1
|
Kavousinia P, Ahmadi MH, Sadeghian H, Hosseini Bafghi M. Therapeutic potential of CRISPR/CAS9 genome modification in T cell-based immunotherapy of cancer. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:436-443. [PMID: 38466263 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.02.014] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Today, genome editing technologies like zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are being used in clinical trials and the treatment of diseases like acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cancer. CRISPR stands out as one of the most advanced tools for genome editing due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. It can selectively modify specific locations in the genome, offering new possibilities for treating human diseases. The CRISPR system uses ribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid (RNA-DNA) recognition to combat infections, regulate gene expression, and treat cancer. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which uses T lymphocytes to eliminate cancer cells, can be improved by combining it with CRISPR technology. However, there are challenges in using CAR-T cells, including a lack of quantity and quality, exhaustion, neurotoxicity, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), B cell aplasia, tumor lysis syndrome, and anaphylaxis. Preclinical studies on CRISPR-edited CAR-T cells show promising results and targeting detrimental regulatory genes can enhance cancer treatment in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pegah Kavousinia
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical and Rehabilitation Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Ahmadi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical and Rehabilitation Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamid Sadeghian
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical and Rehabilitation Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahdi Hosseini Bafghi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical and Rehabilitation Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bar J, Leibowitz R, Reinmuth N, Ammendola A, Jacob E, Moskovitz M, Levy-Barda A, Lotem M, Katsenelson R, Agbarya A, Abu-Amna M, Gottfried M, Harkovsky T, Wolf I, Tepper E, Loewenthal G, Yellin B, Brody Y, Dahan N, Yanko M, Lahav C, Harel M, Raveh Shoval S, Elon Y, Sela I, Dicker AP, Shaked Y. Biological insights from plasma proteomics of non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1364473. [PMID: 38487531 PMCID: PMC10937428 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1364473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitors have made a paradigm shift in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, clinical response varies widely and robust predictive biomarkers for patient stratification are lacking. Here, we characterize early on-treatment proteomic changes in blood plasma to gain a better understanding of treatment response and resistance. Methods Pre-treatment (T0) and on-treatment (T1) plasma samples were collected from 225 NSCLC patients receiving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-based regimens. Plasma was profiled using aptamer-based technology to quantify approximately 7000 plasma proteins per sample. Proteins displaying significant fold changes (T1:T0) were analyzed further to identify associations with clinical outcomes using clinical benefit and overall survival as endpoints. Bioinformatic analyses of upregulated proteins were performed to determine potential cell origins and enriched biological processes. Results The levels of 142 proteins were significantly increased in the plasma of NSCLC patients following ICI-based treatments. Soluble PD-1 exhibited the highest increase, with a positive correlation to tumor PD-L1 status, and, in the ICI monotherapy dataset, an association with improved overall survival. Bioinformatic analysis of the ICI monotherapy dataset revealed a set of 30 upregulated proteins that formed a single, highly interconnected network, including CD8A connected to ten other proteins, suggestive of T cell activation during ICI treatment. Notably, the T cell-related network was detected regardless of clinical benefit. Lastly, circulating proteins of alveolar origin were identified as potential biomarkers of limited clinical benefit, possibly due to a link with cellular stress and lung damage. Conclusions Our study provides insights into the biological processes activated during ICI-based therapy, highlighting the potential of plasma proteomics to identify mechanisms of therapy resistance and biomarkers for outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jair Bar
- Institute of Oncology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Raya Leibowitz
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Shamir Medical Center, Oncology Institute, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Niels Reinmuth
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich-Gauting, Germany
- Biobank of lung disease, Asklepios Klinik Gauting GmbH, Gauting, Germany
| | - Astrid Ammendola
- Biobank of lung disease, Asklepios Klinik Gauting GmbH, Gauting, Germany
| | | | - Mor Moskovitz
- Thoracic oncology service, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Adva Levy-Barda
- Biobank, Department of Pathology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Michal Lotem
- Center for Melanoma and Cancer Immunotherapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Sharett Institute of Oncology, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Abed Agbarya
- Institute of Oncology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Mahmoud Abu-Amna
