extended characterization of anti-CD19 CAR T cell products manufactured at the point of care using the CliniMACS Prodigy system: comparison of donor sources and process duration. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:567-578. [PMID: 38493403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS The CliniMACS Prodigy closed system is widely used for the manufacturing of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells). Our study presents an extensive immunophenotypic and functional characterization and comparison of the properties of anti-CD19 CAR-T cell products obtained during long (11 days) and short (7 days) manufacturing cycles using the CliniMACS Prodigy system, as well as cell products manufactured from different donor sources of T lymphocytes: from patients, from patients who underwent HSCT, and from haploidentical donors. We also present the possibility of assessing the efficiency of transduction by an indirect method. METHODS Seventy-six CD19 CAR-T cell products were manufactured using the CliniMACS Prodigy automated system. Immunophenotypic properties, markers of cell activation and exhaustion, antitumor, anti-CD19 specific activity in vitro of the manufactured cell products were evaluated. As an indirect method for assessing the efficiency of transduction, we used the method of functional assessment of cytokine secretion and expression of the CD107a marker after incubation of CAR-T cells with tumor targets. RESULTS The CliniMACS Prodigy platform can produce a product of CD19 CAR-T cells with sufficient cell expansion (4.6 × 109 cells-median for long process [LP] and 1.6 × 109-for short process [SP]), transduction efficiency (43.5%-median for LP and 41.0%-for SP), represented mainly by T central memory cell population, with low expression of exhaustion markers, and with high specific antitumor activity in vitro. We did not find significant differences in the properties of the products obtained during the 7- and 11-day manufacturing cycles, which is in favor of reducing the duration of production to 7 days, which may accelerate CAR-T therapy. We have shown that donor sources for CAR-T manufacturing do not significantly affect the composition and functional properties of the cell product. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the possibility of using the CliniMACS Prodigy system with a shortened 7-day production cycle to produce sufficient amount of functional CAR-T cells. CAR transduction efficiency can be measured indirectly via functional assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Malakhova
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Dmitriy Pershin
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Kulakovskaya
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Viktoria Vedmedskaia
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mariia Fadeeva
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oyuna Lodoeva
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana Sozonova
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yakov Muzalevskii
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexei Kazachenok
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladislav Belchikov
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Larisa Shelikhova
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Molostova
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Volkov
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Michael Maschan
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
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2
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Donnenberg VS, Luketich JD, Sultan I, Lister J, Bartlett DL, Ghosh S, Donnenberg AD. A maladaptive pleural environment suppresses preexisting anti-tumor activity of pleural infiltrating T cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1157697. [PMID: 37063842 PMCID: PMC10097923 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1157697] [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: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Treatment options for patients with malignant pleural effusions (MPE) are limited due, at least in part, to the unique environment of the pleural space, which drives an aggressive tumor state and governs the behavior of infiltrating immune cells. Modulation of the pleural environment may be a necessary step toward the development of effective treatments. We examine immune checkpoint molecule (ICM) expression on pleural T cells, the secretomes of pleural fluid, pleural infiltrating T cells (PIT), and ability to activate PIT ex vivo. Methods ICM expression was determined on freshly drained and in vitro activated PIT from breast, lung and renal cell cancer. Secretomics (63 analytes) of activated PIT, primary tumor cultures and MPE fluid was determined using Luminex technology. Complementary digital spatial proteomic profiling (42 analytes) of CD45+ MPE cells was done using the Nanostring GeoMx platform. Cytolytic activity was measured against autologous tumor targets. Results ICM expression was low on freshy isolated PIT; regulatory T cells (T-reg) were not detectable by GeoMx. In vitro activated PIT coexpressed PD-1, LAG-3 and TIGIT but were highly cytotoxic against autologous tumor and uniquely secreted cytokines and chemokines in the > 100 pM range. These included CCL4, CCL3, granzyme B, IL-13, TNFα, IL-2 IFNγ, GM-CSF, and perforin. Activated PIT also secreted high levels of IL-6, IL-8 and sIL-6Rα, which contribute to polarization of the pleural environment toward wound healing and the epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Addition of IL-6Rα antagonist to cultures reversed tumor EMT but did not alter PIT activation, cytokine secretion or cytotoxicity. Discussion Despite the negative environment, immune effector cells are plentiful, persist in MPE in a quiescent state, and are easily activated and expanded in culture. Low expression of ICM on native PIT may explain reported lack of responsiveness to immune checkpoint blockade. The potent cytotoxic activity of activated PIT and a proof-of-concept clinical scale GMP-expansion experiment support their promise as a cellular therapeutic. We expect that a successful approach will require combining cellular therapy with pleural conditioning using immune checkpoint blockers together with inhibitors of upstream master cytokines such as the IL-6/IL-6R axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera S. Donnenberg
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Centers, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - James D. Luketich
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Centers, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Ibrahim Sultan
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - John Lister
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Cellular Therapy, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David L. Bartlett
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sohini Ghosh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Albert D. Donnenberg
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Centers, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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3
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Evaluation of CAR-T Cells' Cytotoxicity against Modified Solid Tumor Cell Lines. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020626. [PMID: 36831162 PMCID: PMC9953664 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, adoptive cell therapy has gained a new perspective of application due to the development of technologies and the successful clinical use of CAR-T cells for the treatment of patients with malignant B-cell neoplasms. However, the efficacy of CAR-T therapy against solid tumor remains a major scientific and clinical challenge. In this work, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of 2nd generation CAR-T cells against modified solid tumors cell lines-lung adenocarcinoma cell line H522, prostate carcinoma PC-3M, breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231, and epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell lines transduced with lentiviruses encoding red fluorescent protein Katushka2S and the CD19 antigen. A correlation was demonstrated between an increase in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and a decrease in the confluence of tumor cells' monolayer. The proposed approach can potentially be applied to preliminarily assess CAR-T cell efficacy for the treatment of solid tumors and estimate the risks of developing cytokine release syndrome.
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4
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Cryopreserved anti-CD22 and bispecific anti-CD19/22 CAR T cells are as effective as freshly infused cells. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 28:51-61. [PMID: 36620075 PMCID: PMC9798176 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells facilitates shipment, timing of infusions, and storage of subsequent doses. However, reports on the impact of cryopreservation on CAR T cell efficacy have been mixed. We retrospectively compared clinical outcomes between patients who received cryopreserved versus fresh CAR T cells for treatment of B cell leukemia across two cohorts of pediatric and young adult patients: those who received anti-CD22 CAR T cells and those who received bispecific anti-CD19/22 CAR T cells. Manufacturing methods were consistent within each trial but differed between the two trials, allowing for exploration of cryopreservation within different manufacturing platforms. Among 40 patients who received anti-CD22 CAR T cells (21 cryopreserved cells and 19 fresh), there were no differences in in vivo expansion, persistence, incidence of toxicities, or disease response between groups with cryopreserved and fresh CAR T cells. Among 19 patients who received anti-CD19/22 CAR T cells (11 cryopreserved and 8 fresh), patients with cryopreserved cells had similar expansion, toxicity incidence, and disease response, with decreased CAR T cell persistence. Overall, our data demonstrate efficacy of cryopreserved CAR T cells as comparable to fresh infusions, supporting cryopreservation, which will be crucial for advancing the field of cell therapy.
