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Pang Y, Ghosh N. Novel and multiple targets for chimeric antigen receptor-based therapies in lymphoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1396395. [PMID: 38711850 PMCID: PMC11070555 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1396395] [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: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy targeting CD19 in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) validates the utility of CAR-based therapy for lymphomatous malignancies. Despite the success, treatment failure due to CD19 antigen loss, mutation, or down-regulation remains the main obstacle to cure. On-target, off-tumor effect of CD19-CAR T leads to side effects such as prolonged B-cell aplasia, limiting the application of therapy in indolent diseases such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Alternative CAR targets and multi-specific CAR are potential solutions to improving cellular therapy outcomes in B-NHL. For Hodgkin lymphoma and T-cell lymphoma, several cell surface antigens have been studied as CAR targets, some of which already showed promising results in clinical trials. Some antigens are expressed by different lymphomas and could be used for designing tumor-agnostic CAR. Here, we reviewed the antigens that have been studied for novel CAR-based therapies, as well as CARs designed to target two or more antigens in the treatment of lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Pang
- Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders, Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Charlotte, NC, United States
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2
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Ahmadnia A, Mohammadi S, Yamchi A, Kalani MR, Farazmandfar T, Khosravi A, Memarian A. Augmenting the Antitumor Efficacy of Natural Killer Cells via SynNotch Receptor Engineering for Targeted IL-12 Secretion. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:2931-2945. [PMID: 38666913 PMCID: PMC11048765 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46040183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial components of innate immunity, known for their potent tumor surveillance abilities. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have shown promise in cancer targeting, but optimizing CAR designs for NK cell functionality remains challenging. CAR-NK cells have gained attention for their potential to reduce side effects and enable scalable production in cancer immunotherapy. This study aimed to enhance NK cell anti-tumor activity by incorporating PD1-synthetic Notch (synNotch) receptors. A chimeric receptor was designed using UniProt database sequences, and 3D structure models were generated for optimization. Lentiviral transduction was used to introduce PD1-Syn receptors into NK cells. The expression of PD1-Syn receptors on NK cell surfaces was assessed. Engineered NK cells were co-cultured with PDL1+ breast cancer cells to evaluate their cytotoxic activity and ability to produce interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) upon interaction with the target cells. This study successfully expressed the PD1-Syn receptors on NK cells. CAR-NK cells secreted IL-12 and exhibited target-dependent IFNγ production when engaging PDL1+ cells. Their cytotoxic activity was significantly enhanced in a target-dependent manner. This study demonstrates the potential of synNotch receptor-engineered NK cells in enhancing anti-tumor responses, especially in breast cancer cases with high PDL1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ahmadnia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Medical Technologies, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan P.O. Box 665, Iran
| | - Saeed Mohammadi
- Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan P.O. Box 665, Iran
| | - Ahad Yamchi
- Department of Biotechnology, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan P.O. Box 386, Iran
| | - Mohamad Reza Kalani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Medical Technologies, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan P.O. Box 665, Iran
| | - Touraj Farazmandfar
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Medical Technologies, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan P.O. Box 665, Iran
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan P.O. Box 665, Iran
| | - Ayyoub Khosravi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Medical Technologies, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan P.O. Box 665, Iran
- Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan P.O. Box 665, Iran
| | - Ali Memarian
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan P.O. Box 665, Iran
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan P.O. Box 665, Iran
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3
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Han J, Zhang B, Zheng S, Jiang Y, Zhang X, Mao K. The Progress and Prospects of Immune Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer. Cell Transplant 2024; 33:9636897241231892. [PMID: 38433349 PMCID: PMC10913519 DOI: 10.1177/09636897241231892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune cell therapy as a revolutionary treatment modality, significantly transformed cancer care. It is a specialized form of immunotherapy that utilizes living immune cells as therapeutic reagents for the treatment of cancer. Unlike traditional drugs, cell therapies are considered "living drugs," and these products are currently customized and require advanced manufacturing techniques. Although chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have received tremendous attention in the industry regarding the treatment of hematologic malignancies, their effectiveness in treating solid tumors is often restricted, leading to the emergence of alternative immune cell therapies. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) cell therapy, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy, dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, and DC/CIK cell therapy are designed to use the body's natural defense mechanisms to target and eliminate cancer cells, and usually have fewer side effects or risks. On the other hand, cell therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell, T cell receptor (TCR)-T, chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK), or CAR-macrophages (CAR-M) typically utilize either autologous stem cells, allogeneic or xenogeneic cells, or genetically modified cells, which require higher levels of manipulation and are considered high risk. These high-risk cell therapies typically hold special characteristics in tumor targeting and signal transduction, triggering new anti-tumor immune responses. Recently, significant advances have been achieved in both basic and clinical researches on anti-tumor mechanisms, cell therapy product designs, and technological innovations. With swift technological integration and a high innovation landscape, key future development directions have emerged. To meet the demands of cell therapy technological advancements in treating cancer, we comprehensively and systematically investigate the technological innovation and clinical progress of immune cell therapies in this study. Based on the therapeutic mechanisms and methodological features of immune cell therapies, we analyzed the main technical advantages and clinical transformation risks associated with these therapies. We also analyzed and forecasted the application prospects, providing references for relevant enterprises with the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding their R&D direction selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Han
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bowen Zhang
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Senyu Zheng
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Natural and Computing Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaopeng Zhang
- Shanghai World Trade Organization Affairs Consultation Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaiyun Mao
- Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Malik JA, Kaur G, Agrewala JN. Revolutionizing medicine with toll-like receptors: A path to strengthening cellular immunity. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127252. [PMID: 37802429 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors play a vital role in cell-mediated immunity, which is crucial for the immune system's defense against pathogens and maintenance of homeostasis. The interaction between toll-like-receptor response and cell-mediated immunity is complex and essential for effectively eliminating pathogens and maintaining immune surveillance. In addition to pathogen recognition, toll-like receptors serve as adjuvants in vaccines, as molecular sensors, and recognize specific patterns associated with pathogens and danger signals. Incorporating toll-like receptor ligands into vaccines can enhance the immune response to antigens, making them potent adjuvants. Furthermore, they bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems and improve antigen-presenting cells' capacity to process and present antigens to T cells. The intricate signaling pathways and cross-talk between toll-like-receptor and T cell receptor (TCR) signaling emphasize their pivotal role in orchestrating effective immune responses against pathogens, thus facilitating the development of innovative vaccine strategies. This article provides an overview of the current understanding of toll-like receptor response and explores their potential clinical applications. By unraveling the complex mechanisms of toll-like-receptor signaling, we can gain novel insights into immune responses and potentially develop innovative therapeutic approaches. Ongoing investigations into the toll-like-receptor response hold promise in the future in enhancing our ability to combat infections, design effective vaccines, and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonaid Ahmad Malik
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab 140001, India
| | - Gurpreet Kaur
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab 140001, India; Department of Biotechnology, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran, Mohali, Punjab 140055, India
| | - Javed N Agrewala
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab 140001, India.
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Mo G, Lu X, Wu S, Zhu W. Strategies and rules for tuning TCR-derived therapy. Expert Rev Mol Med 2023; 26:e4. [PMID: 38095091 PMCID: PMC11062142 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2023.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Manipulation of T cells has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. Notably, the use of T cells carrying engineered T cell receptors (TCR-T) offers a favourable therapeutic pathway, particularly in the treatment of solid tumours. However, major challenges such as limited clinical response efficacy, off-target effects and tumour immunosuppressive microenvironment have hindered the clinical translation of this approach. In this review, we mainly want to guide TCR-T investigators on several major issues they face in the treatment of solid tumours after obtaining specific TCR sequences: (1) whether we have to undergo affinity maturation or not, and what parameter we should use as a criterion for being more effective. (2) What modifications can be added to counteract the tumour inhibitory microenvironment to make our specific T cells to be more effective and what is the safety profile of such modifications? (3) What are the new forms and possibilities for TCR-T cell therapy in the future?
