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Heim C, Hartig L, Weinelt N, Moser LM, Salzmann-Manrique E, Merker M, Wels WS, Tonn T, Bader P, Klusmann JH, van Wijk SJ, Rettinger E. Bortezomib promotes the TRAIL-mediated killing of resistant rhabdomyosarcoma by ErbB2/Her2-targeted CAR-NK-92 cells via DR5 upregulation. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200802. [PMID: 38706988 PMCID: PMC11067460 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Treatment resistance and immune escape are hallmarks of metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), underscoring the urgent medical need for therapeutic agents against this disease entity as a key challenge in pediatric oncology. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based immunotherapies, such as the ErbB2 (Her2)-CAR-engineered natural killer (NK) cell line NK-92/5.28.z, provide antitumor cytotoxicity primarily through CAR-mediated cytotoxic granule release and thereafter-even in cases with low surface antigen expression or tumor escape-by triggering intrinsic NK cell-mediated apoptosis induction via additional ligand/receptors. In this study, we showed that bortezomib increased susceptibility toward apoptosis in clinically relevant RMS cell lines RH30 and RH41, and patient-derived RMS tumor organoid RMS335, by upregulation of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor DR5 in these metastatic, relapsed/refractory (r/r) RMS tumors. Subsequent administration of NK-92/5.28.z cells significantly enhanced antitumor activity in vitro. Applying recombinant TRAIL instead of NK-92/5.28.z cells confirmed that the synergistic antitumor effects of the combination treatment were mediated via TRAIL. Western blot analyses indicated that the combination treatment with bortezomib and NK-92/5.28.z cells increased apoptosis by interacting with the nuclear factor κB, JNK, and caspase pathways. Overall, bortezomib pretreatment can sensitize r/r RMS tumors to CAR- and, by upregulating DR5, TRAIL-mediated cytotoxicity of NK-92/5.28.z cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catrin Heim
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Leonie Hartig
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nadine Weinelt
- Institute for Experimental Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (EPOH), 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Laura M. Moser
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt am Main, a partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT) Frankfurt Marburg, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Emilia Salzmann-Manrique
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael Merker
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT) Frankfurt Marburg, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Winfried S. Wels
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt am Main, a partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Torsten Tonn
- DRK-Blutspendedienst Baden-Württemberg/Hessen gemeinnützige GmbH, 60505 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Peter Bader
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT) Frankfurt Marburg, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jan-Henning Klusmann
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt am Main, a partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT) Frankfurt Marburg, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sjoerd J.L. van Wijk
- Institute for Experimental Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (EPOH), 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt am Main, a partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT) Frankfurt Marburg, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eva Rettinger
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt am Main, a partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT) Frankfurt Marburg, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Hibler W, Merlino G, Yu Y. CAR NK Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma: Potential & Prospects. Cells 2023; 12:2750. [PMID: 38067178 PMCID: PMC10706172 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is among the most lethal forms of cancer, accounting for 80% of deaths despite comprising just 5% of skin cancer cases. Treatment options remain limited due to the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms associated with melanoma heterogeneity that underlie the rapid development of secondary drug resistance. For this reason, the development of novel treatments remains paramount to the improvement of patient outcomes. Although the advent of chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T (CAR-T) cell immunotherapies has led to many clinical successes for hematological malignancies, these treatments are limited in their utility by their immune-induced side effects and a high risk of systemic toxicities. CAR natural killer (CAR-NK) cell immunotherapies are a particularly promising alternative to CAR-T cell immunotherapies, as they offer a more favorable safety profile and have the capacity for fine-tuned cytotoxic activity. In this review, the discussion of the prospects and potential of CAR-NK cell immunotherapies touches upon the clinical contexts of melanoma, the immunobiology of NK cells, the immunosuppressive barriers preventing endogenous immune cells from eliminating tumors, and the structure and design of chimeric antigen receptors, then finishes with a series of proposed design innovations that could improve the efficacy CAR-NK cell immunotherapies in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yanlin Yu
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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3
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Heim C, Moser LM, Kreyenberg H, Bonig HB, Tonn T, Wels WS, Gradhand E, Ullrich E, Meister MT, Koerkamp MG, Holstege FCP, Drost J, Klusmann JH, Bader P, Merker M, Rettinger E. ErbB2 (HER2)-CAR-NK-92 cells for enhanced immunotherapy of metastatic fusion-driven alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1228894. [PMID: 37662907 PMCID: PMC10471977 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1228894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a challenging tumor entity that evades conventional treatments and endogenous antitumor immune responses, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Applying chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology to natural killer (NK) cells may offer safe, effective, and affordable therapies that enhance cancer immune surveillance. Methods Here, we assess the efficacy of clinically usable CAR-engineered NK cell line NK-92/5.28.z against ErbB2-positive RMS in vitro and in a metastatic xenograft mouse model. Results Our results show that NK-92/5.28.z cells effectively kill RMS cells in vitro and significantly prolong survival and inhibit tumor progression in mice. The persistence of NK-92/5.28.z cells at tumor sites demonstrates efficient antitumor response, which could help overcome current obstacles in the treatment of solid tumors. Discussion These findings encourage further development of NK-92/5.28.z cells as off-the-shelf immunotherapy for the treatment of metastatic RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catrin Heim