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5
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Silva DN, Chrobok M, Rovesti G, Healy K, Wagner AK, Maravelia P, Gatto F, Mazza M, Mazzotti L, Lohmann V, Sällberg Chen M, Sällberg M, Buggert M, Pasetto A. Process Development for Adoptive Cell Therapy in Academia: A Pipeline for Clinical-Scale Manufacturing of Multiple TCR-T Cell Products. Front Immunol 2022; 13:896242. [PMID: 35784320 PMCID: PMC9243500 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.896242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular immunotherapies based on T cell receptor (TCR) transfer are promising approaches for the treatment of cancer and chronic viral infections. The discovery of novel receptors is expanding considerably; however, the clinical development of TCR-T cell therapies still lags. Here we provide a pipeline for process development and clinical-scale manufacturing of TCR-T cells in academia. We utilized two TCRs specific for hepatitis C virus (HCV) as models because of their marked differences in avidity and functional profile in TCR-redirected cells. With our clinical-scale pipeline, we reproduced the functional profile associated with each TCR. Moreover, the two TCR-T cell products demonstrated similar yield, purity, transduction efficiency as well as phenotype. The TCR-T cell products had a highly reproducible yield of over 1.4 × 109 cells, with an average viability of 93%; 97.8–99% of cells were CD3+, of which 47.66 ± 2.02% were CD8+ T cells; the phenotype was markedly associated with central memory (CD62L+CD45RO+) for CD4+ (93.70 ± 5.23%) and CD8+ (94.26 ± 4.04%). The functional assessments in 2D and 3D cell culture assays showed that TCR-T cells mounted a polyfunctional response to the cognate HCV peptide target in tumor cell lines, including killing. Collectively, we report a solid strategy for the efficient large-scale manufacturing of TCR-T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Chrobok
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giulia Rovesti
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Oncology, Laboratory of Cellular Therapy, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Katie Healy
- Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arnika Kathleen Wagner
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Francesca Gatto
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Massimiliano Mazza
- Immunotherapy, Cell Therapy and Biobank (ITCB), IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Lucia Mazzotti
- Immunotherapy, Cell Therapy and Biobank (ITCB), IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Volker Lohmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Matti Sällberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus Buggert
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Pasetto
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Anna Pasetto,
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Ramos RN, Tosch C, Kotsias F, Claudepierre MC, Schmitt D, Remy-Ziller C, Hoffmann C, Ricordel M, Nourtier V, Farine I, Laruelle L, Hortelano J, Spring-Giusti C, Sedlik C, Le Tourneau C, Hoffmann C, Silvestre N, Erbs P, Bendjama K, Thioudellet C, Quemeneur E, Piaggio E, Rittner K. Pseudocowpox virus, a novel vector to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of antitumor vaccination. Clin Transl Immunology 2022; 11:e1392. [PMID: 35573979 PMCID: PMC9081486 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1392] [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: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Antitumor viral vaccines, and more particularly poxviral vaccines, represent an active field for clinical development and translational research. To improve the efficacy and treatment outcome, new viral vectors are sought, with emphasis on their abilities to stimulate innate immunity, to display tumor antigens and to induce a specific T‐cell response. Methods We screened for a new poxviral backbone with improved innate and adaptive immune stimulation using IFN‐α secretion levels in infected PBMC cultures as selection criteria. Assessment of virus effectiveness was made in vitro and in vivo. Results The bovine pseudocowpox virus (PCPV) stood out among several poxviruses for its ability to induce significant secretion of IFN‐α. PCPV produced efficient activation of human monocytes and dendritic cells, degranulation of NK cells and reversed MDSC‐induced T‐cell suppression, without being offensive to activated T cells. A PCPV‐based vaccine, encoding the HPV16 E7 protein (PCPV‐E7), stimulated strong antigen‐specific T‐cell responses in TC1 tumor‐bearing mice. Complete regression of tumors was obtained in a CD8+ T‐cell‐dependent manner after intratumoral injection of PCPV‐E7, followed by intravenous injection of the cancer vaccine MVA‐E7. PCPV also proved active when injected repeatedly intratumorally in MC38 tumor‐bearing mice, generating tumor‐specific T‐cell responses without encoding a specific MC38 antigen. From a translational perspective, we demonstrated that PCPV‐E7 effectively stimulated IFN‐γ production by T cells from tumor‐draining lymph nodes of HPV+‐infected cancer patients. Conclusion We propose PCPV as a viral vector suitable for vaccination in the field of personalised cancer vaccines, in particular for heterologous prime‐boost regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Nalio Ramos
- Institut Curie INSERM U932, and Centre d'Investigation Clinique Biotherapie CICBT 1428 PSL Research University Paris France.,Present address: Laboratório de Investigação Médica em Patogênese e Terapia dirigida em Onco-Imuno-Hematologia Hospital das Clínicas Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP) São Paulo Brazil.,Present address: Instituto D'Or de Ensino e Pesquisa São Paulo Brazil
| | | | - Fiorella Kotsias
- Institut Curie INSERM U932, and Centre d'Investigation Clinique Biotherapie CICBT 1428 PSL Research University Paris France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Christine Sedlik
- Institut Curie INSERM U932, and Centre d'Investigation Clinique Biotherapie CICBT 1428 PSL Research University Paris France
| | - Christophe Le Tourneau
- Department of Drug Development and Innovation (D3i) Institut Curie Paris and Saint-Cloud France
| | - Caroline Hoffmann
- Institut Curie INSERM U932, and Centre d'Investigation Clinique Biotherapie CICBT 1428 PSL Research University Paris France.,Department of Surgical Oncology Institut Curie PSL Research University Paris France
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Eliane Piaggio
- Institut Curie INSERM U932, and Centre d'Investigation Clinique Biotherapie CICBT 1428 PSL Research University Paris France
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7
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Glienke W, Dragon AC, Zimmermann K, Martyniszyn-Eiben A, Mertens M, Abken H, Rossig C, Altvater B, Aleksandrova K, Arseniev L, Kloth C, Stamopoulou A, Moritz T, Lode HN, Siebert N, Blasczyk R, Goudeva L, Schambach A, Köhl U, Eiz-Vesper B, Esser R. GMP-Compliant Manufacturing of TRUCKs: CAR T Cells targeting GD2 and Releasing Inducible IL-18. Front Immunol 2022; 13:839783. [PMID: 35401506 PMCID: PMC8988144 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.839783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells can be highly effective in the treatment of hematological malignancies, but mostly fail in the treatment of solid tumors. Thus, approaches using 4th advanced CAR T cells secreting immunomodulatory cytokines upon CAR signaling, known as TRUCKs (“T cells redirected for universal cytokine-mediated killing”), are currently under investigation. Based on our previous development and validation of automated and closed processing for GMP-compliant manufacturing of CAR T cells, we here present the proof of feasibility for translation of this method to TRUCKs. We generated IL-18-secreting TRUCKs targeting the tumor antigen GD2 using the CliniMACS Prodigy® system using a recently described “all-in-one” lentiviral vector combining constitutive anti-GD2 CAR expression and inducible IL-18. Starting with 0.84 x 108 and 0.91 x 108 T cells after enrichment of CD4+ and CD8+ we reached 68.3-fold and 71.4-fold T cell expansion rates, respectively, in two independent runs. Transduction efficiencies of 77.7% and 55.1% was obtained, and yields of 4.5 x 109 and 3.6 x 109 engineered T cells from the two donors, respectively, within 12 days. Preclinical characterization demonstrated antigen-specific GD2-CAR mediated activation after co-cultivation with GD2-expressing target cells. The functional capacities of the clinical-scale manufactured TRUCKs were similar to TRUCKs generated in laboratory-scale and were not impeded by cryopreservation. IL-18 TRUCKs were activated in an antigen-specific manner by co-cultivation with GD2-expressing target cells indicated by an increased expression of activation markers (e.g. CD25, CD69) on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and an enhanced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cytolytic mediators (e.g. IL-2, granzyme B, IFN-γ, perforin, TNF-α). Manufactured TRUCKs showed a specific cytotoxicity towards GD2-expressing target cells indicated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, a decrease of target cell numbers, microscopic detection of cytotoxic clusters and detachment of target cells in real-time impedance measurements (xCELLigence). Following antigen-specific CAR activation of TRUCKs, CAR-triggered release IL-18 was induced, and the cytokine was biologically active, as demonstrated in migration assays revealing specific attraction of monocytes and NK cells by supernatants of TRUCKs co-cultured with GD2-expressing target cells. In conclusion, GMP-compliant manufacturing of TRUCKs is feasible and delivers high quality T cell products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Glienke
- ATMP-GMP Development Unit, Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center for Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- *Correspondence: Wolfgang Glienke, ; Axel Schambach,
| | - Anna Christina Dragon
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katharina Zimmermann