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoheng Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinyu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sha Wu
- Department of Immunology/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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McCarthy D, Lofgren M, Watt A, Horton H, Kieffer-Kwon P, Ding J, Kobold S, Baeuerle PA, Hofmeister R, Gutierrez DA, Tighe R. Functional enhancement of mesothelin-targeted TRuC-T cells by a PD1-CD28 chimeric switch receptor. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:4195-4207. [PMID: 37848682 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03556-7] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
T cells expressing a mesothelin (MSLN)-specific T cell receptor fusion construct (TRuC®), called TC-210, have demonstrated robust antitumor activity in preclinical models of mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer. However, they are susceptible to suppression by the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis and lack intrinsic costimulatory signaling elements. To enhance the function of anti-MSLN TRuC-T cells, chimeric switch receptors (CSRs) have been designed to co-opt the immunosuppressive PD-1/PD-L1 axis and to deliver a CD28-mediated costimulatory signal. Here, we report that coexpression of the PD1-CD28 CSR in TRuC-T cells enhanced T cell receptor signaling, increased proinflammatory effector cytokines, decreased anti-inflammatory cytokines, and sustained effector function in the presence of PD-L1 when compared with TC-210. Anti-MSLN TRuC-T cells engineered to coexpress PD1-CD28 CSRs comprising the ectodomain of PD-1 and the intracellular domain of CD28 linked by the transmembrane domain of PD-1 were selected for integration into an anti-MSLN TRuC-T cell therapy product called TC-510. In vitro, TC-510 showed significant improvements in persistence and resistance to exhaustion upon chronic stimulation by tumor cells expressing MSLN and PD-L1 when compared with TC-210. In vivo, TC-510 showed a superior ability to provide durable protection following tumor rechallenge, versus TC-210. These data demonstrate that integration of a PD1-CD28 CSR into TRuC-T cells improves effector function, resistance to exhaustion, and prolongs persistence. Based on these findings, TC-510 is currently being evaluated in patients with MSLN-expressing solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrick McCarthy
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - Amy Watt
- Adaptimmune, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Holly Horton
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - Jian Ding
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS‑M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Patrick A Baeuerle
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Institute of Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert Hofmeister
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Dario A Gutierrez
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Robert Tighe
- TCR2 Therapeutics, Inc., 100 Binney Street, Suite 710, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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Lorenzini T, Cadilha BL, Obeck H, Benmebarek MR, Märkl F, Michaelides S, Strzalkowski T, Briukhovetska D, Müller PJ, Nandi S, Winter P, Majed L, Grünmeier R, Seifert M, Rausch S, Feuchtinger T, Endres S, Kobold S. Rational design of PD-1-CD28 immunostimulatory fusion proteins for CAR T cell therapy. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:696-705. [PMID: 37400680 PMCID: PMC10421897 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02332-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In many situations, the therapeutic efficacy of CAR T cells is limited due to immune suppression and poor persistence. Immunostimulatory fusion protein (IFP) constructs have been advanced as a tool to convert suppressive signals into stimulation and thus promote the persistence of T cells, but no universal IFP design has been established so far. We now took advantage of a PD-1-CD28 IFP as a clinically relevant structure to define key determinants of IFP activity. METHODS We compared different PD-1-CD28 IFP variants in a human leukemia model to assess the impact of distinctive design choices on CAR T cell performance in vitro and a xenograft mouse model. RESULTS We observed that IFP constructs that putatively exceed the extracellular length of PD-1 induce T-cell response without CAR target recognition, rendering them unsuitable for tumour-specific therapy. IFP variants with physiological PD-1 length ameliorated CAR T cell effector function and proliferation in response to PD-L1+ tumour cells in vitro and prolonged survival in vivo. Transmembrane or extracellular CD28 domains were found to be replaceable by corresponding PD-1 domains for in vivo efficacy. CONCLUSION PD-1-CD28 IFP constructs must mimic the physiological interaction of PD-1 with PD-L1 to retain selectivity and mediate CAR-conditional therapeutic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Lorenzini
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Bruno L Cadilha
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Hannah Obeck
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Mohamed-Reda Benmebarek
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
- National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Florian Märkl
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanos Michaelides
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Thaddäus Strzalkowski
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Daria Briukhovetska
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp Jie Müller
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Sayantan Nandi
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Pia Winter
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Lina Majed
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Ruth Grünmeier
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Seifert
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Svenja Rausch
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Feuchtinger
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Dr. von Hauner University Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital, LMU, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Endres
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
- Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany.
- German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Einheit für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany.
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8
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Martinov T, Greenberg PD. Targeting Driver Oncogenes and Other Public Neoantigens Using T Cell Receptor-Based Cellular Therapy. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CANCER BIOLOGY 2023; 7:331-351. [PMID: 37655310 PMCID: PMC10470615 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cancerbio-061521-082114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
T cell reactivity to tumor-specific neoantigens can drive endogenous and therapeutically induced antitumor immunity. However, most tumor-specific neoantigens are unique to each patient (private) and targeting them requires personalized therapy. A smaller subset of neoantigens includes epitopes that span recurrent mutation hotspots, translocations, or gene fusions in oncogenic drivers and tumor suppressors, as well as epitopes that arise from viral oncogenic proteins. Such antigens are likely to be shared across patients (public), uniformly expressed within a tumor, and required for cancer cell survival and fitness. Although a limited number of these public neoantigens are naturally immunogenic, recent studies affirm their clinical utility. In this review, we highlight efforts to target mutant KRAS, mutant p53, and epitopes derived from oncogenic viruses using T cells engineered with off-the-shelf T cell receptors. We also discuss the challenges and strategies to achieving more effective T cell therapies, particularly in the context of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijana Martinov
- Program in Immunology and Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Philip D Greenberg
- Program in Immunology and Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Immunology Department, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Lesch S, Nottebrock A, Rataj F, Heise C, Endres S, Kobold S. PD-1-CD28 fusion protein strengthens mesothelin-specific TRuC T cells in preclinical solid tumor models. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2023; 46:227-235. [PMID: 36409438 PMCID: PMC9947055 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00747-9] [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] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cell receptor fusion constructs (TRuC) consist of an antibody-based single chain variable fragment (scFv) fused to a T cell receptor chain (TCR) and allow recognition of cancer cells in an HLA-independent manner. Unlike chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), TRuC are integrated into the TCR complex resulting in a functional chimera with novel specificity, whilst retaining TCR signaling. To further enhance anti-tumor function, we expressed a PD-1-CD28 fusion receptor in TRuC T cells aiming to prevent tumor-induced immune suppression and T cell anergy. METHODS The activation level of engineered T cells was investigated in co-culture experiments with tumor cells followed by quantification of released cytokines using ELISA. To study T cell-mediated tumor cell lysis in vitro, impedance-based real-time tumor cell killing and LDH release was measured. Finally, two xenograft mouse cancer models were employed to explore the therapeutic potential of engineered T cells. RESULTS In co-culture assays, co-expression of PD-1-CD28 enhanced cytokine production of TRuC T cells. This effect was dependent on PD-L1 to PD-1-CD28 interactions, as blockade of PD-L1 amplified IFN-γ production in unmodified TRuC T cells to a greater level compared to TRuC-PD-1-CD28 T cells. In vivo, PD-1-CD28 co-expression supported the anti-tumor efficacy of TRuC T cells in two xenograft mouse cancer models. CONCLUSION Together, these results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of PD-1-CD28 co-expression in TRuC T cells to prevent PD-L1-induced T cell hypofunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Lesch
- grid.411095.80000 0004 0477 2585Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Alessia Nottebrock
- grid.411095.80000 0004 0477 2585Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Felicitas Rataj
- grid.411095.80000 0004 0477 2585Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Constanze Heise
- grid.411095.80000 0004 0477 2585Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Endres
- grid.411095.80000 0004 0477 2585Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany ,German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany ,grid.4567.00000 0004 0483 2525Einheit Für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany, Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany. .,German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Einheit Für Klinische Pharmakologie (EKLiP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany, Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Neuherberg, Germany. .,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Klinikum der Universität München, Lindwurmstraße 2a, 80337, Munich, Germany.
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10
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González-Navarro EA, Español M, Egri N, Castellà M, Calderón H, España C, Guijarro C, Heredia L, Pascal M, Juan Otero M. What will (and should) be improved in CAR immunotherapy? INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 370:149-161. [PMID: 35798504 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is probably one of the most successful proposals for cancer treatment, especially hematological diseases for which several Advanced Therapies Medicinal Products (ATMP) have been approved worldwide by drug agencies. But, despite this unprecedented success in the oncology and cell/gene therapy fields, there are a lot of aspects that could (and should) be improved in the multiple aspects that involve this complex therapy: from the design of the chimeric molecule to the clinical protocols of use of the engineered T-cells, including even the regulatory rules that they are currently restricting the development of these hopeful therapies. In this chapter, we will try to summarize the main aspects that can (and probably should) be improved for the expansion of immunotherapy with CAR proposals beyond onco-hematology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Europa Azucena González-Navarro
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Español
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Egri
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Castellà
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hugo Calderón
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carolina España
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carla Guijarro
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Libertad Heredia
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariona Pascal
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Juan Otero
- Servei d'Immunologia. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. IDIBAPS. Universitat de Barcelona. Plataforma d'Immunoteràpia Hospital Clínic-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain.
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11
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Gross G, Carmi Y, Abken H. Editorial: Implementing Logic Gates in Adoptive Cell Therapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:902594. [PMID: 35572501 PMCID: PMC9101459 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.902594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gideon Gross
- Laboratory of Immunology, MIGAL - Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel
- *Correspondence: Gideon Gross,
| | - Yaron Carmi
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology, Department for Genetic Immunotherapy, and University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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12
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Wei F, Cheng XX, Xue JZ, Xue SA. Emerging Strategies in TCR-Engineered T Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:850358. [PMID: 35432319 PMCID: PMC9006933 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.850358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy of cancer has made tremendous progress in recent years, as demonstrated by the remarkable clinical responses obtained from adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of patient-derived tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells (CAR-T) and T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells (TCR-T). TCR-T uses specific TCRS optimized for tumor engagement and can recognize epitopes derived from both cell-surface and intracellular targets, including tumor-associated antigens, cancer germline antigens, viral oncoproteins, and tumor-specific neoantigens (neoAgs) that are largely sequestered in the cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells. Moreover, as TCRS are naturally developed for sensitive antigen detection, they are able to recognize epitopes at far lower concentrations than required for CAR-T activation. Therefore, TCR-T holds great promise for the treatment of human cancers. In this focused review, we summarize basic, translational, and clinical insights into the challenges and opportunities of TCR-T. We review emerging strategies used in current ACT, point out limitations, and propose possible solutions. We highlight the importance of targeting tumor-specific neoAgs and outline a strategy of combining neoAg vaccines, checkpoint blockade therapy, and adoptive transfer of neoAg-specific TCR-T to produce a truly tumor-specific therapy, which is able to penetrate into solid tumors and resist the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We believe such a combination approach should lead to a significant improvement in cancer immunotherapies, especially for solid tumors, and may provide a general strategy for the eradication of multiple cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wei
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Xi'An University, Xi'An, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Cheng
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Xi'An University, Xi'An, China
| | - John Zhao Xue
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Xi'An University, Xi'An, China
| | - Shao-An Xue
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biological & Environmental Engineering, Xi'An University, Xi'An, China
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13
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Sailer N, Fetzer I, Salvermoser M, Braun M, Brechtefeld D, Krendl C, Geiger C, Mutze K, Noessner E, Schendel DJ, Bürdek M, Wilde S, Sommermeyer D. T-Cells Expressing a Highly Potent PRAME-Specific T-Cell Receptor in Combination with a Chimeric PD1-41BB Co-Stimulatory Receptor Show a Favorable Preclinical Safety Profile and Strong Anti-Tumor Reactivity. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14081998. [PMID: 35454906 PMCID: PMC9030144 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14081998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The development of effective adoptive T-cell therapies (ATCs) to treat solid tumors has several challenges: the choice of a suitable target antigen, the generation of a specific T-cell receptor (TCR) directed against this target, and the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME). The cancer/testis antigen Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma (PRAME) is a promising target for ATCs since it is highly expressed in several solid tumor indications, while its expression in normal tissues is mainly restricted to the testis. Using our well-established high throughput TCR generation and characterization process, we identified a highly potent PRAME-specific TCR. To convert the inhibitory PD-1 signal in T-cells to an activating signal, we designed a chimeric receptor consisting of the extracellular domain of PD-1 and the signaling domain of 4-1BB. Combining this PD1-41BB receptor with our lead PRAME-TCR generated a very promising T-cell product with a favorable preclinical in vitro safety profile and enhanced in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy. Abstract The hostile tumor microenvironment (TME) is a major challenge for the treatment of solid tumors with T-cell receptor (TCR)-modified T-cells (TCR-Ts), as it negatively influences T-cell efficacy, fitness, and persistence. These negative influences are caused, among others, by the inhibitory checkpoint PD-1/PD-L1 axis. The Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma (PRAME) is a highly relevant cancer/testis antigen for TCR-T immunotherapy due to broad expression in multiple solid cancer indications. A TCR with high specificity and sensitivity for PRAME was isolated from non-tolerized T-cell repertoires and introduced into T-cells alongside a chimeric PD1-41BB receptor, consisting of the natural extracellular domain of PD-1 and the intracellular signaling domain of 4-1BB, turning an inhibitory pathway into a T-cell co-stimulatory pathway. The addition of PD1-41BB to CD8+ T-cells expressing the transgenic PRAME-TCR enhanced IFN-γ secretion, improved cytotoxic capacity, and prevented exhaustion upon repetitive re-challenge with tumor cells in vitro without altering the in vitro safety profile. Furthermore, a single dose of TCR-Ts co-expressing PD1-41BB was sufficient to clear a hard-to-treat melanoma xenograft in a mouse model, whereas TCR-Ts without PD1-41BB could not eradicate the PD-L1-positive tumors. This cutting-edge strategy supports development efforts to provide more effective TCR-T immunotherapies for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Sailer
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Ina Fetzer
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Melanie Salvermoser
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Monika Braun
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Doris Brechtefeld
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Christian Krendl
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Christiane Geiger
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Kathrin Mutze
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Elfriede Noessner
- Immunoanalytics-Research Group Tissue Control of Immunocytes (TCI), Helmholtz Zentrum München, 81377 Munich, Germany;
| | - Dolores J. Schendel
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
- Medigene AG, 82152 Planegg, Germany
- Correspondence: or
| | - Maja Bürdek
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Susanne Wilde
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Daniel Sommermeyer
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany; (N.S.); (I.F.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (D.B.); (C.K.); (C.G.); (K.M.); (M.B.); (S.W.); (D.S.)
