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Guijarro-Albaladejo B, Marrero-Cepeda C, Rodríguez-Arbolí E, Sierro-Martínez B, Pérez-Simón JA, García-Guerrero E. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T Cells in acute myeloid leukemia: limitations and expectations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1376554. [PMID: 38694825 PMCID: PMC11061469 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1376554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis despite the advent of novel therapies. Consequently, a major need exists for new therapeutic options, particularly for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) AML. In recent years, it has been possible to individualize the treatment of a subgroup of patients, particularly with the emergence of multiple targeted therapies. Nonetheless, a considerable number of patients remain without therapeutic options, and overall prognosis remains poor because of a high rate of disease relapse. In this sense, cellular therapies, especially chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, have dramatically shifted the therapeutic options for other hematologic malignancies, such as diffuse large B cell lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In contrast, effectively treating AML with CAR-based immunotherapy poses major biological and clinical challenges, most of them derived from the unmet need to identify target antigens with expression restricted to the AML blast without compromising the viability of the normal hematopoietic stem cell counterpart. Although those limitations have hampered CAR-T cell therapy translation to the clinic, there are several clinical trials where target antigens, such as CD123, CLL-1 or CD33 are being used to treat AML patients showing promising results. Moreover, there are continuing efforts to enhance the specificity and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy in AML. These endeavors encompass the exploration of novel avenues, including the development of dual CAR-T cells and next-generation CAR-T cells, as well as the utilization of gene editing tools to mitigate off-tumor toxicities. In this review, we will summarize the ongoing clinical studies and the early clinical results reported with CAR-T cells in AML, as well as highlight CAR-T cell limitations and the most recent approaches to overcome these barriers. We will also discuss how and when CAR-T cells should be used in the context of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Guijarro-Albaladejo
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS/Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain
| | - Cristina Marrero-Cepeda
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Hematología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS/Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Eduardo Rodríguez-Arbolí
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Hematología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS/Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Belén Sierro-Martínez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS/Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain
| | - José Antonio Pérez-Simón
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Hematología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS/Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Estefanía García-Guerrero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS/Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain
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2
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Colucci M, Zumerle S, Bressan S, Gianfanti F, Troiani M, Valdata A, D'Ambrosio M, Pasquini E, Varesi A, Cogo F, Mosole S, Dongilli C, Desbats MA, Contu L, Revankdar A, Chen J, Kalathur M, Perciato ML, Basilotta R, Endre L, Schauer S, Othman A, Guccini I, Saponaro M, Maraccani L, Bancaro N, Lai P, Liu L, Pernigoni N, Mele F, Merler S, Trotman LC, Guarda G, Calì B, Montopoli M, Alimonti A. Retinoic acid receptor activation reprograms senescence response and enhances anti-tumor activity of natural killer cells. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:646-661.e9. [PMID: 38428412 PMCID: PMC11003464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Cellular senescence can exert dual effects in tumors, either suppressing or promoting tumor progression. The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), released by senescent cells, plays a crucial role in this dichotomy. Consequently, the clinical challenge lies in developing therapies that safely enhance senescence in cancer, favoring tumor-suppressive SASP factors over tumor-promoting ones. Here, we identify the retinoic-acid-receptor (RAR) agonist adapalene as an effective pro-senescence compound in prostate cancer (PCa). Reactivation of RARs triggers a robust senescence response and a tumor-suppressive SASP. In preclinical mouse models of PCa, the combination of adapalene and docetaxel promotes a tumor-suppressive SASP that enhances natural killer (NK) cell-mediated tumor clearance more effectively than either agent alone. This approach increases the efficacy of the allogenic infusion of human NK cells in mice injected with human PCa cells, suggesting an alternative therapeutic strategy to stimulate the anti-tumor immune response in "immunologically cold" tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Colucci
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland; Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne UNIL, CH1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Zumerle
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) & Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Bressan
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland; Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) & Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Federico Gianfanti
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland; Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) & Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Martina Troiani
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland; Bioinformatics Core Unit, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, TI, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Aurora Valdata
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST) ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH, Switzerland
| | - Mariantonietta D'Ambrosio
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), London, UK
| | - Emiliano Pasquini
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Angelica Varesi