- Oncology & Hematology Division, Cancer Center, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Maya Gottfried
- Department of Oncology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel
| | - Tatiana Harkovsky
- Barzilai Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Ashkelon, Israel
| | - Ido Wolf
- Division of Oncology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ella Tepper
- Department of Oncology, Assuta Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Adam P. Dicker
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Yuval Shaked
- Faculty of Medicine, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rossi M, Steklov M, Huberty F, Nguyen T, Marijsse J, Jacques-Hespel C, Najm P, Lonez C, Breman E. Efficient shRNA-based knockdown of multiple target genes for cell therapy using a chimeric miRNA cluster platform. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 34:102038. [PMID: 37799328 PMCID: PMC10548280 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.102038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Genome engineering technologies are powerful tools in cell-based immunotherapy to optimize or fine-tune cell functionalities. However, their use for multiple gene edits poses relevant biological and technical challenges. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-based cell engineering bypasses these criticalities and represents a valid alternative to CRISPR-based gene editing. Here, we describe a microRNA (miRNA)-based multiplex shRNA platform obtained by combining highly efficient miRNA scaffolds into a chimeric cluster, to deliver up to four shRNA-like sequences. Thanks to its limited size, our cassette could be deployed in a one-step process along with all the CAR components, streamlining the generation of engineered CAR T cells. The plug-and-play design of the shRNA platform allowed us to swap each shRNA-derived guide sequence without affecting the system performance. Appropriately choosing the target sequences, we were able to either achieve a functional KO, or fine-tune the expression levels of the target genes, all without the need for gene editing. Through our strategy we achieved easy, safe, efficient, and tunable modulation of multiple target genes simultaneously. This approach allows for the effective introduction of multiple functionally relevant tweaks in the transcriptome of the engineered cells, which may lead to increased performance in challenging environments, e.g., solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Rossi
- Celyad Oncology, 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
| | | | | | - Thuy Nguyen
- Celyad Oncology, 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
| | | | | | - Paul Najm
- Celyad Oncology, 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
| | | | - Eytan Breman
- Celyad Oncology, 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rodrigo S, Senasinghe K, Quazi S. Molecular and therapeutic effect of CRISPR in treating cancer. Med Oncol 2023; 40:81. [PMID: 36650384 PMCID: PMC9845174 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01930-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Cancer has become one of the common causes of mortality around the globe due to mutations in the genome which allows rapid growth of cells uncontrollably without repairing DNA errors. Cancers could arise due alterations in DNA repair mechanisms (errors in mismatch repair genes), activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Each cancer type is different and each individual has a unique genetic change which leads them to cancer. Studying genetic and epigenetic alterations in the genome leads to understanding the underlying features. CAR T therapy over other immunotherapies such as monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines and adoptive cell therapies has been widely used to treat cancer in recent days and gene editing has now become one of the promising treatments for many genetic diseases. This tool allows scientists to change the genome by adding, removing or altering genetic material of an organism. Due to advance in genetics and novel molecular techniques such as CRISPR, TALEN these genes can be edited in such a way that their original function could be replaced which in turn improved the treatment possibilities and can be used against malignancies and even cure cancer in future along with CAR T cell therapy due to the specific recognition and attacking of tumor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sawani Rodrigo
- Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Kaveesha Senasinghe
- Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Sameer Quazi
- GenLab Biosolutions Private Limited, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560043, India.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
- School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Natoli M, Hatje K, Gulati P, Junker F, Herzig P, Jiang Z, Davydov II, Germann M, Trüb M, Marbach D, Zwick A, Weber P, Seeber S, Wiese M, Lardinois D, Heinzelmann-Schwarz V, Rosenberg R, Tietze L, Mertz KD, Umaña P, Klein C, Codarri-Deak L, Kao H, Zippelius A. Deciphering molecular and cellular ex vivo responses to bispecific antibodies PD1-TIM3 and PD1-LAG3 in human tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-005548. [PMID: 36319064 PMCID: PMC9628669 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Next-generation cancer immunotherapies are designed to broaden the therapeutic repertoire by targeting new immune checkpoints including lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3). Yet, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which either receptor functions to mediate its inhibitory effects are still poorly understood. Similarly, little