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14
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Omer B, Cardenas MG, Pfeiffer T, Daum R, Huynh M, Sharma S, Nouraee N, Xie C, Tat C, Perconti S, Van Pelt S, Scherer L, DeRenzo C, Shum T, Gottschalk S, Arber C, Rooney CM. A Costimulatory CAR Improves TCR-based Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res 2022; 10:512-524. [PMID: 35176142 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-21-0307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
T-cell receptors (TCR) recognize intracellular and extracellular cancer antigens, allowing T cells to target many tumor antigens. To sustain proliferation and persistence, T cells require not only signaling through the TCR (signal 1), but also costimulatory (signal 2) and cytokine (signal 3) signaling. Because most cancer cells lack costimulatory molecules, TCR engagement at the tumor site results in incomplete T-cell activation and transient antitumor effects. To overcome this lack of signal 2, we genetically modified tumor-specific T cells with a costimulatory chimeric antigen receptor (CoCAR). Like classical CARs, CoCARs combine the antigen-binding domain of an antibody with costimulatory endodomains to trigger T-cell proliferation, but CoCARs lack the cytotoxic CD3ζ chain to avoid toxicity to normal tissues. We first tested a CD19-targeting CoCAR in combination with an HLA-A*02:01-restricted, survivin-specific transgenic TCR (sTCR) in serial cocultures with leukemia cells coexpressing the cognate peptide-HLA complex (signal 1) and CD19 (signal 2). The CoCAR enabled sTCR+ T cells to kill tumors over a median of four additional tumor challenges. CoCAR activity depended on CD19 but was maintained in tumors with heterogeneous CD19 expression. In a murine tumor model, sTCR+CoCAR+ T cells improved tumor control and prolonged survival compared with sTCR+ T cells. We further evaluated the CoCAR in Epstein-Barr virus-specific T cells (EBVST). CoCAR-expressing EBVSTs expanded more rapidly than nontransduced EBVSTs and delayed tumor progression in an EBV+ murine lymphoma model. Overall, we demonstrated that the CoCAR can increase the activity of T cells expressing both native and transgenic TCRs and enhance antitumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Omer
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Mara G Cardenas
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Thomas Pfeiffer
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Rachel Daum
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Mai Huynh
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Sandhya Sharma
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Nazila Nouraee
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Cicilyn Xie
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Candise Tat
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Silvana Perconti
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Stacey Van Pelt
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Lauren Scherer
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Chris DeRenzo
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Thomas Shum
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Stephen Gottschalk
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Caroline Arber
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Oncology UNIL-CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Cliona M Rooney
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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15
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Engineering T cells to survive and thrive in the hostile tumor microenvironment. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2021.100360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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16
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Rossetti R, Brand H, Lima SCG, Furtado IP, Silveira RM, Fantacini DMC, Covas DT, Souza LEB. Combination of genetically engineered T cells and immune checkpoint blockade for the treatment of cancer. IMMUNOTHERAPY ADVANCES 2022; 2:ltac005. [PMID: 35919489 PMCID: PMC9327125 DOI: 10.1093/immadv/ltac005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Immune checkpoint (IC) blockade using monoclonal antibodies is currently one of the most successful immunotherapeutic interventions to treat cancer. By reinvigorating antitumor exhausted T cells, this approach can lead to durable clinical responses. However, the majority of patients either does not respond or present a short-lived response to IC blockade, in part due to a scarcity of tumor-specific T cells within the tumor microenvironment. Adoptive transfer of T cells genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) or engineered T cell receptors (TCRs) provide the necessary tumor-specific immune cell population to target cancer cells. However, this therapy has been considerably ineffective against solid tumors in part due to IC-mediated immunosuppressive effects within tumor microenvironment. These limitations could be overcome by associating adoptive cell transfer of genetically engineered T cells and IC blockade. In this comprehensive review, we highlight the strategies and outcomes of preclinical and clinical attempts to disrupt IC signaling in adoptive T cell transfer against cancer. These strategies include combined administration of genetically engineered T cells and IC inhibitors, engineered T cells with intrinsic modifications to disrupt IC signaling and the design of CARs against IC molecules. The current landscape indicates that the synergy of the fast-paced refinements of gene-editing technologies and synthetic biology and the increased comprehension of IC signaling will certainly translate into novel and more effective immunotherapeutic approaches to treat patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Rossetti
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy, Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heloísa Brand
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy, Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sarah Caroline Gomes Lima
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy, Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Izadora Peter Furtado
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy, Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Daianne Maciely Carvalho Fantacini
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy, Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Biotechnology nucleus - Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dimas Tadeu Covas
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy, Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Zur RT, Adler G, Shamalov K, Tal Y, Ankri C, Cohen CJ. Adoptive T-cell Immunotherapy: Perfecting Self-Defenses. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2022; 113:253-294. [PMID: 35165867 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-91311-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As an important part of the immune system, T lymphocytes exhibit undoubtedly an important role in targeting and eradicating cancer. However, despite these characteristics, their natural antitumor response may be insufficient. Numerous clinical trials in terminally ill cancer patients testing the design of novel and efficient immunotherapeutic approaches based on the adoptive transfer of autologous tumor-specific T lymphocytes have shown encouraging results. Moreover, this also led to the approval of engineered T-cell therapies in patients. Herein, we will expand on the development and the use of such strategies using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes or genetically engineered T-cells. We will also comment on the requirements and potential hurdles encountered when elaborating and implementing such treatments as well as the exciting prospects for this kind of emerging personalized medicine therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaëlle Toledano Zur
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Galit Adler
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Katerina Shamalov
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yair Tal
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Chen Ankri
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Cyrille J Cohen
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
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18
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Zhao S, Wang C, Lu P, Lou Y, Liu H, Wang T, Yang S, Bao Z, Han L, Liang X, Ma C, Gao L. Switch receptor T3/28 improves long-term persistence and antitumor efficacy of CAR-T cells. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-003176. [PMID: 34853180 PMCID: PMC8638458 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been successfully used in tumor immunotherapy due to their strong antitumor responses, especially in hematological malignancies such as B cell acute lymphoid leukemia. However, on-target off-tumor toxicity and poor persistence severely limit the clinical application of CAR-T cell therapy. Methods T-cell immunoglobulin mucin domain molecule 3 (TIM-3) was used to develop a second-generation 41BB CD19 CAR linked with a T3/28 chimera, in which truncated extracellular TIM-3 was fused with the CD28 transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. The efficacy of T3/28 CAR-T cells was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results We demonstrated that the switch receptor T3/28 preserved the TCM phenotype, improved proliferative capacity, and reduced exhaustion of CAR-T cells, resulting in superior in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity in B lymphoma. Importantly, the switch receptor T3/28 substantially prolonged the persistence of CAR-T cells, and the interleukin-21/Stat3 axis probably contributed to the enhanced cytotoxicity of T3/28 CAR-T cells. Conclusion Overall, the T3/28 chimera significantly prolonged the persistence of CAR-T cells, and T3/28 CAR-T cells possessed potent antitumor activity in mice, shedding new light on potential improvements in adoptive T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songbo Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ping Lu
- Department of Hematology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China
| | - Yalin Lou
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Huimin Liu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Biomedical Sciences College & Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shanshan Yang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ziyou Bao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lin Han
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaohong Liang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lifen Gao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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19
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Olguín-Contreras LF, Mendler AN, Popowicz G, Hu B, Noessner E. Double Strike Approach for Tumor Attack: Engineering T Cells Using a CD40L:CD28 Chimeric Co-Stimulatory Switch Protein for Enhanced Tumor Targeting in Adoptive Cell Therapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:750478. [PMID: 34912334 PMCID: PMC8666660 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.750478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of co-stimulatory pathways in cytotoxic T lymphocytes expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have proven to boost effector activity, tumor rejection and long-term T cell persistence. When using antigen-specific T cell receptors (TCR) instead of CARs, the lack of co-stimulatory signals hampers robust antitumoral response, hence limiting clinical efficacy. In solid tumors, tumor stroma poses an additional hurdle through hindrance of infiltration and active inhibition. Our project aimed at generating chimeric co-stimulatory switch proteins (CSP) consisting of intracellular co-stimulatory domains (ICD) fused to extracellular protein domains (ECD) for which ligands are expressed in solid tumors. The ECD of CD40L was selected for combination with the ICD from the CD28 protein. With this approach, it was expected to not only provide co-stimulation and strengthen the TCR signaling, but also, through the CD40L ECD, facilitate the activation of tumor-resident antigen-presenting cells (APCs), modulate activation of tumor endothelium and induce TCR-MHC independent apoptotic effect on tumor cells. Since CD28 and CD40L belong to different classes of transmembrane proteins (type I and type II, respectively), creating a chimeric protein presented a structural and functional challenge. We present solutions to this challenge describing different CSP formats that were successfully expressed in human T cells along with an antigen-specific TCR. The level of surface expression of the CSPs depended on their distinct design and the state of T cell activation. In particular, CSPs were upregulated by TCR stimulation and downregulated following interaction with CD40 on target cells. Ligation of the CSP in the context of TCR-stimulation modulated intracellular signaling cascades and led to improved TCR-induced cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity. Moreover, the CD40L ECD exhibited activity as evidenced by effective maturation and activation of B cells and DCs. CD40L:CD28 CSPs are a new type of switch proteins designed to exert dual beneficial antitumor effect by acting directly on the gene-modified T cells and simultaneously on tumor cells and tumor-supporting cells of the TME. The observed effects suggest that they constitute a promising tool to be included in the engineering process of T cells to endow them with complementary features for improved performance in the tumor milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna N. Mendler