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Cogo
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Simone Mosole
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Dongilli
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Maria Andrea Desbats
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) & Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Liliana Contu
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) & Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ajinkya Revankdar
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jingjing Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Madhuri Kalathur
- Children's GMP, LLC, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place Mail Stop 920 Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Maria Luna Perciato
- School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA, UK
| | - Rossella Basilotta
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 viale Ferdinando D'Alcontres, Italy
| | - Laczko Endre
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETHZ and University of Zurich, Zurich, CH, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Schauer
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETHZ and University of Zurich, Zurich, CH, Switzerland
| | - Alaa Othman
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETHZ and University of Zurich, Zurich, CH, Switzerland
| | - Ilaria Guccini
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST) ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Saponaro
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) & Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa Maraccani
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) & Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Nicolò Bancaro
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Ping Lai
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Lei Liu
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Nicolò Pernigoni
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Federico Mele
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Sara Merler
- Section of Innovation Biomedicine - Oncology Area, Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, University of Verona and Verona University and Hospital Trust, Verona, Italy
| | - Lloyd C Trotman
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, One Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Greta Guarda
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Bianca Calì
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Monica Montopoli
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) & Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Alimonti
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), CH6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH6900 Lugano, Switzerland; Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) & Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST) ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH, Switzerland; Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
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Khoshtinat Nikkhoi S, Yang G, Owji H, Grizotte-Lake M, Cohen RI, Gil Gonzalez L, Massumi M, Hatefi A. Bispecific immune cell engager enhances the anticancer activity of CD16+ NK cells and macrophages in vitro, and eliminates cancer metastasis in NK humanized NOG mice. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008295. [PMID: 38490714 PMCID: PMC10946374 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008295] [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] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In a prior report, we detailed the isolation and engineering of a bispecific killer cell engager, referred to as BiKE:E5C1. The BiKE:E5C1 exhibits high affinity/specificity for the CD16a activating receptor on natural killer (NK) cells and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) on cancer cells. In vitro studies have demonstrated that BiKE:E5C1 can activate the NK cells and induce the killing of HER2+ ovarian and breast cancer cells, surpassing the performance of the best-in-class monoclonal antibody, Trazimera (trastuzumab). To advance this BiKE technology toward clinical application, the objective of this research was to demonstrate the ability of BiKE:E5C1 to activate CD16+ immune cells such as NK cells and macrophages to kill cancer cells, and eradicate metastatic HER2+ tumors in NK humanized NOG mice. METHODS We assessed BiKE:E5C1's potential to activate CD16-expressing peripheral blood (PB)-NK cells, laNK92 cells, and THP-1-CD16A monocyte-macrophages through flowcytometry and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity/phagocytosis (ADCC) assays. Subsequently, laNK92 cells were selected as effector cells and genetically modified to express the nanoluciferase gene, enabling the monitoring of their viability in NK humanized NOG mice using quantitative bioluminescent imaging (qBLI). To evaluate the functionality of BiKE:E5C1 in vivo, we introduced firefly luciferase-expressing ovarian cancer cells via intraperitoneal injection into hIL-15 and hIL-2 NOG mice, creating a model of ovarian cancer metastasis. Once tumor establishment was confirmed, we treated the mice with laNK92 cells plus BiKE:E5C1 and the response to therapy was assessed using qBLI. RESULTS Our data demonstrate that BiKE:E5C1 activates not only laNK92 cells but also PB-NK cells and macrophages, significantly enhancing their anticancer activities. ADCC assay demonstrated that IgG1 Fc region had no impact on BiKE:E5C1's anticancer activity. In vivo results reveal that both hIL-15 and hIL-2 NOG mouse models support the viability and proliferation of laNK92 cells. Furthermore, it was observed that BiKE:E5C1 activates laNK92 cells in mice, leading to eradication of cancer metastasis in both NK humanized hIL-15 and hIL-2 NOG mouse models. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our in vivo findings underscore BiKE:E5C1's potential as an immune cell engager capable of activating immune cells for cancer cell elimination, thereby expanding the arsenal of available BiKEs for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ge Yang
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Hajar Owji
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Rick I Cohen
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lazaro Gil Gonzalez
- St Michael's Hospital Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad Massumi
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Arash Hatefi
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
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4