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexandra Martyniszyn-Eiben
- ATMP-GMP Development Unit, Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center for Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mira Mertens
- ATMP-GMP Development Unit, Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center for Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Div Genetic Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Krasimira Aleksandrova
- Cellular Therapy Center, Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lubomir Arseniev
- Cellular Therapy Center, Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christina Kloth
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andriana Stamopoulou
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Moritz
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Holger N. Lode
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nikolai Siebert
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Rainer Blasczyk
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lilia Goudeva
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Wolfgang Glienke, ; Axel Schambach,
| | - Ulrike Köhl
- ATMP-GMP Development Unit, Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center for Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Cellular Therapy Center, Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
- Clinical Immunology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Britta Eiz-Vesper
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ruth Esser
- ATMP-GMP Development Unit, Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Integrated Research and Treatment Center for Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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8
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Accelerating clinical-scale production of BCMA CAR T cells with defined maturation stages. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 24:181-198. [PMID: 35118163 PMCID: PMC8791860 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The advent of CAR T cells targeting CD19 or BCMA on B cell neoplasm demonstrated remarkable efficacy, but rapid relapses and primary refractoriness remains challenging. A leading cause of CAR T cell failure is their lack of expansion and limited persistence. Long-lived, self-renewing multipotent T memory stem cells (TSCM) and T central memory cells (TCM) likely sustain superior tumor regression, but their low frequencies in blood from cancer patients impose a major hurdle for clinical CAR T production. We designed a clinically compliant protocol for generating BCMA CAR T cells starting with increased TSCM/TCM cell input. A CliniMACS Prodigy process was combined with flow cytometry-based enrichment of CD62L+CD95+ T cells. Although starting with only 15% of standard T cell input, the selected TSCM/TCM material was efficiently activated and transduced with a BCMA CAR-encoding retrovirus. Cultivation in the presence of IL-7/IL-15 enabled the harvest of CAR T cells containing an increased CD4+ TSCM fraction and 70% TSCM cells amongst CD8+. Strong cell proliferation yielded cell numbers sufficient for clinical application, while effector functions were maintained. Together, adaptation of a standard CliniMACS Prodigy protocol to low input numbers resulted in efficient retroviral transduction with a high CAR T cell yield.
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9
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Yoo SM, Lau VWC, Aarts C, Bojovic B, Steinberg G, Hammill JA, Dvorkin-Gheva A, Ghosh R, Bramson JL. Manufacturing T cells in hollow fiber membrane bioreactors changes their programming and enhances their potency. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1995168. [PMID: 34777917 PMCID: PMC8583081 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1995168] [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] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered T cell therapies have revolutionized modern oncology, however processes for manufacturing T cell therapies vary and the impact of manufacturing processes On the cell product is poorly understood. Herein, we have used a commercially available hollow fiber membrane bioreactor (HFMBR) operated in a novel mode to demonstrate that T cells can be engineered with lentiviruses, grown to very high densities, and washed and harvested in a single, small volume bioreactor that is readily amenable to automation. Manufacturing within the HFMBR dramatically changed the programming of the T cells and yielded a product with greater therapeutic potency than T cells produced using the standard manual method. This change in programming was associated with increased resistance to cryopreservation, which is beneficial as T cell products are typically cryopreserved prior to administration to the patient. Transcriptional profiling of the T cells revealed a shift toward a glycolytic metabolism, which may protect cells from oxidative stress offering an explanation for the improved resistance to cryopreservation. This study reveals that the choice of bioreactor fundamentally impacts the engineered T cell product and must be carefully considered. Furthermore, these data challenge the premise that glycolytic metabolism is detrimental to T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Mi Yoo
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Triumvira Immunologics, Hamilton, On, Canada
| | - Vivan W C Lau
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Craig Aarts
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Bojana Bojovic
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Gregory Steinberg
- Centre for Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes Research, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, On, Canada
| | - Joanne A Hammill
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Anna Dvorkin-Gheva
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Raja Ghosh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, On, Canada
| | - Jonathan L Bramson
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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10
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Rampotas A, Sangha G, Collins GP. Integration of cell therapies and bispecific antibodies into the treatment pathway of relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Ther Adv Hematol 2021; 12:20406207211053120. [PMID: 34733463 PMCID: PMC8558790 DOI: 10.1177/20406207211053120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gina Sangha
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Graham P Collins
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
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11
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Vucinic V, Quaiser A, Lückemeier P, Fricke S, Platzbecker U, Koehl U. Production and Application of CAR T Cells: Current and Future Role of Europe. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:713401. [PMID: 34490302 PMCID: PMC8418055 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.713401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapid developments in the field of CAR T cells offer important new opportunities while at the same time increasing numbers of patients pose major challenges. This review is summarizing on the one hand the state of the art in CAR T cell trials with a unique perspective on the role that Europe is playing. On the other hand, an overview of reproducible processing techniques is presented, from manual or semi-automated up to fully automated manufacturing of clinical-grade CAR T cells. Besides regulatory requirements, an outlook is given in the direction of digitally controlled automated manufacturing in order to lower cost and complexity and to address CAR T cell products for a greater number of patients and a variety of malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladan Vucinic
- University of Leipzig, Medical Clinic for Hematology, Cell Therapy and Hemostaseology, Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andrea Quaiser
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Philipp Lückemeier
- University of Leipzig, Medical Clinic for Hematology, Cell Therapy and Hemostaseology, Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Fricke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine III Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation, Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Uwe Platzbecker
- University of Leipzig, Medical Clinic for Hematology, Cell Therapy and Hemostaseology, Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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12
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Lentiviral Vectors for T Cell Engineering: Clinical Applications, Bioprocessing and Future Perspectives. Viruses 2021; 13:v13081528. [PMID: 34452392 PMCID: PMC8402758 DOI: 10.3390/v13081528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors have played a critical role in the emergence of gene-modified cell therapies, specifically T cell therapies. Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah), axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta) and most recently brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) are examples of T cell therapies which are now commercially available for distribution after successfully obtaining EMA and FDA approval for the treatment of blood cancers. All three therapies rely on retroviral vectors to transduce the therapeutic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) into T lymphocytes. Although these innovations represent promising new therapeutic avenues, major obstacles remain in making them readily available tools for medical care. This article reviews the biological principles as well as the bioprocessing of lentiviral (LV) vectors and adoptive T cell therapy. Clinical and engineering successes, shortcomings and future opportunities are also discussed. The development of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant instruments, technologies and protocols will play an essential role in the development of LV-engineered T cell therapies.