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Grzegorz Popowicz
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bin Hu
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elfriede Noessner
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
- Immunoanalytics Research Group - Tissue Control of Immunocytes, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
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20
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Savanur MA, Weinstein-Marom H, Gross G. Implementing Logic Gates for Safer Immunotherapy of Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:780399. [PMID: 34804073 PMCID: PMC8600566 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.780399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting solid tumors with absolute precision is a long-standing challenge in cancer immunotherapy. The identification of antigens, which are expressed by a large fraction of tumors of a given type and, preferably, across various types, but not by normal cells, holds the key to developing safe, off-the-shelf immunotherapies. Although the quest for widely shared, strictly tumor-specific antigens has been the focus of tremendous effort, only few such candidates have been implicated. Almost all antigens that are currently explored as targets for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or T cell receptor (TCR)-T cell therapy are also expressed by healthy cells and the risk of on-target off-tumor toxicity has remained a major concern. Recent studies suggest that this risk could be obviated by targeting instead combinations of two or more antigens, which are co-expressed by tumor but not normal cells and, as such, are tumor-specific. Moreover, the expression of a shared tumor antigen along with the lack of a second antigen that is expressed by normal tissues can also be exploited for precise recognition. Additional cues, antigenic or non-antigenic ones, which characterize the tumor microenvironment, could be harnessed to further increase precision. This review focuses on attempts to define the targetable signatures of tumors and assesses different strategies employing advanced synthetic biology for translating such information into safer modes of immunotherapy, implementing the principles of Boolean logic gates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Azharuddin Savanur
- Laboratory of Immunology, MIGAL - Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel
| | - Hadas Weinstein-Marom
- Laboratory of Immunology, MIGAL - Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel
| | - Gideon Gross
- Laboratory of Immunology, MIGAL - Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel
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21
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Tagliamonte M, Mauriello A, Cavalluzzo B, Ragone C, Manolio C, Luciano A, Barbieri A, Palma G, Scognamiglio G, Di Mauro A, Di Bonito M, Tornesello ML, Buonaguro FM, Vitagliano L, Caporale A, Ruvo M, Buonaguro L. MHC-Optimized Peptide Scaffold for Improved Antigen Presentation and Anti-Tumor Response. Front Immunol 2021; 12:769799. [PMID: 34745146 PMCID: PMC8564487 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.769799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor Associated Antigens (TAAs) may suffer from an immunological tolerance due to expression on normal cells. In order to potentiate their immunogenicity, heteroclitic peptides (htcPep) were designed according to prediction algorithms. In particular, specific modifications were introduced in peptide residues facing to TCR. Moreover, a MHC-optimized scaffold was designed for improved antigen presentation to TCR by H-2Db allele. The efficacy of such htcPep was assessed in C57BL/6 mice injected with syngeneic melanoma B16F10 or lung TC1 tumor cell lines, in combination with metronomic chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The immunogenicity of htcPep was significantly stronger than the corresponding wt peptide and the modification involving both MHC and TCR binding residues scored the strongest. In particular, the H-2Db-specific scaffold significantly potentiated the peptides' immunogenicity and control of tumor growth was comparable to wt peptide in a therapeutic setting. Overall, we demonstrated that modified TAAs show higher immunogenicity compared to wt peptide. In particular, the MHC-optimized scaffold can present different antigen sequences to TCR, retaining the conformational characteristics of the corresponding wt. Cross-reacting CD8+ T cells are elicited and efficiently kill tumor cells presenting the wild-type antigen. This novel approach can be of high clinical relevance in cancer vaccine development.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigen Presentation/drug effects
- Antigen Presentation/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/metabolism
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/administration & dosage
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cancer Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Female
- Histocompatibility Antigens/immunology
- Humans
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Experimental/prevention & control
- Peptides/immunology
- Peptides/metabolism
- Protein Binding
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Treatment Outcome
- Tumor Burden/drug effects
- Tumor Burden/immunology
- Vaccines, Subunit/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tagliamonte
- Innovative Immunological Models Lab, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Mauriello
- Innovative Immunological Models Lab, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Beatrice Cavalluzzo
- Innovative Immunological Models Lab, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Concetta Ragone
- Innovative Immunological Models Lab, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Carmen Manolio
- Innovative Immunological Models Lab, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Luciano
- Animal Facility, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Barbieri
- Animal Facility, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Palma
- Animal Facility, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giosuè Scognamiglio
- Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Annabella Di Mauro
- Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maurizio Di Bonito
- Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Franco M. Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Caporale
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Menotti Ruvo
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Innovative Immunological Models Lab, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) - “Fond G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
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22
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Mensali N, Dillard P, Fayzullin A, Köksal H, Gaudernack G, Kvalheim G, Inderberg EM, Wälchli S. "Built-in" PD-1 blocker to rescue NK-92 activity from PD-L1-mediated tumor escape mechanisms. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21750. [PMID: 34424568 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100025r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Success of adoptive cell therapy mainly depends on the ability of immune cells to persist and function optimally in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Although present at the cancer site, immune cells become exhausted and/or inhibited, due to the presence of inhibitory receptors such as PD-L1 on malignant cells. Novel genetic strategies to manipulate the PD1/PD-L1 axis comprise (i) PD-1 reversion where the receptor intracellular domain is replaced with an activating unit, (ii) the use of anti-PD-L1 CAR or (iii) the disruption of the PD-1 gene. We here present an alternative strategy to equip therapeutic cells with a truncated PD-1 (tPD-1) to abrogate PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition. We show that engagement of tPD-1 with PD-L1-positive tumor unleashes NK-92 activity in vitro. Furthermore, this binding was sufficiently strong to induce killing of targets otherwise not recognized by NK-92, thus increasing the range of targets. In vivo treatment with NK-92 tPD-1 cells led to reduced tumor growth and improved survival. Importantly, tPD-1 did not interfere with tumor recognition in PD-L1 negative conditions. Thus, tPD-1 represents a straightforward method for improving antitumor immunity and revealing new targets through PD-L1 positivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Mensali
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pierre Dillard
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Artem Fayzullin
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hakan Köksal
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gustav Gaudernack
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gunnar Kvalheim
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Else Marit Inderberg
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sébastien Wälchli
- Department of Cellular Therapy, Oslo University Hospital-The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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23
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Noh KE, Lee JH, Choi SY, Jung NC, Nam JH, Oh JS, Song JY, Seo HG, Wang Y, Lee HS, Lim DS. TGF-β/IL-7 Chimeric Switch Receptor-Expressing CAR-T Cells Inhibit Recurrence of CD19-Positive B Cell Lymphoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168706. [PMID: 34445415 PMCID: PMC8395772 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are effective in the treatment of hematologic malignancies but have shown limited efficacy against solid tumors. Here, we demonstrated an approach to inhibit recurrence of B cell lymphoma by co-expressing both a human anti-CD19-specific single-chain variable fragment (scFv) CAR (CD19 CAR) and a TGF-β/IL-7 chimeric switch receptor (tTRII-I7R) in T cells (CD19 CAR-tTRII-I7R-T cells). The tTRII-I7R was designed to convert immunosuppressive TGF-β signaling into immune-activating IL-7 signaling. The effect of TGF-β on CD19 CAR-tTRII-I7R-T cells was assessed by western blotting. Target-specific killing by CD19 CAR-tTRII-I7R-T cells was evaluated by Eu-TDA assay. Daudi tumor-bearing NSG (NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ-/-) mice were treated with CD19 CAR-tTRII-I7R-T cells to analyze the in vivo anti-tumor effect. In vitro, CD19 CAR-tTRII-I7R-T cells had a lower level of phosphorylated SMAD2 and a higher level of target-specific cytotoxicity than controls in the presence of rhTGF-β1. In the animal model, the overall survival and recurrence-free survival of mice that received CD19 CAR-tTRII-I7R-T cells were significantly longer than in control mice. These findings strongly suggest that CD19 CAR-tTRII-I7R-T cell therapy provides a new strategy for long-lasting, TGF-β-resistant anti-tumor effects against B cell lymphoma, which may lead ultimately to increased clinical efficacy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, CD19/immunology
- Cells, Cultured
- Female
- Humans
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive
- Interleukin-7/genetics
- Interleukin-7/metabolism
- K562 Cells
- Lymphoma, B-Cell/immunology
- Lymphoma, B-Cell/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/immunology
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/therapy
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Single-Chain Antibodies/metabolism
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
- Treatment Outcome
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Eun Noh
- Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 13488, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; (K.-E.N.); (S.-Y.C.); (J.-H.N.); (J.-S.O.)