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Esmaeilzadeh A, Hadiloo K, Jabbari M, Elahi R. Current progress of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T versus CAR NK cell for immunotherapy of solid tumors. Life Sci 2024; 337:122381. [PMID: 38145710 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122381] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Equipping cancer-fighting immune cells with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has gained immense attention for cancer treatment. CAR-engineered T cells (CAR T cells) are the first immune-engineered cells that have achieved brilliant results in anti-cancer therapy. Despite promising anti-cancer features, CAR T cells could also cause fatal side effects and have shown inadequate efficacy in some studies. This has led to the introduction of other candidates for CAR transduction, e.g., Natural killer cells (NK cells). Regarding the better safety profile and anti-cancer properties, CAR-armored NK cells (CAR NK cells) could be a beneficial and suitable alternative to CAR T cells. Since introducing these two cells as anti-cancer structures, several studies have investigated their efficacy and safety, and most of them have focused on hematological malignancies. Solid tumors have unique properties that make them more resistant and less curable cancers than hematological malignancies. In this review article, we conduct a comprehensive review of the structure and properties of CAR NK and CAR T cells, compare the recent experience of immunotherapy with CAR T and CAR NK cells in various solid cancers, and overview current challenges and future solutions to battle solid cancers using CARNK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdolreza Esmaeilzadeh
- Department of Immunology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center (CGRC), Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
| | - Kaveh Hadiloo
- Student Research Committee, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Marjan Jabbari
- School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Reza Elahi
- School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
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5
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Letafati A, Ardekani OS, Naderisemiromi M, Norouzi M, Shafiei M, Nik S, Mozhgani SH. Unraveling the dynamic mechanisms of natural killer cells in viral infections: insights and implications. Virol J 2024; 21:18. [PMID: 38216935 PMCID: PMC10785350 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02287-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Viruses pose a constant threat to human well-being, necessitating the immune system to develop robust defenses. Natural killer (NK) cells, which play a crucial role in the immune system, have become recognized as vital participants in protecting the body against viral infections. These remarkable innate immune cells possess the unique ability to directly recognize and eliminate infected cells, thereby contributing to the early control and containment of viral pathogens. However, recent research has uncovered an intriguing phenomenon: the alteration of NK cells during viral infections. In addition to their well-established role in antiviral defense, NK cells undergo dynamic changes in their phenotype, function, and regulatory mechanisms upon encountering viral pathogens. These alterations can significantly impact the effectiveness of NK cell responses during viral infections. This review explores the multifaceted role of NK cells in antiviral immunity, highlighting their conventional effector functions as well as the emerging concept of NK cell alteration in the context of viral infections. Understanding the intricate interplay between NK cells and viral infections is crucial for advancing our knowledge of antiviral immune responses and could offer valuable information for the creation of innovative therapeutic approaches to combat viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Letafati
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid Salahi Ardekani
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Naderisemiromi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Mehdi Norouzi
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Soheil Nik
- School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Alborz, Iran
| | - Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
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6
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Hajibabaie F, Abedpoor N, Haghjooy Javanmard S, Hasan A, Sharifi M, Rahimmanesh I, Shariati L, Makvandi P. The molecular perspective on the melanoma and genome engineering of T-cells in targeting therapy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 237:116980. [PMID: 37648188 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma, an aggressive malignant tumor originating from melanocytes in humans, is on the rise globally, with limited non-surgical treatment options available. Recent advances in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying immune escape, tumorigenesis, drug resistance, and cancer metastasis have paved the way for innovative therapeutic strategies. Combination therapy targeting multiple pathways simultaneously has been shown to be promising in treating melanoma, eliciting favorable responses in most melanoma patients. CAR T-cells, engineered to overcome the limitations of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-dependent tumor cell detection associated with T-cell receptors, offer an alternative approach. By genetically modifying apheresis-collected allogeneic or autologous T-cells to express chimeric antigen receptors, CAR T-cells can appreciate antigens on cell surfaces independently of major histocompatibility complex (MHC), providing a significant cancer cell detection advantage. However, identifying the most effective target antigen is the initial step, as it helps mitigate the risk of toxicity due to "on-target, off-tumor" and establishes a targeted therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, evaluating signaling pathways and critical molecules involved in melanoma pathogenesis remains insufficient. This study emphasizes the novel approaches of CAR T-cell immunoediting and presents new insights into the molecular signaling pathways associated with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Hajibabaie
- Department of Biology, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Navid Abedpoor
- Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Anwarul Hasan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar.