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13
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Jones M, Nankervis B, Roballo KS, Pham H, Bushman J, Coeshott C. A Comparison of Automated Perfusion- and Manual Diffusion-Based Human Regulatory T Cell Expansion and Functionality Using a Soluble Activator Complex. Cell Transplant 2021; 29:963689720923578. [PMID: 32662685 PMCID: PMC7586259 DOI: 10.1177/0963689720923578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Absence or reduced frequency of human regulatory T cells (Tregs) can limit the control of inflammatory responses, autoimmunity, and the success of transplant engraftment. Clinical studies indicate that use of Tregs as immunotherapeutics would require billions of cells per dose. The Quantum® Cell Expansion System (Quantum system) is a hollow-fiber bioreactor that has previously been used to grow billions of functional T cells in a short timeframe, 8–9 d. Here we evaluated expansion of selected Tregs in the Quantum system using a soluble activator to compare the effects of automated perfusion with manual diffusion-based culture in flasks. Treg CD4+CD25+ cells from three healthy donors, isolated via column-free immunomagnetic negative/positive selection, were grown under static conditions and subsequently seeded into Quantum system bioreactors and into T225 control flasks in an identical culture volume of PRIME-XV XSFM medium with interleukin-2, for a 9-d expansion using a soluble anti-CD3/CD28/CD2 monoclonal antibody activator complex. Treg harvests from three parallel expansions produced a mean of 3.95 × 108 (range 1.92 × 108 to 5.58 × 108) Tregs in flasks (mean viability 71.3%) versus 7.00 × 109 (range 3.57 × 109 to 13.00 × 109) Tregs in the Quantum system (mean viability 91.8%), demonstrating a mean 17.7-fold increase in Treg yield for the Quantum system over that obtained in flasks. The two culture processes gave rise to cells with a memory Treg CD4+CD25+FoxP3+CD45RO+ phenotype of 93.7% for flasks versus 97.7% for the Quantum system. Tregs from the Quantum system demonstrated an 8-fold greater interleukin-10 stimulation index than cells from flask culture following restimulation. Quantum system–expanded Tregs proliferated, maintained their antigenic phenotype, and suppressed effector immune cells after cryopreservation. We conclude that an automated perfusion bioreactor can support the scale-up expansion of functional Tregs more efficiently than diffusion-based flask culture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Huong Pham
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Jared Bushman
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
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14
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Self-driving armored CAR-T cells overcome a suppressive milieu and eradicate CD19 + Raji lymphoma in preclinical models. Mol Ther 2021; 29:2691-2706. [PMID: 33974997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells typically use a strong constitutive promoter to ensure maximal long-term CAR expression. However, recent evidence suggests that restricting the timing and magnitude of CAR expression is functionally beneficial, whereas constitutive CAR activation may lead to exhaustion and loss of function. We created a self-driving CD19-targeting CAR, which regulates its own function based on the presence of a CD19 antigen engaged by the CAR itself, by placing self-driving CAR19 constructs under transcriptional control of synthetic activator protein 1 (AP1)-nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) or signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5 promoters. CD19 antigen-regulated expression was observed for self-driving AP1-NFκB-CAR19, with CAR19 upregulation within 18 h after exposure to target CD19, and corresponded to the level of tumor burden. Self-driving CAR-T cells showed enhanced tumor-dependent activation, expansion, and low exhaustion in vitro as compared to constitutively expressed EF1α and murine stem cell virus (MSCV) CARs and mediated tumor regression and survival in Raji-bearing NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice. Long-term CAR function correlated with upregulated CAR expression within 24 h of exposure to tumor antigen. The self-driving AP1-NFκB-CAR19 circuit was also used to inducibly express dominant-negative transforming growth factor β receptor II (TGFBRIIdn), which effectively countered the negative effects of TGF-β on CAR-T activation. Thus, a self-driving CAR approach may offer a new modality to express CAR and auxiliary proteins by enhancing CAR-T functional activity and limiting exhaustion.