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division for Stem Cell Transplantation, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Laura M. Moser
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division for Stem Cell Transplantation, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt am Main, a Partnership Between DKFZ, University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Herman Kreyenberg
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division for Stem Cell Transplantation, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Halvard B. Bonig
- Department of Cellular Therapeutics/Cell Processing, Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Torsten Tonn
- Experimental Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Winfried S. Wels
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt am Main, a Partnership Between DKFZ, University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Elise Gradhand
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Evelyn Ullrich
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt am Main, a Partnership Between DKFZ, University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Experimental Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michael T. Meister
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Marian Groot Koerkamp
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Frank C. P. Holstege
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center for Molecular Medicine, UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jarno Drost
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jan-Henning Klusmann
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt am Main, a Partnership Between DKFZ, University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Peter Bader
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division for Stem Cell Transplantation, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael Merker
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division for Stem Cell Transplantation, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eva Rettinger
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Department of Pediatrics, Division for Stem Cell Transplantation, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt am Main, a Partnership Between DKFZ, University Hospital and Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (UCT), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Xiao J, Zhang T, Gao F, Zhou Z, Shu G, Zou Y, Yin G. Natural Killer Cells: A Promising Kit in the Adoptive Cell Therapy Toolbox. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225657. [PMID: 36428748 PMCID: PMC9688567 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As an important component of the innate immune system, natural killer (NK) cells have gained increasing attention in adoptive cell therapy for their safety and efficacious tumor-killing effect. Unlike T cells which rely on the interaction between TCRs and specific peptide-MHC complexes, NK cells are more prone to be served as "off-the-shelf" cell therapy products due to their rapid recognition and killing of tumor cells without MHC restriction. In recent years, constantly emerging sources of therapeutic NK cells have provided flexible options for cancer immunotherapy. Advanced genetic engineering techniques, especially chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modification, have yielded exciting effectiveness in enhancing NK cell specificity and cytotoxicity, improving in vivo persistence, and overcoming immunosuppressive factors derived from tumors. In this review, we highlight current advances in NK-based adoptive cell therapy, including alternative sources of NK cells for adoptive infusion, various CAR modifications that confer different targeting specificity to NK cells, multiple genetic engineering strategies to enhance NK cell function, as well as the latest clinical research on adoptive NK cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiani Xiao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zhengwei Zhou
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Guang Shu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yizhou Zou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (G.Y.)
| | - Gang Yin
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (G.Y.)
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5
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Xu DL, He YQ, Xiao B, Si Y, Shi J, Liu XA, Tian L, Ren Q, Wu YS, Zhu Y. A Novel Sushi-IL15-PD1 CAR-NK92 Cell Line With Enhanced and PD-L1 Targeted Cytotoxicity Against Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Front Oncol 2022; 12:726985. [PMID: 35392221 PMCID: PMC8980464 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.726985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive and lethal malignancy with a limited response to current therapies. Novel and effective treatment is urgently needed. Herein, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK92 cell line, with an interleukin (IL)-15Rα-sushi/IL-15 complex and a Programmed cell death-1(PD1) signal inverter was constructed and named SP (Sushi-IL15-PD1). We showed that CAR expression enabled SP cells to proliferate independently of IL-2 and became more resistant to nutrition starvation-induced apoptosis. Meanwhile, SP cells were more effective than NK92 in PDAC cell killing assays in vitro and in vivo, and there was a positive correlation between the killing capability of SP cells and PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer cells. Based on the synergistic and comprehensive effects of the special CAR structure, the adhesion, responsiveness, degranulation efficiency, targeted delivery of cytotoxic granule content, and cytotoxicity of SP cells were significantly stronger than those of NK92. In conclusion, the SP cell line is a promising adoptive immunotherapy cell line and has potential value as an adjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer, especially in patients with high PD-L1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Lai Xu
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan-Qing He
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Bin Xiao
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Si
- Research & Development Department, Timmune Biotech Inc., Tianjin, China
| | - Jian Shi
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xue-Ang Liu
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Tian
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Ren
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Ya-Song Wu
- Research & Development Department, Timmune Biotech Inc., Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Zhu