| | - Jun-Ho Lee
- Pharos Vaccine Inc., 14 Galmachiro, 288 Bun-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam 13201, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; (J.-H.L.); (N.-C.J.); (H.S.L.)
| | - So-Yeon Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 13488, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; (K.-E.N.); (S.-Y.C.); (J.-H.N.); (J.-S.O.)
| | - Nam-Chul Jung
- Pharos Vaccine Inc., 14 Galmachiro, 288 Bun-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam 13201, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; (J.-H.L.); (N.-C.J.); (H.S.L.)
| | - Ji-Hee Nam
- Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 13488, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; (K.-E.N.); (S.-Y.C.); (J.-H.N.); (J.-S.O.)
| | - Ji-Soo Oh
- Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 13488, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; (K.-E.N.); (S.-Y.C.); (J.-H.N.); (J.-S.O.)
| | - Jie-Young Song
- Department of Radiation Cancer Sciences, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, 75 Nowon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01812, Korea;
| | - Han Geuk Seo
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology of Animal Products, Sanghuh College of Life Sciences, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea;
| | - Yu Wang
- Immunotech Applied Science Ltd., Beijing 100176, China;
| | - Hyun Soo Lee
- Pharos Vaccine Inc., 14 Galmachiro, 288 Bun-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam 13201, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; (J.-H.L.); (N.-C.J.); (H.S.L.)
| | - Dae-Seog Lim
- Department of Biotechnology, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 13488, Gyeonggi-do, Korea; (K.-E.N.); (S.-Y.C.); (J.-H.N.); (J.-S.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-10-2770-4777
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24
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Watanabe K, Nishikawa H. Engineering strategies for broad application of TCR-T and CAR-T cell therapies. Int Immunol 2021; 33:551-562. [PMID: 34374779 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxab052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapy, including the transfer of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes after in vitro expansion or T cells redirected to tumor antigens using antigen-specific transgenic T cell receptor T cells (TCR-T cells) or chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells), has shown a significant clinical impact. Particularly, several types of CAR-T cell therapies have been approved for the treatment of hematological malignancies. The striking success of CAR-T cell therapies in hematological malignancies motivates their further expansion to a wide range of solid tumors, yet multiple obstacles, including the lack of proper target antigens exhibiting a tumor-specific expression pattern and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) impairing the effector functions of adoptively transferred T cells, have prevented clinical application. Gene engineering technologies such as the CRISPR/Cas9 system have enabled flexible reprograming of TCR/CAR-T cell signaling or loading genes that are targets of the tumor immunosuppression as a payload to overcome the difficulties. Here, we discuss recent advances in TCR/CAR-T cell engineering: various promising approaches to enhance the antitumor activity of adoptively transferred T cells in the TME for maximizing the efficacy and the safety of adoptive cell therapy are now being tested in the clinic, especially targeting solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Watanabe
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.,Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
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25
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Guo J, Kent A, Davila E. Chimeric non-antigen receptors in T cell-based cancer therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002628. [PMID: 34344725 PMCID: PMC8336119 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptively transferred T cell-based cancer therapies have shown incredible promise in treatment of various cancers. So far therapeutic strategies using T cells have focused on manipulation of the antigen-recognition machinery itself, such as through selective expression of tumor-antigen specific T cell receptors or engineered antigen-recognition chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). While several CARs have been approved for treatment of hematopoietic malignancies, this kind of therapy has been less successful in the treatment of solid tumors, in part due to lack of suitable tumor-specific targets, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and the inability of adoptively transferred cells to maintain their therapeutic potentials. It is critical for therapeutic T cells to overcome immunosuppressive environmental triggers, mediating balanced antitumor immunity without causing unwanted inflammation or autoimmunity. To address these hurdles, chimeric receptors with distinct signaling properties are being engineered to function as allies of tumor antigen-specific receptors, modulating unique aspects of T cell function without directly binding to antigen themselves. In this review, we focus on the design and function of these chimeric non-antigen receptors, which fall into three broad categories: ‘inhibitory-to-stimulatory’ switch receptors that bind natural ligands, enhanced stimulatory receptors that interact with natural ligands, and synthetic receptor-ligand pairs. Our intent is to offer detailed descriptions that will help readers to understand the structure and function of these receptors, as well as inspire development of additional novel synthetic receptors to improve T cell-based cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitao Guo
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew Kent
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Eduardo Davila
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA .,Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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26
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Harrison AJ, Du X, von Scheidt B, Kershaw MH, Slaney CY. Enhancing co-stimulation of CAR T cells to improve treatment outcomes in solid cancers. IMMUNOTHERAPY ADVANCES 2021; 1:ltab016. [PMID: 35919743 PMCID: PMC9327106 DOI: 10.1093/immadv/ltab016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-stimulation is a fundamental component of T cell biology and plays a key role in determining the quality of T cell proliferation, differentiation, and memory formation. T cell-based immunotherapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy, are no exception. Solid tumours have largely been refractory to CAR T cell therapy owing to an immunosuppressive microenvironment which limits CAR T cell persistence and effector function. In order to eradicate solid cancers, increasingly sophisticated strategies are being developed to deliver these vital co-stimulatory signals to CAR T cells, often specifically within the tumour microenvironment. These include designing novel co-stimulatory domains within the CAR or other synthetic receptors, arming CAR T cells with cytokines or using CAR T cells in combination with agonist antibodies. This review discusses the evolving role of co-stimulation in CAR T cell therapies and the strategies employed to target co-stimulatory pathways in CAR T cells, with a view to improve responses in solid tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Harrison
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xin Du
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bianca von Scheidt
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael H Kershaw
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Clare Y Slaney
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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27
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Park CH. Making Potent CAR T Cells Using Genetic Engineering and Synergistic Agents. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133236. [PMID: 34209505 PMCID: PMC8269169 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies are emerging as powerful weapons for the treatment of malignancies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells have shown dramatic clinical results in patients with hematological malignancies. However, it is still challenging for CAR T cell therapy to be successful in several types of blood cancer and most solid tumors. Many attempts have been made to enhance the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy by modifying the CAR construct using combination agents, such as compounds, antibodies, or radiation. At present, technology to improve CAR T cell therapy is rapidly developing. In this review, we particularly emphasize the most recent studies utilizing genetic engineering and synergistic agents to improve CAR T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Hoon Park
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Daejeon 34114, Korea; ; Tel.: +82-42-860-7416; Fax: +82-42-861-4246
- Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
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28
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Chen C, Gu YM, Zhang F, Zhang ZC, Zhang YT, He YD, Wang L, Zhou N, Tang FT, Liu HJ, Li YM. Construction of PD1/CD28 chimeric-switch receptor enhances anti-tumor ability of c-Met CAR-T in gastric cancer. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1901434. [PMID: 33854821 PMCID: PMC8018404 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1901434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell is a promising method in cancer immunotherapy but faces many challenges in solid tumors. One of the major problems was immunosuppression caused by PD-1. In our study, the expression of c-Met in GC was analyzed from TCGA datasets, GC tissues, and cell lines. The c-Met CAR was a second-generation CAR with 4–1BB, cMet-PD1/CD28 CAR was c-Met CAR adding PD1/CD28 chimeric-switch receptor (CSR). In vitro, we measured the changes of different subgroups, phenotypes and PD-1 expression in CAR-T cells. We detected the secretion levels of different cytokines and the killing ability of CAR-Ts. In vivo, we established a xenograft GC model and observed the anti-tumor effect and off-target toxicity of different CAR-Ts. We find that the expression of c-Met was increased in GC. CD3+CD8+ T cells and CD62L+CCR7+ central memory T cells (TCM) were increased in two CAR-Ts. The stimulation of target cells could promote the expression of PD-1 in c-Met CAR-T. Compared with Mock T, the secretion of cytokines as IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 secreted by two CAR-Ts was increased, and the killing ability to c-Met positive GC cells was enhanced. The PD1/CD28 CSR could further enhance the killing ability, especially the long-term anti-tumor effect of c-Met CAR-T, and reduce the release level of IL-6. CAR-Ts target c-Met had no obvious off-target toxicity to normal organs. Thus, the PD1/CD28 CSR could further enhance the anti-tumor ability of c-Met CAR-T, and provides a promising design strategy to improve the efficacy of CAR-T in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Chen
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yan-Mei Gu
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Zheng-Chao Zhang
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Ya-Ting Zhang
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yi-Di He
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Ning Zhou
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Fu-Tian Tang
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Hong-Jian Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yu-Min Li
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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29
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Rad S. M. AH, Halpin JC, Mollaei M, Smith Bell SWJ, Hirankarn N, McLellan AD. Metabolic and Mitochondrial Functioning in Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1229. [PMID: 33799768 PMCID: PMC8002030 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized adoptive cell therapy with impressive therapeutic outcomes of >80% complete remission (CR) rates in some haematological malignancies. Despite this, CAR T cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumours has invariably been unsuccessful in the clinic. Immunosuppressive factors and metabolic stresses in the tumour microenvironment (TME) result in the dysfunction and exhaustion of CAR T cells. A growing body of evidence demonstrates the importance of the mitochondrial and metabolic state of CAR T cells prior to infusion into patients. The different T cell subtypes utilise distinct metabolic pathways to fulfil their energy demands associated with their function. The reprogramming of CAR T cell metabolism is a viable approach to manufacture CAR T cells with superior antitumour functions and increased longevity, whilst also facilitating their adaptation to the nutrient restricted TME. This review discusses the mitochondrial and metabolic state of T cells, and describes the potential of the latest metabolic interventions to maximise CAR T cell efficacy for solid tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Hosseini Rad S. M.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9010, Otago, New Zealand; (J.C.H.); (S.W.J.S.B.)