| | - Mehran Sharifi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Cancer Prevention Research Center, Seyyed Al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Ilnaz Rahimmanesh
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Laleh Shariati
- Department of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 8174673461, Iran; Biosensor Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Pooyan Makvandi
- The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, 324000, Zhejiang, China; School of Engineering, Institute for Bioengineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL, UK.
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7
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Huang S, Xing F, Dai Y, Zhang Z, Zhou G, Yang S, Liu YC, Yuan Z, Luo KQ, Ying T, Chu D, Liu TM, Deng CX, Zhao Q. Navigating chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells as drug carriers via three-dimensional mapping of the tumor microenvironment. J Control Release 2023; 362:524-535. [PMID: 37673307 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.09.007] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified natural killer (NK) cells are recognized as promising immunotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment. However, the efficacy and trafficking of CAR-NK cells in solid tumors are hindered by the complex barriers present in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We have developed a novel strategy that utilizes living CAR-NK cells as carriers to deliver anticancer drugs specifically to the tumor site. We also introduce a time-lapse method for evaluating the efficacy and tumor specificity of CAR-NK cells using a two-photon microscope in live mouse models and three-dimensional (3D) tissue slide cultures. Our results demonstrate that CAR-NK cells exhibit enhanced antitumor immunity when combined with photosensitive chemicals in both in vitro and in vivo tumor models. Additionally, we have successfully visualized the trafficking, infiltration, and accumulation of drug-loaded CAR-NK cells in deeply situated TME using non-invasive intravital two-photon microscopy. Our findings highlight that tumor infiltration of CAR-NK cells can be intravitally monitored through the two-photon microscope approach. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the successful integration of CAR-NK cells as drug carriers and paves the way for combined cellular and small-molecule therapies in cancer treatment. Furthermore, our 3D platform offers a valuable tool for assessing the behavior of CAR cells within solid tumors, facilitating the development and optimization of immunotherapeutic strategies with clinical imaging approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigao Huang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; Department of Cell Biology of National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine and Department of Radiation Oncology of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi' an, China
| | - Fuqiang Xing
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yeneng Dai
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Guangyu Zhou
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Yu-Cheng Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Zhen Yuan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Kathy Qian Luo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Tianlei Ying
- MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Synthetic Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dafeng Chu
- Geneleap Biotechnology LLC, Woburn, MA, USA.
| | - Tzu-Ming Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China.
| | - Chu-Xia Deng
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China.
| | - Qi Zhao
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China.
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Zhang M, Lam KP, Xu S. Natural Killer Cell Engagers (NKCEs): a new frontier in cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1207276. [PMID: 37638058 PMCID: PMC10450036 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1207276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are a type of innate lymphoid cells that play a crucial role in immunity by killing virally infected or tumor cells and secreting cytokines and chemokines. NK cell-mediated immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment due to its safety and effectiveness. NK cell engagers (NKCEs), such as BiKE (bispecific killer cell engager) or TriKE (trispecific killer cell engager), are a novel class of antibody-based therapeutics that exhibit several advantages over other cancer immunotherapies harnessing NK cells. By bridging NK and tumor cells, NKCEs activate NK cells and lead to tumor cell lysis. A growing number of NKCEs are currently undergoing development, with some already in clinical trials. However, there is a need for more comprehensive studies to determine how the molecular design of NKCEs affects their functionality and manufacturability, which are crucial for their development as off-the-shelf drugs for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on NKCE development and discuss critical factors required for the production of effective NKCEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minchuan Zhang
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kong-Peng Lam
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shengli Xu
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Tang Y, Qian C. Research progress in leveraging biomaterials for enhancing NK cell immunotherapy. Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2023; 52:267-278. [PMID: 37476938 PMCID: PMC10409897 DOI: 10.3724/zdxbyxb-2022-0728] [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: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