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Pancreas Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Bashiri Dezfouli A, Yazdi M, Pockley AG, Khosravi M, Kobold S, Wagner E, Multhoff G. NK Cells Armed with Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR): Roadblocks to Successful Development. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123390. [PMID: 34943898 PMCID: PMC8699535 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, cell-based immunotherapies have demonstrated promising results in the treatment of cancer. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) arm effector cells with a weapon for targeting tumor antigens, licensing engineered cells to recognize and kill cancer cells. The quality of the CAR-antigen interaction strongly depends on the selected tumor antigen and its expression density on cancer cells. CD19 CAR-engineered T cells approved by the Food and Drug Administration have been most frequently applied in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Clinical challenges in their application primarily include cytokine release syndrome, neurological symptoms, severe inflammatory responses, and/or other off-target effects most likely mediated by cytotoxic T cells. As a consequence, there remains a significant medical need for more potent technology platforms leveraging cell-based approaches with enhanced safety profiles. A promising population that has been advanced is the natural killer (NK) cell, which can also be engineered with CARs. NK cells which belong to the innate arm of the immune system recognize and kill virally infected cells as well as (stressed) cancer cells in a major histocompatibility complex I independent manner. NK cells play an important role in the host’s immune defense against cancer due to their specialized lytic mechanisms which include death receptor (i.e., Fas)/death receptor ligand (i.e., Fas ligand) and granzyme B/perforin-mediated apoptosis, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, as well as their immunoregulatory potential via cytokine/chemokine release. To develop and implement a highly effective CAR NK cell-based therapy with low side effects, the following three principles which are specifically addressed in this review have to be considered: unique target selection, well-designed CAR, and optimized gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Bashiri Dezfouli
- Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research Technische Universität München (TranslaTUM), Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Einstein Str. 25, 81675 Munich, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-89-4140-6013
| | - Mina Yazdi
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany; (M.Y.); (E.W.)
| | - Alan Graham Pockley
- John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK;
| | - Mohammad Khosravi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz 61357-831351, Iran;
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 80337 Munich, Germany;
- German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Ernst Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany; (M.Y.); (E.W.)
| | - Gabriele Multhoff
- Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research Technische Universität München (TranslaTUM), Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Einstein Str. 25, 81675 Munich, Germany;
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Mitra S, Sydow S, Magnusson L, Piccinelli P, Törnudd L, Øra I, Ljungman G, Sandgren J, Gisselsson D, Mertens F. Amplification of ERBB2 (HER2) in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: A potential treatment target in rare cases? Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2021; 61:5-9. [PMID: 34418214 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ERBB2 gene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase also known as HER2. The gene is amplified and overexpressed in one-fifth of breast carcinomas; patients with such tumors benefit from targeted treatment with trastuzumab or other drugs blocking the receptor. In addition, ERBB2 has been shown to be amplified and/or overexpressed in a variety of other malignancies. Notably, both alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), especially in children, often show increased expression of ERBB2. Although high-level amplification of the gene has not been described in RMS, its frequent expression at the cell surface of RMS cells has been exploited for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T)-based treatment strategies. We here describe two cases of pediatric, fusion-negative embryonal RMS with high-level amplification of the ERBB2 gene. One patient is currently treated with conventional chemotherapy for a recently detected standard risk RMS, whereas the other patient died from metastatic disease. Both tumors displayed focal amplicons (210 and 274 Kb, respectively) in chromosome band 17q12, with proximal and distal borders corresponding to those typically seen in breast cancer. In both tumors, the ERBB2 amplicon correlated with high expression at the RNA and protein levels. Thus, breast cancer-like ERBB2 amplification is a very rare, but recurrent feature of pediatric RMS, and should be exploited as an alternative treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamik Mitra
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Saskia Sydow
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Linda Magnusson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Paul Piccinelli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lisa Törnudd
- Department of Pediatrics, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Øra
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Gustaf Ljungman
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sandgren
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Gisselsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics and Pathology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Lund, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Mertens
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Genetics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics and Pathology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Lund, Sweden
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8
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HER Tyrosine Kinase Family and Rhabdomyosarcoma: Role in Onset and Targeted Therapy. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071808. [PMID: 34359977 PMCID: PMC8305095 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are tumors of the skeletal muscle lineage. Two main features allow for distinction between subtypes: morphology and presence/absence of a translocation between the PAX3 (or PAX7) and FOXO1 genes. The two main subtypes are fusion-positive alveolar RMS (ARMS) and fusion-negative embryonal RMS (ERMS). This review will focus on the role of receptor tyrosine kinases of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family that is comprised EGFR itself, HER2, HER3 and HER4 in RMS onset and the potential therapeutic targeting of receptor tyrosine kinases. EGFR is highly expressed by ERMS tumors and cell lines, in some cases contributing to tumor growth. If not mutated, HER2 is not directly involved in control of RMS cell growth but can be expressed at significant levels. A minority of ERMS carries a HER2 mutation with driving activity on tumor growth. HER3 is frequently overexpressed by RMS and can play a role in the residual myogenic differentiation ability and in resistance to signaling-directed therapy. HER family members could be exploited for therapeutic approaches in two ways: blocking the HER member (playing a driving role for tumor growth with antibodies or inhibitors) and targeting expressed HER members to vehiculate toxins or immune effectors.
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