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15
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Garcia-Aponte OF, Herwig C, Kozma B. Lymphocyte expansion in bioreactors: upgrading adoptive cell therapy. J Biol Eng 2021; 15:13. [PMID: 33849630 PMCID: PMC8042697 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-021-00264-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioreactors are essential tools for the development of efficient and high-quality cell therapy products. However, their application is far from full potential, holding several challenges when reconciling the complex biology of the cells to be expanded with the need for a manufacturing process that is able to control cell growth and functionality towards therapy affordability and opportunity. In this review, we discuss and compare current bioreactor technologies by performing a systematic analysis of the published data on automated lymphocyte expansion for adoptive cell therapy. We propose a set of requirements for bioreactor design and identify trends on the applicability of these technologies, highlighting the specific challenges and major advancements for each one of the current approaches of expansion along with the opportunities that lie in process intensification. We conclude on the necessity to develop targeted solutions specially tailored for the specific stimulation, supplementation and micro-environmental needs of lymphocytes’ cultures, and the benefit of applying knowledge-based tools for process control and predictability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Fabian Garcia-Aponte
- Research Area Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Herwig
- Research Area Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Bence Kozma
- Research Area Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria
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16
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Chin MH, Gentleman E, Coppens MO, Day RM. Rethinking Cancer Immunotherapy by Embracing and Engineering Complexity. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 38:1054-1065. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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17
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Jackson Z, Roe A, Sharma AA, Lopes FBTP, Talla A, Kleinsorge-Block S, Zamborsky K, Schiavone J, Manjappa S, Schauner R, Lee G, Liu R, Caimi PF, Xiong Y, Krueger W, Worden A, Kadan M, Schneider D, Orentas R, Dropulic B, Sekaly RP, de Lima M, Wald DN, Reese JS. Automated Manufacture of Autologous CD19 CAR-T Cells for Treatment of Non-hodgkin Lymphoma. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1941. [PMID: 32849651 PMCID: PMC7427107 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cell) targeting CD19 are effective against several subtypes of CD19-expressing hematologic malignancies. Centralized manufacturing has allowed rapid expansion of this cellular therapy, but it may be associated with treatment delays due to the required logistics. We hypothesized that point of care manufacturing of CAR-T cells on the automated CliniMACS Prodigy® device allows reproducible and fast delivery of cells for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Here we describe cell manufacturing results and characterize the phenotype and effector function of CAR-T cells used in a phase I/II study. We utilized a lentiviral vector delivering a second-generation CD19 CAR construct with 4-1BB costimulatory domain and TNFRSF19 transmembrane domain. Our data highlight the successful generation of CAR-T cells at numbers sufficient for all patients treated, a shortened duration of production from 12 to 8 days followed by fresh infusion into patients, and the detection of CAR-T cells in patient circulation up to 1-year post-infusion.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, CD19/genetics
- Antigens, CD19/immunology
- Antigens, CD19/metabolism
- Automation
- Cell Culture Techniques
- Cell Engineering
- Cells, Cultured
- Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic
- Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Humans
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive
- Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/immunology
- Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/metabolism
- Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/therapy
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Phenotype
- Point-of-Care Systems
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/transplantation
- Transplantation, Autologous
- Treatment Outcome
- Workload
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Jackson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Anne Roe
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | | | | | - Aarthi Talla
- The Alan Turing Institute, British Library, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Kleinsorge-Block
- Stem Cell Transplantation Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Kayla Zamborsky
- Stem Cell Transplantation Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Jennifer Schiavone
- Stem Cell Transplantation Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Shivaprasad Manjappa
- Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Robert Schauner
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Grace Lee
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Ruifu Liu
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Paolo F. Caimi
- Stem Cell Transplantation Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Ying Xiong
- Lentigen Technology, Inc., a Miltenyi Biotec Company, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Winfried Krueger
- Lentigen Technology, Inc., a Miltenyi Biotec Company, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Andrew Worden
- Lentigen Technology, Inc., a Miltenyi Biotec Company, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Mike Kadan
- Lentigen Technology, Inc., a Miltenyi Biotec Company, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Dina Schneider
- Lentigen Technology, Inc., a Miltenyi Biotec Company, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Rimas Orentas
- Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Boro Dropulic
- Lentigen Technology, Inc., a Miltenyi Biotec Company, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Rafick-Pierre Sekaly
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Marcos de Lima
- Stem Cell Transplantation Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - David N. Wald
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Jane S. Reese
- Stem Cell Transplantation Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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18
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW Cellular therapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells as a treatment option for patients with lymphoma and leukemia has proven to be remarkably efficacious. This success has sparked the development of new cellular therapy products for numerous indications. Similar to pharmaceutical products, challenges exist at nearly every stage of process development; however, the unique nature of a cellular therapy product can present exceptional challenges that are just beginning to emerge. The purpose of this review is to explore some of the most common challenges experienced during the early phases of development of CAR T cell products and to provide suggestions for navigating these challenges. RECENT FINDINGS Recent articles focused on CAR T cells are highlighted with special attention on aspects that relate to CAR T cell process development and clinical manufacturing. We examine the various stages of process development for CAR T cells and outline some of the obstacles that must be overcome in order to move from pre-clinical development into clinical manufacturing. As the field of CAR T cell therapy continues to grow, it is important to quickly move new CAR T cell products into and through early phase clinical trials and to ensure that the result of these trials can be adequately compared. Having laboratory and clinical investigators and GMP manufacturing facilities aligned on the numerous aspects of new product development will facilitate this process.
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19
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Costariol E, Rotondi MC, Amini A, Hewitt CJ, Nienow AW, Heathman TRJ, Rafiq QA. Demonstrating the Manufacture of Human CAR‐T Cells in an Automated Stirred‐Tank Bioreactor. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e2000177. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.202000177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Costariol
- Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering University College London London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Marco C. Rotondi
- Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering University College London London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Arman Amini
- Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering University College London London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Christopher J. Hewitt
- Aston Medical Research Institute, School of Life and Health Sciences Aston University Birmingham B4 7ET UK
| | - Alvin W. Nienow
- Aston Medical Research Institute, School of Life and Health Sciences Aston University Birmingham B4 7ET UK
- School of Chemical Engineering University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
| | - Thomas R. J. Heathman
- Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutic Solutions (HCATS) 4 Pearl Court Allendale NJ 07401 USA
| | - Qasim A. Rafiq
- Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering University College London London WC1E 6BT UK
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20
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Arcangeli S, Falcone L, Camisa B, De Girardi F, Biondi M, Giglio F, Ciceri F, Bonini C, Bondanza A, Casucci M. Next-Generation Manufacturing Protocols Enriching T SCM CAR T Cells Can Overcome Disease-Specific T Cell Defects in Cancer Patients. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1217. [PMID: 32636841 PMCID: PMC7317024 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell expansion and persistence emerged as key efficacy determinants in cancer patients. These features are typical of early-memory T cells, which can be enriched with specific manufacturing procedures, providing signal one and signal two in the proper steric conformation and in the presence of homeostatic cytokines. In this project, we exploited our expertise with paramagnetic beads and IL-7/IL-15 to develop an optimized protocol for CAR T cell production based on reagents, including a polymeric nanomatrix, which are compatible with automated manufacturing via the CliniMACS Prodigy. We found that both procedures generate similar CAR T cell products, highly enriched of stem cell memory T cells (TSCM) and equally effective in counteracting tumor growth in xenograft mouse models. Most importantly, the optimized protocol was able to expand CAR TSCM from B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) patients, which in origin were highly enriched of late-memory and exhausted T cells. Notably, CAR T cells derived from B-ALL patients proved to be as efficient as healthy donor-derived CAR T cells in mediating profound and prolonged anti-tumor responses in xenograft mouse models. On the contrary, the protocol failed to expand fully functional CAR TSCM from patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, suggesting that patient-specific factors may profoundly affect intrinsic T cell quality. Finally, by retrospective analysis of in vivo data, we observed that the proportion of TSCM in the final CAR T cell product positively correlated with in vivo expansion, which in turn proved to be crucial for achieving long-term remissions. Collectively, our data indicate that next-generation manufacturing protocols can overcome initial T cell defects, resulting in TSCM-enriched CAR T cell products qualitatively equivalent to the ones generated from healthy donors. However, this positive effect may be decreased in specific conditions, for which the development of further improved protocols and novel strategies might be highly beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Arcangeli
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Falcone
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Camisa
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica De Girardi
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Biondi
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Giglio
- Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Ciceri
- Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonini
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Attilio Bondanza
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Casucci
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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21
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Fiorenza S, Ritchie DS, Ramsey SD, Turtle CJ, Roth JA. Value and affordability of CAR T-cell therapy in the United States. Bone Marrow Transplant 2020; 55:1706-1715. [PMID: 32474570 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-020-0956-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In the United States the increasing number of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, innovative, and potentially effective commercial cancer therapies pose a significant financial burden on public and private payers. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are prototypical of this challenge. In 2017 and 2018, tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah, Novartis) and axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta, Kite) were approved by the FDA for use after showing groundbreaking results in relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. In 2020 and 2021, four further submissions to the FDA are expected for CAR T-cell therapies for indolent and aggressive B-cell malignancies and plasma cell myeloma. Yet, with marketed prices of over $350,000 per infusion for the two FDA-approved therapies and similar price tags expected for the coming products, serious concerns are raised over value and affordability. In this review we summarize recent, peer-reviewed cost-effectiveness studies of tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel in the United States; discuss key issues concerning the health plan budget impact of CAR T-cell therapy; and review policy, payment and scientific approaches that may improve the value and affordability of CAR T-cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Fiorenza
- Clinical Research Division and Integrated Immunotherapy Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David S Ritchie
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Scott D Ramsey
- Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy and Economics Institute, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cameron J Turtle
- Clinical Research Division and Integrated Immunotherapy Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joshua A Roth
- Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA. .,Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy and Economics Institute, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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22
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Preclinical Development and Clinical-Scale Manufacturing of HIV Gag-Specific, LentivirusModified CD4 T Cells for HIV Functional Cure. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 17:1048-1060. [PMID: 32462053 PMCID: PMC7240062 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Activation, infection, and eventual depletion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) T cells are the crucial pathogenetic events in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We developed a cell and gene therapy to reconstitute HIV-specific CD4 T cells and prevent their destruction by HIV. Antigen-specific CD4 T cells will provide helper functions to support antiviral cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) function and the production of virus-specific antibodies. However, ex vivo expansion of HIV-specific CD4 T cells is poor and previous gene therapies focused on bulk CD4 T cells without enriching for an antigen-specific subset. We developed a method for manufacturing autologous CD4+ T cell products highly enriched with Gag-specific T cells. Rare Gag-specific CD4 T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were increased nearly 1,000-fold by stimulating PBMC with Gag peptides, followed by depleting nontarget cells and transducing with lentivirus vector AGT103 to protect against HIV-mediated depletion and inhibit HIV release from latently infected cells. The average percentage of HIV-specific CD4 cells in the final products was 15.13%, and the average yield was 7 × 108 cells. The protocol for clinical-scale manufacturing of HIV-specific and HIV-resistant CD4 T cells is an important step toward effective immunotherapy for HIV disease.