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Joshua Colin Halpin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9010, Otago, New Zealand; (J.C.H.); (S.W.J.S.B.)
| | - Mojtaba Mollaei
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14117-13116, Iran;
| | - Samuel W. J. Smith Bell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9010, Otago, New Zealand; (J.C.H.); (S.W.J.S.B.)
| | - Nattiya Hirankarn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Alexander D. McLellan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9010, Otago, New Zealand; (J.C.H.); (S.W.J.S.B.)
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30
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Oda SK, Anderson KG, Ravikumar P, Bonson P, Garcia NM, Jenkins CM, Zhuang S, Daman AW, Chiu EY, Bates BM, Greenberg PD. A Fas-4-1BB fusion protein converts a death to a pro-survival signal and enhances T cell therapy. J Exp Med 2021; 217:152059. [PMID: 32860705 PMCID: PMC7953733 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20191166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) with genetically modified T cells has shown impressive results against some hematologic cancers, but efficacy in solid tumors can be limited by restrictive tumor microenvironments (TMEs). For example, Fas ligand is commonly overexpressed in TMEs and induces apoptosis in tumor-infiltrating, Fas receptor–positive lymphocytes. We engineered immunomodulatory fusion proteins (IFPs) to enhance ACT efficacy, combining an inhibitory receptor ectodomain with a costimulatory endodomain to convert negative into positive signals. We developed a Fas-4-1BB IFP that replaces the Fas intracellular tail with costimulatory 4-1BB. Fas-4-1BB IFP-engineered murine T cells exhibited increased pro-survival signaling, proliferation, antitumor function, and altered metabolism in vitro. In vivo, Fas-4-1BB ACT eradicated leukemia and significantly improved survival in the aggressive KPC pancreatic cancer model. Fas-4-1BB IFP expression also enhanced primary human T cell function in vitro. Thus, Fas-4-1BB IFP expression is a novel strategy to improve multiple T cell functions and enhance ACT against solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon K Oda
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Kristin G Anderson
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Pranali Ravikumar
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Patrick Bonson
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Nicolas M Garcia
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Cody M Jenkins
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Summer Zhuang
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Andrew W Daman
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Edison Y Chiu
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Breanna M Bates
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Philip D Greenberg
- Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA.,Department of Medicine/Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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31
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Abstract
Genetically engineered T cell immunotherapies have provided remarkable clinical success to treat B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia by harnessing a patient's own T cells to kill cancer, and these approaches have the potential to provide therapeutic benefit for numerous other cancers, infectious diseases and autoimmunity. By introduction of either a transgenic T cell receptor or a chimeric antigen receptor, T cells can be programmed to target cancer cells. However, initial studies have made it clear that the field will need to implement more complex levels of genetic regulation of engineered T cells to ensure both safety and efficacy. Here, we review the principles by which our knowledge of genetics and genome engineering will drive the next generation of adoptive T cell therapies.
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32
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Ankri C, Cohen CJ. Out of the bitter came forth sweet: Activating CD28-dependent co-stimulation via PD-1 ligands. Oncoimmunology 2021; 3:e27399. [PMID: 24711957 PMCID: PMC3976982 DOI: 10.4161/onci.27399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1, best known as PD-1) is a central negative regulator of effector T cells that is involved in the etiology of chronic inflammatory conditions, viral diseases, and cancer. We have recently sought to improve T-cell functions by means of a novel chimeric co-stimulatory molecule that could divert the negative signals normally transmitted by PD-1 into positive ones. Human T cells transduced to express a fusion protein encompassing the extracellular domain of PD-1 and the intracellular portion of the co-stimulatory molecule CD28, which we named PD-1/28, exhibited an increase in cytokine secretion, the upregulation of activation markers, an improved proliferative potential and superior antineoplastic activity in xenograft models of human melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Ankri
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences; Bar-Ilan University; Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Cyrille J Cohen
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; The Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences; Bar-Ilan University; Ramat Gan, Israel
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33
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T-Cell Dysfunction as a Limitation of Adoptive Immunotherapy: Current Concepts and Mitigation Strategies. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040598. [PMID: 33546277 PMCID: PMC7913380 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary T cells are immune cells that can be used to target infections or cancers. Adoptive T-cell immunotherapy leverages these properties and/or confers new features to T cells through ex vivo manipulations prior to their use in patients. However, as a “living drug,” the function of these cells can be hampered by several built-in physiological constraints and external factors that limit their efficacy. Manipulating T cells ex vivo can impart dysfunctional features to T cells through repeated stimulations and expansion, but it also offers many opportunities to improve the therapeutic potential of these cells, including emerging interventions to prevent or reverse T-cell dysfunction developing ex vivo or after transfer in patients. This review outlines the various forms of T-cell dysfunction, emphasizes how it affects various types of T-cell immunotherapy approaches, and describes current and anticipated strategies to limit T-cell dysfunction. Abstract Over the last decades, cellular immunotherapy has revealed its curative potential. However, inherent physiological characteristics of immune cells can limit the potency of this approach. Best defined in T cells, dysfunction associated with terminal differentiation, exhaustion, senescence, and activation-induced cell death, undermine adoptive cell therapies. In this review, we concentrate on how the multiple mechanisms that articulate the various forms of immune dysfunction impact cellular therapies primarily involving conventional T cells, but also other lymphoid subtypes. The repercussions of immune cell dysfunction across the full life cycle of cell therapy, from the source material, during manufacturing, and after adoptive transfer, are discussed, with an emphasis on strategies used during ex vivo manipulations to limit T-cell dysfunction. Applicable to cellular products prepared from native and unmodified immune cells, as well as genetically engineered therapeutics, the understanding and potential modulation of dysfunctional features are key to the development of improved cellular immunotherapies.
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34
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Lin G, Zhang Y, Yu L, Wu D. Cytotoxic effect of CLL‑1 CAR‑T cell immunotherapy with PD‑1 silencing on relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Mol Med Rep 2021; 23:208. [PMID: 33495835 PMCID: PMC7830996 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.11847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The activation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells can lead to persistently high levels of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antigen and eventually causes the exhaustion of T cells. The effectiveness of CAR-T cells targeting C-type lectin-like molecule-1 (CLL-1) combined with PD-1 silencing therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was evaluated in the present study. CLL-1 levels in primary AML bone marrow samples was examined using flow cytometric analysis. We designed a CLL-1 CAR-T, containing CLL-1-specific single-chain variable fragment, CD28, OX40, CD8 hinge and TM and CD3-ζ signaling domains. CLL-1 CAR-T with PD-1 silencing was constructed. It was confirmed that CLL-1 is expressed on the surface of AML cells. CLL-1 CAR-T showed specific lysing activity against CLL-1+ AML cells. PD-1 silencing enhanced the killing ability of CLL-1 CAR-T. Furthermore, it was found that CAR-T derived from healthy donor T cells was more effective in killing THP-1 cells (a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line) than those from patient-derived T cells. These results indicated that CLL-1 CAR-T and PD-1 knockdown CLL-1 CAR-T could be used as a potential immunotherapy to treat relapsed or refractory AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Lin
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China
| | - Yanming Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Huai'an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an Second People's Hospital, Huai'an, Jiangsu 223002, P.R. China
| | - Lei Yu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200065, P.R. China
| | - Depei Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China
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35
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Freen-van Heeren JJ. Toll-like receptor-2/7-mediated T cell activation: An innate potential to augment CD8 + T cell cytokine production. Scand J Immunol 2021; 93:e13019. [PMID: 33377182 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
CD8+ T cells are critical to combat pathogens and eradicate malignantly transformed cells. To exert their effector function and kill target cells, T cells produce copious amounts of effector molecules, including the pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon γ, tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 2. TCR triggering alone is sufficient to induce cytokine secretion by effector and memory CD8+ T cells. However, T cells can also be directly activated by pathogen-derived molecules, such as through the triggering of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLR-mediated pathogen sensing by T cells results in the production of only interferon γ. However, in particular when the antigen load on target cells is low, or when TCR affinity to the antigen is limited, antigen-experienced T cells can benefit from costimulatory signals. TLR stimulation can also function in a costimulatory fashion to enhance TCR triggering. Combined TCR and TLR triggering enhances the proliferation, memory formation and effector function of T cells, resulting in enhanced production of interferon γ, tumour necrosis factor α and interleukin 2. Therefore, TLR ligands or the exploitation of TLR signalling could provide novel opportunities for immunotherapy approaches. In fact, CD19 CAR T cells bearing an intracellular TLR2 costimulatory domain were recently employed to treat cancer patients in a clinical trial. Here, the current knowledge regarding TLR2/7 stimulation-induced cytokine production by T cells is reviewed. Specifically, the transcriptional and post-transcriptional pathways engaged upon TLR2/7 sensing and TLR2/7 signalling are discussed. Finally, the potential uses of TLRs to enhance the anti-tumor effector function of T cells are explored.