NK cell immunotherapy is a promising antitumor therapeutic modality after the development of T cell immunotherapy. Structural modification of NK cells with biomaterials may provide a precise, efficient, and low-cost strategy to enhance NK cell immunotherapy. The biomaterial modification of NK cells can be divided into two strategies: surface engineering with biomaterials and intracellular modification. The surface engineering strategies include hydrophobic interaction of lipids, receptor-ligand interaction between membrane proteins, covalent binding to amino acid residues, click reaction and electrostatic interaction. The intracellular modification strategies are based on manipulation by nanotechnology using membranous materials from various sources of NK cells (such as exosome, vesicle and cytomembranes). Finally, the biomaterials-based strategies regulate the recruitment, recognition and cytotoxicity of NK cells in the solid tumor site in situ to boost the activity of NK cells in the tumor. This article reviews the recent research progress in enhancing NK cell therapy based on biomaterial modification, to provide a reference for further researches on engineering NK cell therapy with biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingqi Tang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Chenggen Qian
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Lizana-Vasquez GD, Torres-Lugo M, Dixon R, Powderly JD, Warin RF. The application of autologous cancer immunotherapies in the age of memory-NK cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1167666. [PMID: 37205105 PMCID: PMC10185894 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1167666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular immunotherapy has revolutionized the oncology field, yielding improved results against hematological and solid malignancies. NK cells have become an attractive alternative due to their capacity to activate upon recognition of "stress" or "danger" signals independently of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) engagement, thus making tumor cells a perfect target for NK cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy even as an allogeneic solution. While this allogeneic use is currently favored, the existence of a characterized memory function for NK cells ("memory-like" NK cells) advocates for an autologous approach, that would benefit from the allogeneic setting discoveries, but with added persistence and specificity. Still, both approaches struggle to exert a sustained and high anticancer effect in-vivo due to the immunosuppressive tumor micro-environment and the logistical challenges of cGMP production or clinical deployment. Novel approaches focused on the quality enhancement and the consistent large-scale production of highly activated therapeutic memory-like NK cells have yielded encouraging but still unconclusive results. This review provides an overview of NK biology as it relates to cancer immunotherapy and the challenge presented by solid tumors for therapeutic NKs. After contrasting the autologous and allogeneic NK approaches for solid cancer immunotherapy, this work will present the current scientific focus for the production of highly persistent and cytotoxic memory-like NK cells as well as the current issues with production methods as they apply to stress-sensitive immune cells. In conclusion, autologous NK cells for cancer immunotherapy appears to be a prime alternative for front line therapeutics but to be successful, it will be critical to establish comprehensives infrastructures allowing the production of extremely potent NK cells while constraining costs of production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaby D. Lizana-Vasquez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
| | - Madeline Torres-Lugo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | - R. Brent Dixon
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
- Human Applications Lab (HAL) - BioCytics, Huntersville, NC, United States
| | - John D. Powderly
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
- Human Applications Lab (HAL) - BioCytics, Huntersville, NC, United States
| | - Renaud F. Warin
- Cancer Research Clinic, Carolina BioOncology Institute (CBOI), Huntersville, NC, United States
- Human Applications Lab (HAL) - BioCytics, Huntersville, NC, United States
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Piccinelli S, Romee R, Shapiro RM. The natural killer cell immunotherapy platform: an overview of the landscape of clinical trials in liquid and solid tumors. Semin Hematol 2023; 60:42-51. [PMID: 37080710 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The translation of natural killer (NK) cells to the treatment of malignant disease has made significant progress in the last few decades. With a variety of available sources and improvements in both in vitro and in vivo NK cell expansion, the NK cell immunotherapy platform has come into its own. The enormous effort continues to further optimize this platform, including ways to enhance NK cell persistence, trafficking to the tumor microenvironment, and cytotoxicity. As this effort bears fruit, it is translated into a plethora of clinical trials in patients with advanced malignancies. The adoptive transfer of NK cells, either as a standalone therapy or in combination with other immunotherapies, has been applied for the treatment of both liquid and solid tumors, with numerous early-phase trials showing promising results. This review aims to summarize the key advantages of NK cell immunotherapy, highlight several of the current approaches being taken for its optimization, and give an overview of the landscape of clinical trials translating this platform into clinic.
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