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23
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de Macedo Abdo L, Barros LRC, Saldanha Viegas M, Vieira Codeço Marques L, de Sousa Ferreira P, Chicaybam L, Bonamino MH. Development of CAR-T cell therapy for B-ALL using a point-of-care approach. Oncoimmunology 2020; 9:1752592. [PMID: 32363126 PMCID: PMC7185214 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2020.1752592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently approved by the FDA and European Medicines Agency, CAR-T cell therapy is a new treatment option for B-cell malignancies. Currently, CAR-T cells are manufactured in centralized facilities and face bottlenecks like complex scaling up, high costs, and logistic operations. These difficulties are mainly related to the use of viral vectors and the requirement to expand CAR-T cells to reach the therapeutic dose. In this paper, by using Sleeping Beauty-mediated genetic modification delivered by electroporation, we show that CAR-T cells can be generated and used without the need for ex vivo activation and expansion, consistent with a point-of-care (POC) approach. Our results show that minimally manipulated CAR-T cells are effective in vivo against RS4;11 leukemia cells engrafted in NSG mice even when inoculated after only 4 h of gene transfer. In an effort to better characterize the infused CAR-T cells, we show that 19BBz T lymphocytes infused after 24 h of electroporation (where CAR expression is already detectable) can improve the overall survival and reduce tumor burden in organs of mice engrafted with RS4;11 or Nalm-6 B cell leukemia. A side-by-side comparison of POC approach with a conventional 8-day expansion protocol using Transact beads demonstrated that both approaches have equivalent antitumor activity in vivo. Our data suggest that POC approach is a viable alternative for the generation and use of CAR-T cells, overcoming the limitations of current manufacturing protocols. Its use has the potential to expand CAR immunotherapy to a higher number of patients, especially in the context of low-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiza de Macedo Abdo
- Immunology and Tumor Biology Program - Research Coordination, Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Mariana Saldanha Viegas
- Immunology and Tumor Biology Program - Research Coordination, Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luisa Vieira Codeço Marques
- Immunology and Tumor Biology Program - Research Coordination, Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Priscila de Sousa Ferreira
- Immunology and Tumor Biology Program - Research Coordination, Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Chicaybam
- Vice-Presidency of Research and Biological Collections (VPPCB), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Martín Hernán Bonamino
- Immunology and Tumor Biology Program - Research Coordination, Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Vice-Presidency of Research and Biological Collections (VPPCB), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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24
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Castella M, Caballero-Baños M, Ortiz-Maldonado V, González-Navarro EA, Suñé G, Antoñana-Vidósola A, Boronat A, Marzal B, Millán L, Martín-Antonio B, Cid J, Lozano M, García E, Tabera J, Trias E, Perpiña U, Canals JM, Baumann T, Benítez-Ribas D, Campo E, Yagüe J, Urbano-Ispizua Á, Rives S, Delgado J, Juan M. Point-Of-Care CAR T-Cell Production (ARI-0001) Using a Closed Semi-automatic Bioreactor: Experience From an Academic Phase I Clinical Trial. Front Immunol 2020; 11:482. [PMID: 32528460 PMCID: PMC7259426 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of semi-automated devices that can reduce the hands-on time and standardize the production of clinical-grade CAR T-cells, such as CliniMACS Prodigy from Miltenyi, is key to facilitate the development of CAR T-cell therapies, especially in academic institutions. However, the feasibility of manufacturing CAR T-cell products from heavily pre-treated patients with this system has not been demonstrated yet. Here we report and characterize the production of 28 CAR T-cell products in the context of a phase I clinical trial for CD19+ B-cell malignancies (NCT03144583). The system includes CD4-CD8 cell selection, lentiviral transduction and T-cell expansion using IL-7/IL-15. Twenty-seven out of 28 CAR T-cell products manufactured met the full list of specifications and were considered valid products. Ex vivo cell expansion lasted an average of 8.5 days and had a mean transduction rate of 30.6 ± 13.44%. All products obtained presented cytotoxic activity against CD19+ cells and were proficient in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Expansion kinetics was slower in patient's cells compared to healthy donor's cells. However, product potency was comparable. CAR T-cell subset phenotype was highly variable among patients and largely determined by the initial product. TCM and TEM were the predominant T-cell phenotypes obtained. 38.7% of CAR T-cells obtained presented a TN or TCM phenotype, in average, which are the subsets capable of establishing a long-lasting T-cell memory in patients. An in-depth analysis to identify individual factors contributing to the optimal T-cell phenotype revealed that ex vivo cell expansion leads to reduced numbers of TN, TSCM, and TEFF cells, while TCM cells increase, both due to cell expansion and CAR-expression. Overall, our results show for the first time that clinical-grade production of CAR T-cells for heavily pre-treated patients using CliniMACS Prodigy system is feasible, and that the obtained products meet the current quality standards of the field. Reduced ex vivo expansion may yield CAR T-cell products with increased persistence in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Castella
- Department of Hematology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Blood and Tissue Bank (BST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Caballero-Baños
- Department of Immunology, Centro de Diagnóstico Biomédico, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valentín Ortiz-Maldonado
- Department of Hematology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Guillermo Suñé
- Department of Hematology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asier Antoñana-Vidósola
- Department of Hematology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Boronat
- Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Immunology, Centro de Diagnóstico Biomédico, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Berta Marzal
- Department of Immunology, Centro de Diagnóstico Biomédico, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucía Millán
- Department of Immunology, Centro de Diagnóstico Biomédico, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Martín-Antonio
- Department of Hematology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Cid
- Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miquel Lozano
- Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enric García
- Blood and Tissue Bank (BST), Barcelona, Spain.,Apheresis Unit, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaime Tabera
- Blood and Tissue Bank (BST), Barcelona, Spain.,Unit of Advanced Therapies, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esteve Trias
- Unit of Advanced Therapies, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Unai Perpiña
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Production and Validation Center of Advanced Therapies (Creatio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Ma Canals
- Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Production and Validation Center of Advanced Therapies (Creatio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tycho Baumann
- Department of Hematology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Benítez-Ribas
- Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Immunology, Centro de Diagnóstico Biomédico, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elías Campo
- Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomedical en Red de Cancer, Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Yagüe
- Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Immunology, Centro de Diagnóstico Biomédico, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Álvaro Urbano-Ispizua
- Department of Hematology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Immunotherapy Unit Blood and Tissue Bank-Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Rives
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Delgado
- Department of Hematology, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematològiques i Oncològiques, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomedical en Red de Cancer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Juan
- Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Blood and Tissue Bank (BST), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Immunology, Centro de Diagnóstico Biomédico, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Immunotherapy Unit Blood and Tissue Bank-Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Braendstrup P, Levine BL, Ruella M. The long road to the first FDA-approved gene therapy: chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting CD19. Cytotherapy 2020; 22:57-69. [PMID: 32014447 PMCID: PMC7036015 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Thirty years after initial publications of the concept of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. Unlike other immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and bispecific antibodies, CAR T cells are unique as they are "living drugs," that is, gene-edited killer cells that can recognize and kill cancer. During these 30 years of development, the CAR construct, T-cell manufacturing process, and clinical patient management have gone through rounds of failures and successes that drove continuous improvement. Tisagenlecleucel was the first gene therapy to receive approval from the FDA for any indication. The initial approval was for relapsed or refractory (r/r) pediatric and young-adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in August 2017 and in May 2018 for adult r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Here we review the preclinical and clinical development of what began as CART19 at the University of Pennsylvania and later developed into tisagenlecleucel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Braendstrup
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Hematology, Herlev University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Hematology, Zealand University Hospital Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Bruce L Levine
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Marco Ruella
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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26
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Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has revolutionized the immunotherapy field with high rate complete responses especially for hematological diseases. Despite the diversity of tumor specific-antigens, the manufacturing process is consistent and involves multiple steps, including selection of T cells, activation, genetic modification, and in vitro expansion. Among these complex manufacturing phases, the choice of culture system to generate a high number of functional cells needs to be evaluated and optimized. Flasks, bags, and rocking motion bioreactor are the most used platforms for CAR-T cell expansion in the current clinical trials but are far from being standardized. New processing options are available and a systematic effort seeking automation, standardization and the increase of production scale, would certainly help to bring the costs down and ultimately democratize this personalized therapy. In this review, we describe different cell expansion platforms available as well as the quality control requirements for clinical-grade production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Mizukami
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Kamilla Swiech
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy CTC, Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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27
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Mihăilă RG. Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Engineered T-Cells - A New Way and Era for Lymphoma Treatment. Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov 2019; 14:312-323. [PMID: 31642414 DOI: 10.2174/1574892814666191022164641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with refractory or relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma have a poor prognosis with the current standard of care. OBJECTIVE Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells (CAR T-cells) are functionally reprogrammed lymphocytes, which are able to recognize and kill tumor cells. The aim of this study is to make progress in this area. METHODS A mini-review was achieved using the articles published in Web of Science and PubMed in the last year and the new patents were made in this field. RESULTS The responses to CAR T-cell products axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel are promising; the objective response rate can reach up to 83%, and the complete response rate ranges between 40 and 58%. About half of the patients may have serious side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Current and future developments include the improvement of CAR T-cell expansion and polyfunctionality, the combined use of CAR T-cells with a fusion protein between interferon and an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, with checkpoint inhibitors or small molecule sensitizers that have apoptotic-regulatory effects. Furthermore, the use of IL-12-expressing CAR T-cells, an improved technology for the production of CAR T-cells based on targeted nucleases, the widespread use of allogeneic CAR T-cells or universal CAR T-cells obtained from genetically engineered healthy donor T-cells are future developments actively considered. CONCLUSION CAR T-cell therapy significantly improved the outcome of patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The advances in CAR T-cells production technology will improve the results and enable the expansion of this new immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romeo G Mihăilă
- "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu, Faculty of Medicine, Emergency County Clinical Hospital Sibiu, Sibiu 550169, Romania
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28
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Fernández L, Fernández A, Mirones I, Escudero A, Cardoso L, Vela M, Lanzarot D, de Paz R, Leivas A, Gallardo M, Marcos A, Romero AB, Martínez-López J, Pérez-Martínez A. GMP-Compliant Manufacturing of NKG2D CAR Memory T Cells Using CliniMACS Prodigy. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2361. [PMID: 31649672 PMCID: PMC6795760 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) is a natural killer (NK) cell-activating receptor that recognizes different stress-induced ligands that are overexpressed in a variety of childhood and adult tumors. NKG2D chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown potent anticancer effects against different cancer types. A second-generation NKG2D CAR was generated by fusing full-length human NKG2D to 4-1BB costimulatory molecule and CD3ζ signaling domain. Patient-derived CAR T cells show limitations including inability to manufacture CAR T cells from the patients' own T cells, disease progression, and death prior to return of engineered cells. The use of allogeneic T cells for CAR therapy could be an attractive alternative, although undesirable graft vs. host reactions may occur. To avoid such adverse effects, we used CD45RA− memory T cells, a T-cell subset with less alloreactivity, as effector cells to express NKG2D CAR. In this study, we developed a protocol to obtain large-scale NKG2D CAR memory T cells for clinical use by using CliniMACS Prodigy, an automated closed system compliant with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines. CD45RA+ fraction was depleted from healthy donors' non-mobilized apheresis using CliniMACS CD45RA Reagent and CliniMACS Plus device. A total of 108 CD45RA− cells were cultured in TexMACS media supplemented with 100 IU/mL IL-2 and activated at day 0 with T Cell TransAct. Then, we used NKG2D-CD8TM-4-1BB-CD3ζ lentiviral vector for cell transduction (MOI = 2). NKG2D CAR T cells expanded between 10 and 13 days. Final cell products were analyzed to comply with the specifications derived from the quality and complementary controls carried out in accordance with the instructions of the Spanish Regulatory Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) for the manufacture of investigational advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). We performed four validations. The manufacturing protocol here described achieved large numbers of viable NKG2D CAR memory T cells with elevated levels of NKG2D CAR expression and highly cytotoxic against Jurkat and 531MII tumor target cells. CAR T cell final products met release criteria, except for one showing myc overexpression and another with viral copy number higher than five. Manufacturing of clinical-grade NKG2D CAR memory T cells using CliniMACS Prodigy is feasible and reproducible, widening clinical application of CAR T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Fernández
- Hematological Malignancies H12O, Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián Fernández
- Hematological Malignancies H12O, Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Mirones
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy, IdiPAZ, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adela Escudero
- Pediatric Molecular Hemato-Oncology Department, Instituto de Genética Médica y Molecular (INGEMM), Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Leila Cardoso
- Pediatric Molecular Hemato-Oncology Department, Instituto de Genética Médica y Molecular (INGEMM), Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Vela
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy, IdiPAZ, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Lanzarot
- Applications Department, Miltenyi Biotec S.L., Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel de Paz
- Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandra Leivas
- Hematological Malignancies H12O, Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.,Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Gallardo
- Hematological Malignancies H12O, Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.,Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Marcos
- Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Belén Romero
- Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Martínez-López
- Hematological Malignancies H12O, Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.,Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Pérez-Martínez
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy, IdiPAZ, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.,Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
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29
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Coeshott C, Vang B, Jones M, Nankervis B. Large-scale expansion and characterization of CD3 + T-cells in the Quantum ® Cell Expansion System. J Transl Med 2019; 17:258. [PMID: 31391068 PMCID: PMC6686483 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-2001-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The rapid evolution of cell-based immunotherapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cells for treatment of hematological cancers has precipitated the need for a platform to expand these cells ex vivo in a safe, efficient, and reproducible manner. In the Quantum® Cell Expansion System (Quantum system) we evaluated the expansion of T-cells from healthy donors in a functionally-closed environment that reduces time and resources needed to produce a therapeutic dose. Methods Mononuclear cells from leukapheresis products from 5 healthy donors were activated with anti-CD3/CD28 Dynabeads® and expanded in the Quantum system for 8–9 days using xeno-free, serum-free medium and IL-2. Harvested cells were phenotyped by flow cytometry and evaluated for cytokine secretion by multiplex assays. Results From starting products of 30 or 85 × 106 mononuclear cells, CD3+ T-cell populations expanded over 500-fold following stimulation to provide yields up to 25 × 109 cells within 8 days. T-cell yields from all donors were similar in terms of harvest numbers, viability and doubling times. Functionality (secretion of IFN-γ, IL-2 and TNF-α) was retained in harvested T-cells upon restimulation in vitro and T-cells displayed therapeutically-relevant less-differentiated phenotypes of naïve and central memory T-cells, with low expression of exhaustion markers LAG-3 and PD-1. Conclusions The Quantum system has been successfully used to produce large quantities of functional T-cells at clinical dosing scale and within a short timeframe. This platform could have wide applicability for autologous and allogeneic cellular immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-019-2001-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Coeshott
- Terumo BCT, Inc., 10810 West Collins Avenue, Lakewood, CO, 80215, USA.
| | - Boah Vang
- Terumo BCT, Inc., 10810 West Collins Avenue, Lakewood, CO, 80215, USA
| | - Mark Jones
- Terumo BCT, Inc., 10810 West Collins Avenue, Lakewood, CO, 80215, USA
| | - Brian Nankervis
- Terumo BCT, Inc., 10810 West Collins Avenue, Lakewood, CO, 80215, USA
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30
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette E Hay
- a Department of Medicine , Queen's University , Kingston , Ontario , Canada
- b Canadian Cancer Trials Group , Kingston , Ontario , Canada
| | - Matthew C Cheung
- b Canadian Cancer Trials Group , Kingston , Ontario , Canada
- c Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
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31
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Abstract
The successes with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in early clinical trials involving patients with pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) or B cell lymphomas have revolutionized anticancer therapy, providing a potentially curative option for patients who are refractory to standard treatments. These trials resulted in rapid FDA approvals of anti-CD19 CAR T cell products for both ALL and certain types of B cell lymphoma - the first approved gene therapies in the USA. However, growing experience with these agents has revealed that remissions will be brief in a substantial number of patients owing to poor CAR T cell persistence and/or cancer cell resistance resulting from antigen loss or modulation. Furthermore, the initial experience with CAR T cells has highlighted challenges associated with manufacturing a patient-specific therapy. Understanding the limitations of CAR T cell therapy will be critical to realizing the full potential of this novel treatment approach. Herein, we discuss the factors that can preclude durable remissions following CAR T cell therapy, with a primary focus on the resistance mechanisms that underlie disease relapse. We also provide an overview of potential strategies to overcome these obstacles in an effort to more effectively incorporate this unique therapeutic strategy into standard treatment paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirali N Shah
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Terry J Fry
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
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Marín Morales JM, Münch N, Peter K, Freund D, Oelschlägel U, Hölig K, Böhm T, Flach AC, Keßler J, Bonifacio E, Bornhäuser M, Fuchs A. Automated Clinical Grade Expansion of Regulatory T Cells in a Fully Closed System. Front Immunol 2019; 10:38. [PMID: 30778344 PMCID: PMC6369367 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T regulatory cells (Treg) has been successfully exploited in the context of graft-versus-host disease, transplantation, and autoimmune disease. For the majority of applications, clinical administration of Treg requires laborious ex vivo expansion and typically involves open handling for culture feeds and repetitive sampling. Here we show results from our approach to translate manual Treg manufacturing to the fully closed automated CliniMACS Prodigy® system reducing contamination risk, hands-on time, and quality variation from human intervention. Polyclonal Treg were isolated from total nucleated cells obtained through leukapheresis of healthy donors by CD8+ cell depletion and subsequent CD25high enrichment. Treg were expanded with the CliniMACS Prodigy® device using clinical-grade cell culture medium, rapamycin, IL-2, and αCD3/αCD28 beads for 13–14 days. We successfully integrated expansion bead removal and final formulation into the automated procedure, finalizing the process with a ready to use product for bedside transfusion. Automated Treg expansion was conducted in parallel to an established manual manufacturing process using G-Rex cell culture flasks. We could prove similar expansion kinetics leading to a cell yield of up to 2.12 × 109 cells with the CliniMACS Prodigy® and comparable product phenotype of >90% CD4+CD25highCD127lowFOXP3+ cells that had similar in vitro immunosuppressive function. Efficiency of expansion bead depletion was comparable to the CliniMACS® Plus system and the final ready-to-infuse product had phenotype stability and high vitality after overnight storage. We anticipate this newly developed closed system expansion approach to be a starting point for the development of enhanced throughput clinical scale Treg manufacture, and for safe automated generation of antigen-specific Treg grafted with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR Treg).
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Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel Marín Morales
- GMP Facility, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengeneering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nadine Münch
- GMP Facility, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengeneering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katja Peter
- GMP Facility, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengeneering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniel Freund
- GMP Facility, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengeneering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Uta Oelschlägel
- Department of Hematology, Medical Clinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kristina Hölig
- Department of Hematology, Medical Clinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thea Böhm
- Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | | | - Jörg Keßler
- Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Ezio Bonifacio
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengeneering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Bornhäuser
- Department of Hematology, Medical Clinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anke Fuchs
- GMP Facility, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengeneering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Hematology, Medical Clinic I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengeneering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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