is known on the differential effects of dual, compared with single, checkpoint inhibition. METHODS We here performed in-depth characterization, including multicolor flow cytometry, single cell RNA sequencing and multiplex supernatant analysis, using tumor single cell suspensions from patients with cancer treated ex vivo with novel bispecific antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and TIM-3 (PD1-TIM3), PD-1 and LAG-3 (PD1-LAG3), or with anti-PD-1. RESULTS We identified patient samples which were responsive to PD1-TIM3, PD1-LAG3 or anti-PD-1 using an in vitro approach, validated by the analysis of 659 soluble proteins and enrichment for an anti-PD-1 responder signature. We found increased abundance of an activated (HLA-DR+CD25+GranzymeB+) CD8+ T cell subset and of proliferating CD8+ T cells, in response to bispecific antibody or anti-PD-1 treatment. Bispecific antibodies, but not anti-PD-1, significantly increased the abundance of a proliferating natural killer cell subset, which exhibited enrichment for a tissue-residency signature. Key phenotypic and transcriptional changes occurred in a PD-1+CXCL13+CD4+ T cell subset, in response to all treatments, including increased interleukin-17 secretion and signaling toward plasma cells. Interestingly, LAG-3 protein upregulation was detected as a unique pharmacodynamic effect mediated by PD1-LAG3, but not by PD1-TIM3 or anti-PD-1. CONCLUSIONS Our in vitro system reliably assessed responses to bispecific antibodies co-targeting PD-1 together with LAG-3 or TIM-3 using patients' tumor infiltrating immune cells and revealed transcriptional and phenotypic imprinting by bispecific antibody formats currently tested in early clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Natoli
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Klas Hatje
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pratiksha Gulati
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fabian Junker
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Petra Herzig
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zhiwen Jiang
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Iakov I Davydov
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Germann
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marta Trüb
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Marbach
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Zwick
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Munich, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Weber
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Discovery Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Seeber
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Munich, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Mark Wiese
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Didier Lardinois
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Robert Rosenberg
- Department of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Basel-Landschaft, Liestal, Switzerland
| | | | - Kirsten D Mertz
- Institute of Pathology, Cantonal Hospital Basel-Landschaft, Liestal, Switzerland
| | - Pablo Umaña
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Discovery Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Christian Klein
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Discovery Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Laura Codarri-Deak
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Discovery Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Henry Kao
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Early Biomarker Development Oncology, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alfred Zippelius
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sauer N, Szlasa W, Jonderko L, Oślizło M, Kunachowicz D, Kulbacka J, Karłowicz-Bodalska K. LAG-3 as a Potent Target for Novel Anticancer Therapies of a Wide Range of Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:9958. [PMID: 36077354 PMCID: PMC9456311 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
LAG-3 (Lymphocyte activation gene 3) protein is a checkpoint receptor that interacts with LSEC-tin, Galectin-3 and FGL1. This interaction leads to reduced production of IL-2 and IFN-γ. LAG-3 is widely expressed in different tumor types and modulates the tumor microenvironment through immunosuppressive effects. Differential expression in various tumor types influences patient prognosis, which is often associated with coexpression with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as TIM-3, PD-1 and CTLA-4. Here, we discuss expression profiles in different tumor types. To date, many clinical trials have been conducted using LAG-3 inhibitors, which can be divided into anti-LAG-3 monoclonal antibodies, anti-LAG-3 bispecifics and soluble LAG-3-Ig fusion proteins. LAG-3 inhibitors supress T-cell proliferation and activation by disallowing for the interaction between LAG-3 to MHC-II. The process enhances anti-tumor immune response. In this paper, we will review the current state of knowledge on the structure, function and expression of LAG-3 in various types of cancer, as well as its correlation with overall prognosis, involvement in cell-based therapies and experimental medicine. We will consider the role of compounds targeting LAG-3 in clinical trials both as monotherapy and in combination, which will provide data relating to the efficacy and safety of proposed drug candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Sauer
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Szlasa
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Laura Jonderko
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Julita Kulbacka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | | |
Collapse
|