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36
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Di Cintio F, Dal Bo M, Baboci L, De Mattia E, Polano M, Toffoli G. The Molecular and Microenvironmental Landscape of Glioblastomas: Implications for the Novel Treatment Choices. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:603647. [PMID: 33324155 PMCID: PMC7724040 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.603647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent and aggressive primary central nervous system tumor. Surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with alkylating agents constitutes standard first-line treatment of GBM. Complete resection of the GBM tumors is generally not possible given its high invasive features. Although this combination therapy can prolong survival, the prognosis is still poor due to several factors including chemoresistance. In recent years, a comprehensive characterization of the GBM-associated molecular signature has been performed. This has allowed the possibility to introduce a more personalized therapeutic approach for GBM, in which novel targeted therapies, including those employing tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), could be employed. The GBM tumor microenvironment (TME) exerts a key role in GBM tumor progression, in particular by providing an immunosuppressive state with low numbers of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and other immune effector cell types that contributes to tumor proliferation and growth. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been successfully introduced in numerous advanced cancers as well as promising results have been shown for the use of these antibodies in untreated brain metastases from melanoma and from non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Consequently, the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors has also been proposed in several clinical trials for the treatment of GBM. In the present review, we will outline the main GBM molecular and TME aspects providing also the grounds for novel targeted therapies and immunotherapies using ICIs for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Di Cintio
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Michele Dal Bo
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
| | - Lorena Baboci
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
| | - Elena De Mattia
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
| | - Maurizio Polano
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Toffoli
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
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37
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Rollins MR, Spartz EJ, Stromnes IM. T Cell Receptor Engineered Lymphocytes for Cancer Therapy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 129:e97. [PMID: 32432843 DOI: 10.1002/cpim.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
T lymphocytes are capable of specific recognition and elimination of target cells. Physiological antigen recognition is mediated by the T cell receptor (TCR), which is an alpha beta heterodimer comprising the products of randomly rearranged V, D, and J genes. The exquisite specificity and functionality of T cells can be leveraged for cancer therapy: specifically, the adoptive transfer of T cells that express tumor-reactive TCRs can induce regression of solid tumors in patients with advanced cancer. However, the isolation and expression of a tumor antigen-specific TCRs is a highly involved process that requires identifying an immunogenic epitope, ensuring human cells are of the correct haplotype, performing a laborious T cell expansion process, and carrying out downstream TCR sequencing and cloning. Recent advances in single-cell sequencing have begun to streamline this process. This protocol synthesizes and expands upon methodologies to generate, isolate, and engineer human T cells with tumor-reactive TCRs for adoptive cell therapy. Though this process is perhaps more arduous than the alternative strategy of using chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) for engineering, the ability to target intracellular proteins using TCRs substantially increases the types of antigens that can be safely targeted. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Generation of human autologous dendritic cells from monocytes Basic Protocol 2: In vitro priming and expansion of human antigen-specific T cells Basic Protocol 3: Cloning of antigen-specific T cell receptors based on single-cell VDJ sequencing data Basic Protocol 4: Validation of T cell receptor expression and functionality in vitro Basic Protocol 5: Rapid expansion of T cell receptor-transduced T cells and human T cell clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan R Rollins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Ellen J Spartz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Ingunn M Stromnes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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38
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Chen R, Jing J, Siwko S, Huang Y, Zhou Y. Intelligent cell-based therapies for cancer and autoimmune disorders. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 66:207-216. [PMID: 32956902 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology, when combined with immunoengineering (designated synthetic immunology), has enabled the invention of an arsenal of genetically encoded synthetic devices and systems to reprogram cells for therapeutic purposes. The engineered intelligent cells can serve as 'living' drugs to treat a wide range of human diseases including cancer, disorders of the immune system, and infectious diseases. As the most successful example, cells of the immune system engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have shown curative potentials for the treatment of hematological malignancies. We present herein emerging approaches of designing smart CARs to improve their safety, specificity and efficacy in cellular immunotherapy, and describe latest advances in applying CAR-engineered immune cells to target cancer and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ji Jing
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stefan Siwko
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yun Huang
- Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Translational Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Yubin Zhou
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Translational Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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39
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Gaissmaier L, Elshiaty M, Christopoulos P. Breaking Bottlenecks for the TCR Therapy of Cancer. Cells 2020; 9:E2095. [PMID: 32937956 PMCID: PMC7564186 DOI: 10.3390/cells9092095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have redefined the treatment of cancer, but their efficacy depends critically on the presence of sufficient tumor-specific lymphocytes, and cellular immunotherapies develop rapidly to fill this gap. The paucity of suitable extracellular and tumor-associated antigens in solid cancers necessitates the use of neoantigen-directed T-cell-receptor (TCR)-engineered cells, while prevention of tumor evasion requires combined targeting of multiple neoepitopes. These can be currently identified within 2 weeks by combining cutting-edge next-generation sequencing with bioinformatic pipelines and used to select tumor-reactive TCRs in a high-throughput manner for expeditious scalable non-viral gene editing of autologous or allogeneic lymphocytes. "Young" cells with a naive, memory stem or central memory phenotype can be additionally armored with "next-generation" features against exhaustion and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, where they wander after reinfusion to attack heavily pretreated and hitherto hopeless neoplasms. Facilitated by major technological breakthroughs in critical manufacturing steps, based on a solid preclinical rationale, and backed by rapidly accumulating evidence, TCR therapies break one bottleneck after the other and hold the promise to become the next immuno-oncological revolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Gaissmaier
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany; (L.G.); (M.E.)
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mariam Elshiaty
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany; (L.G.); (M.E.)
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Petros Christopoulos
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany; (L.G.); (M.E.)
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC-H), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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40
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Sillito F, Holler A, Stauss HJ. Engineering CD4+ T Cells to Enhance Cancer Immunity. Cells 2020; 9:cells9071721. [PMID: 32708397 PMCID: PMC7407306 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This review presents key advances in combining T cell receptor (TCR) gene transfer to redirect T-cell specificity with gene engineering in order to enhance cancer-protective immune function. We discuss how emerging insights might be applied to CD4+ T cells. Although much attention has been paid to the role of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in tumour protection, we provide convincing evidence that CD4+ helper T cells play a critical role in cancer immune responses in animal models and also in patients. We demonstrate that genetic engineering technologies provide exciting opportunities to extend the specificity range of CD4+ T cells from MHC class-II-presented epitopes to include peptides presented by MHC class I molecules. Functional enhancement of tumour immunity can improve the sensitivity of T cells to cancer antigens, promote survival in a hostile tumour microenvironment, boost cancer-protective effector mechanisms and enable the formation of T-cell memory. Engineered cancer-specific CD4+ T cells may contribute to protective immunity by a direct pathway involving cancer cell killing, and by an indirect pathway that boosts the function, persistence and memory formation of CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Sillito
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2PF, UK
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (H.J.S.)
| | - Angelika Holler
- Cancer Institute, Royal Free Hospital, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK;
| | - Hans J. Stauss
- Cancer Institute, Royal Free Hospital, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK;
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (H.J.S.)
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41
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Dal Bo M, De Mattia E, Baboci L, Mezzalira S, Cecchin E, Assaraf YG, Toffoli G. New insights into the pharmacological, immunological, and CAR-T-cell approaches in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Drug Resist Updat 2020; 51:100702. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2020.100702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Rath JA, Arber C. Engineering Strategies to Enhance TCR-Based Adoptive T Cell Therapy. Cells 2020; 9:E1485. [PMID: 32570906 PMCID: PMC7349724 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptor (TCR)-based adoptive T cell therapies (ACT) hold great promise for the treatment of cancer, as TCRs can cover a broad range of target antigens. Here we summarize basic, translational and clinical results that provide insight into the challenges and opportunities of TCR-based ACT. We review the characteristics of target antigens and conventional αβ-TCRs, and provide a summary of published clinical trials with TCR-transgenic T cell therapies. We discuss how synthetic biology and innovative engineering strategies are poised to provide solutions for overcoming current limitations, that include functional avidity, MHC restriction, and most importantly, the tumor microenvironment. We also highlight the impact of precision genome editing on the next iteration of TCR-transgenic T cell therapies, and the discovery of novel immune engineering targets. We are convinced that some of these innovations will enable the field to move TCR gene therapy to the next level.
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MESH Headings
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Engineering
- Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/adverse effects
- Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/methods
- Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/trends
- Gene Editing
- Genetic Therapy
- Humans
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/adverse effects
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/trends
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Neoplasms/genetics
- Neoplasms/immunology
- Neoplasms/therapy
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/immunology
- Safety
- Synthetic Biology
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/transplantation
- Translational Research, Biomedical
- Tumor Microenvironment/genetics
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline Arber
- Department of oncology UNIL CHUV, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
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Parriott G, Deal K, Crean S, Richardson E, Nylen E, Barber A. T-cells expressing a chimeric-PD1-Dap10-CD3zeta receptor reduce tumour burden in multiple murine syngeneic models of solid cancer. Immunology 2020; 160:280-294. [PMID: 32144940 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of T-cells is a promising therapy for many cancers. To enhance tumour recognition by T-cells, chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) consisting of signalling domains fused to receptors that recognize tumour-associated antigens can be expressed in T-cells. While CAR T-cells have shown clinical success for treating haematopoietic malignancies, using CAR T-cells to treat solid tumours remains a challenge. We developed a chimeric PD1 (chPD1) receptor that recognizes the ligands for the PD1 receptor that are expressed on many types of solid cancer. To determine if this novel CAR could target a wide variety of tumour types, the anti-tumour efficacy of chPD1 T-cells against syngeneic murine models of melanoma, renal, pancreatic, liver, colon, breast, prostate and bladder cancer was measured. Of the 14 cell lines tested, all expressed PD1 ligands on their cell surface, making them potential targets for chPD1 T-cells. ChPD1 T-cells lysed the tumour cells and secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines [interferon (IFN)γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL)-2, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-17 and IL-21], but did not secrete the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Furthermore, T-cells expressing chPD1 receptors reduced an established tumour burden and led to long-term tumour-free survival in all types of solid tumours tested. ChPD1 T-cells did not survive longer than 14 days in vivo; however, treatment with chPD1 T-cells induced protective host anti-tumour memory responses in tumour-bearing mice. Therefore, adoptive transfer of chPD1 T-cells could be a novel therapeutic strategy to treat multiple types of solid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Parriott
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Longwood University, Farmville, VA, USA
| | - Kelsey Deal
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Longwood University, Farmville, VA, USA
| | - Shane Crean
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Longwood University, Farmville, VA, USA
| | - Elle Richardson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Longwood University, Farmville, VA, USA
| | - Emily Nylen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Longwood University, Farmville, VA, USA
| | - Amorette Barber
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Longwood University, Farmville, VA, USA
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Abstract
Advances in academic and clinical studies during the last several years have resulted in practical outcomes in adoptive immune therapy of cancer. Immune cells can be programmed with molecular modules that increase their therapeutic potency and specificity. It has become obvious that successful immunotherapy must take into account the full complexity of the immune system and, when possible, include the use of multifactor cell reprogramming that allows fast adjustment during the treatment. Today, practically all immune cells can be stably or transiently reprogrammed against cancer. Here, we review works related to T cell reprogramming, as the most developed field in immunotherapy. We discuss factors that determine the specific roles of αβ and γδ T cells in the immune system and the structure and function of T cell receptors in relation to other structures involved in T cell target recognition and immune response. We also discuss the aspects of T cell engineering, specifically the construction of synthetic T cell receptors (synTCRs) and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and the use of engineered T cells in integrative multifactor therapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel G Katz
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Engineering strategies to overcome the current roadblocks in CAR T cell therapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2019; 17:147-167. [PMID: 31848460 PMCID: PMC7223338 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-019-0297-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 689] [Impact Index Per Article: 137.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
T cells genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have proven — and impressive — therapeutic activity in patients with certain subtypes of B cell leukaemia or lymphoma, with promising efficacy also demonstrated in patients with multiple myeloma. Nevertheless, various barriers restrict the efficacy and/or prevent the widespread use of CAR T cell therapies in these patients as well as in those with other cancers, particularly solid tumours. Key challenges relating to CAR T cells include severe toxicities, restricted trafficking to, infiltration into and activation within tumours, suboptimal persistence in vivo, antigen escape and heterogeneity, and manufacturing issues. The evolution of CAR designs beyond the conventional structures will be necessary to address these limitations and to expand the use of CAR T cells to a wider range of malignancies. Investigators are addressing the current obstacles with a wide range of engineering strategies in order to improve the safety, efficacy and applicability of this therapeutic modality. In this Review, we discuss the innovative designs of novel CAR T cell products that are being developed to increase and expand the clinical benefits of these treatments in patients with diverse cancers. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, the first approved therapeutic approach with a genetic engineering component, holds substantial promise in the treatment of a range of cancers but is nevertheless limited by various challenges, including toxicities, intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms, and manufacturing issues. In this Review, the authors describe the innovative approaches to the engineering of CAR T cell products that are providing solutions to these challenges and therefore have the potential to considerably improve the safety and effectiveness of treatment. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have induced remarkable responses in patients with certain haematological malignancies, yet various barriers restrict the efficacy and/or prevent the widespread use of this treatment. Investigators are addressing these challenges with engineering strategies designed to improve the safety, efficacy and applicability of CAR T cell therapy. CARs have modular components, and therefore the optimal molecular design of the CAR can be achieved through many variations of the constituent protein domains. Toxicities currently associated with CAR T cell therapy can be mitigated using engineering strategies to make CAR T cells safer and that potentially broaden the range of tumour-associated antigens that can be targeted by overcoming on-target, off-tumour toxicities. CAR T cell efficacy can be enhanced by using engineering strategies to address the various challenges relating to the unique biology of diverse haematological and solid malignancies. Strategies to address the manufacturing challenges can lead to an improved CAR T cell product for all patients.
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46
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Hoogi S, Eisenberg V, Mayer S, Shamul A, Barliya T, Cohen CJ. A TIGIT-based chimeric co-stimulatory switch receptor improves T-cell anti-tumor function. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:243. [PMID: 31500665 PMCID: PMC6734436 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0721-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tumors can employ different mechanisms to evade immune surveillance and function. Overexpression of co-inhibitory ligands that bind to checkpoint molecules on the surface of T-cells can greatly impair the function of latter. TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains) is such a co-inhibitory receptor expressed by T and NK cells which, upon binding to its ligand (e.g., CD155), can diminish cytokine production and effector function. Additionally, the absence of positive co-stimulation at the tumor site can further dampen T-cell response. Methods As T-cell genetic engineering has become clinically-relevant in the recent years, we devised herein a strategy aimed at enhancing T-cell anti-tumor function by diverting T-cell coinhibitory signals into positive ones using a chimeric costimulatory switch receptor (CSR) composed of the TIGIT exodomain fused to the signaling domain of CD28. Results After selecting an optimized TIGIT-28 CSR, we co-transduced it along with tumor-specific TCR or CAR into human T-cells. TIGIT-28-equipped T-cells exhibited enhanced cytokine secretion and upregulation of activation markers upon co-culture with tumor cells. TIGIT-28 enhancing capability was also demonstrated in an original in vitro model of T-cell of hypofunction induction upon repetitive antigen exposure. Finally, we tested the function of this molecule in the context of a xenograft model of established human melanoma tumors and showed that TIGIT-28-engineered human T-cells demonstrated superior anti-tumor function. Conclusion Overall, we propose that TIGIT-based CSR can substantially enhance T-cell function and thus contribute to the improvement of engineered T cell-based immunotherapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40425-019-0721-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiran Hoogi
- The Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900-02, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Vasyl Eisenberg
- The Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900-02, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Shimrit Mayer
- The Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900-02, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Astar Shamul
- The Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900-02, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Tilda Barliya
- The Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900-02, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Cyrille J Cohen
- The Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900-02, Ramat Gan, Israel.
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Tan Q, Zhang C, Yang W, Liu Y, Heyilimu P, Feng D, Xing L, Ke Y, Lu Z. Isolation of T cell receptor specifically reactive with autologous tumour cells from tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and construction of T cell receptor engineered T cells for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:232. [PMID: 31462302 PMCID: PMC6714102 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0709-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background T cell receptor-engineered T cells (TCR-Ts) therapy is a promising cancer treatment strategy. Nowadays, most studies focused on identification of high-avidity T cell receptors (TCRs) directed against neoantigens derived from somatic mutations. However, few neoantigens per patient could induce immune response in epithelial cancer and additionally many tumor-specific antigens could be derived from noncoding region. Autologous tumor cells (ATCs) could be unbiased stimulators in activating and enriching tumor-reactive T cells. However, it’s unknown if T cells engineered to express TCRs isolated from tumor-reactive T cells enriched by ATCs have strong antitumor response. Methods In this study, multiple TIL fragments obtained from a patient with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) were screened for specific recognition of ATCs. Tumor-reactive TILs were enriched by in vitro repeated stimulation of ATCs and isolated based on CD137 upregulation. Subsequently, tumor-reactive TCR was obtained by single-cell RT-PCR analysis and was introduced into peripheral blood lymphocytes to generate TCR-Ts. Results We found that phenotype and effect function of TIL fragments derived from different tumor sites were spatially heterogeneous. Of four TIL fragments, only TIL-F1 could specifically identify ATCs. Subsequently, we isolated CD8+ CD137+ T cells from pre- and post-stimulated TIL-F1 co-cultured with ATCs, and identified their most dominant TCR. This TCR was introduced into PBLs to generate TCR-Ts, which specifically identified and killed ATCs in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion This strategy provides the means to generate tumor-reactive TCR-Ts for ESCC, which is especially important for patients without prior knowledge of specific epitopes and might be applied for other cancers. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40425-019-0709-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Tan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Chaoting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China.
| | - Wenjun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance (Ministry of Education), Cancer Institute of the General Hospital, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750004, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Palashati Heyilimu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Dongdong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Liying Xing
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yang Ke
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China.
| | - Zheming Lu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China.
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48
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Abstract
Engineered immune-cell-based cancer therapies have demonstrated robust efficacy in B cell malignancies, but challenges such as the lack of ideal targetable tumour antigens, tumour-mediated immunosuppression and severe toxicity still hinder their therapeutic efficacy and broad applicability. Synthetic biology can be used to overcome these challenges and create more robust, effective adaptive therapies that enable the specific targeting of cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. In this Progress article, we review recently developed gene circuit therapies for cancer using immune cells, nucleic acids and bacteria as chassis. We conclude by discussing outstanding challenges and future directions for realizing these gene circuit therapies in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Ru Wu
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Barbara Jusiak
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Biophysics Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Eisenberg V, Hoogi S, Shamul A, Barliya T, Cohen CJ. T-cells "à la CAR-T(e)" - Genetically engineering T-cell response against cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 141:23-40. [PMID: 30653988 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The last decade will be remembered as the dawn of the immunotherapy era during which we have witnessed the approval by regulatory agencies of genetically engineered CAR T-cells and of checkpoint inhibitors for cancer treatment. Understandably, T-lymphocytes represent the essential player in these approaches. These cells can mediate impressive tumor regression in terminally-ill cancer patients. Moreover, they are amenable to genetic engineering to improve their function and specificity. In the present review, we will give an overview of the most recent developments in the field of T-cell genetic engineering including TCR-gene transfer and CAR T-cells strategies. We will also elaborate on the development of other types of genetic modifications to enhance their anti-tumor immune response such as the use of co-stimulatory chimeric receptors (CCRs) and unconventional CARs built on non-antibody molecules. Finally, we will discuss recent advances in genome editing and synthetic biology applied to T-cell engineering and comment on the next challenges ahead.
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50
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Teaching an old dog new tricks: next-generation CAR T cells. Br J Cancer 2018; 120:26-37. [PMID: 30413825 PMCID: PMC6325111 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0325-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) refers to the therapeutic use of T cells. T cells genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) constitute the most clinically advanced form of ACT approved to date for the treatment of CD19-positive leukaemias and lymphomas. CARs are synthetic receptors that are able to confer antigen-binding and activating functions on T cells with the aim of therapeutically targeting cancer cells. Several factors are essential for CAR T cell therapy to be effective, such as recruitment, activation, expansion and persistence of bioengineered T cells at the tumour site. Despite the advances made in CAR T cell therapy, however, most tumour entities still escape immune detection and elimination. A number of strategies counteracting these problems will need to be addressed in order to render T cell therapy effective in more situations than currently possible. Non-haematological tumours are also the subject of active investigation, but ACT has so far shown only marginal success rates in these cases. New approaches are needed to enhance the ability of ACT to target solid tumours without increasing toxicity, by improving recognition, infiltration, and persistence within tumours, as well as an enhanced resistance to the suppressive tumour microenvironment.
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