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Fischer-Riepe L, Kailayangiri S, Zimmermann K, Pfeifer R, Aigner M, Altvater B, Kretschmann S, Völkl S, Hartley J, Dreger C, Petry K, Bosio A, von Döllen A, Hartmann W, Lode H, Görlich D, Mackensen A, Jungblut M, Schambach A, Abken H, Rossig C. Preclinical Development of CAR T Cells with Antigen-Inducible IL18 Enforcement to Treat GD2-Positive Solid Cancers. Clin Cancer Res 2024:OF1-OF14. [PMID: 38593230 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-3157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cytokine-engineering of chimeric antigen receptor-redirected T cells (CAR T cells) is a promising principle to overcome the limited activity of canonical CAR T cells against solid cancers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We developed an investigational medicinal product, GD2IL18CART, consisting of CAR T cells directed against ganglioside GD2 with CAR-inducible IL18 to enhance their activation response and cytolytic effector functions in the tumor microenvironment. To allow stratification of patients according to tumor GD2 expression, we established and validated immunofluorescence detection of GD2 on paraffin-embedded tumor tissues. RESULTS Lentiviral all-in-one vector engineering of human T cells with the GD2-specific CAR with and without inducible IL18 resulted in cell products with comparable proportions of CAR-expressing central memory T cells. Production of IL18 strictly depends on GD2 antigen engagement. GD2IL18CART respond to interaction with GD2-positive tumor cells with higher IFNγ and TNFα cytokine release and more effective target cytolysis compared with CAR T cells without inducible IL18. GD2IL18CART further have superior in vivo antitumor activity, with eradication of GD2-positive tumor xenografts. Finally, we established GMP-compliant manufacturing of GD2IL18CART and found it to be feasible and efficient at clinical scale. CONCLUSIONS These results pave the way for clinical investigation of GD2IL18CART in pediatric and adult patients with neuroblastoma and other GD2-positive cancers (EU CT 2022-501725-21-00).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Fischer-Riepe
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Katharina Zimmermann
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rita Pfeifer
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Michael Aigner
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 - Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sascha Kretschmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 - Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simon Völkl
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 - Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jordan Hartley
- Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT) and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Celine Dreger
- Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT) and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Katja Petry
- Miltenyi Biomedicine GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Andreas Bosio
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Angelika von Döllen
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Holger Lode
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Department, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dennis Görlich
- Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster
| | - Andreas Mackensen
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 - Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT) and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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2
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Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Spurny C, Flügge M, Meltzer J, Greune L, Urban K, Schwöppe C, Brand C, Schliemann C, Hintelmann H, Harrach S, Hartmann W, Abken H, Kuehle J, Schambach A, Görlich D, Berdel WE, Rossig C. CAR T cells as micropharmacies against solid cancers: Combining effector T-cell mediated cell death with vascular targeting in a one-step engineering process. Cancer Gene Ther 2023; 30:1355-1368. [PMID: 37391502 PMCID: PMC10581901 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00642-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
To enhance the potency of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered T cells in solid cancers, we designed a novel cell-based combination strategy with an additional therapeutic mode of action. CAR T cells are used as micropharmacies to produce a targeted pro-coagulatory fusion protein, truncated tissue factor (tTF)-NGR, which exerts pro-coagulatory activity and hypoxia upon relocalization to the vascular endothelial cells that invade tumor tissues. Delivery by CAR T cells aimed to induce locoregional tumor vascular infarction for combined immune-mediated and hypoxic tumor cell death. Human T cells that were one-vector gene-modified to express a GD2-specific CAR along with CAR-inducible tTF-NGR exerted potent GD2-specific effector functions while secreting tTF-NGR that activates the extrinsic coagulation pathway in a strictly GD2-dependent manner. In murine models, the CAR T cells infiltrated GD2-positive tumor xenografts, secreted tTF-NGR into the tumor microenvironment and showed a trend towards superior therapeutic activity compared with control cells producing functionally inactive tTF-NGR. In vitro evidence supports a mechanism of hypoxia-mediated enhancement of T cell cytolytic activity. We conclude that combined CAR T cell targeting with an additional mechanism of antitumor action in a one-vector engineering strategy is a promising approach to be further developed for targeted treatment of solid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Christian Spurny
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Maike Flügge
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Lea Greune
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Katja Urban
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Caroline Brand
- Department of Medicine A, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Heike Hintelmann
- Department of Medicine A, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Saliha Harrach
- Department of Medicine A, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT), and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Kuehle
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dennis Görlich
- Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang E Berdel
- Department of Medicine A, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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3
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Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Spurny C, Flügge M, Meltzer J, Greune L, Schwöppe C, Brand C, Schliemann C, Hartmann W, Abken H, Schambach A, Farwick N, Berdel WE, Rossig C. Abstract 3182: CAR T cells as micropharmacies to induce locoregional tumor vascular infarction by antigen-specific delivery of tissue factor to the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-3182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
CAR T cell therapy of solid tumors is challenged by the heterogeneity of target expression and by mechanical and immune-modulatory barriers in the tumor microenvironment (TME). To combine CAR-retargeted T cell effector functions with a second therapeutic mode of action, we designed an innovative cell-based combination strategy. CAR-engineered antitumor effector T cells are used as micropharmacies to produce and deliver a pro-coagulatory fusion protein, tTF-NGR, in the TME to induce locoregional tumor vascular infarction for combined T-cell mediated and hypoxic tumor cell death. tTF-NGR is a CD13-targeted tissue factor variant with coagulation activity upon relocalization into the phospholipid membranes of the CD13-expressing vascular endothelial cells that invade tumor tissues. Consequent thrombosis in tumor blood vessels induces tumor infarction, growth retardation and regression in preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies and selective reduction of tumor blood flow in a clinical phase I study. Human T cells were co-transduced by retroviral one-vector gene transfer to express genes encoding for a GD2-specific CAR and for tTF-NGR, the latter in an antigen-dependent CAR-mediated manner. The engineered T cells exerted potent GD2 antigen-specific effector functions, including secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α, upregulation of CD107 and tumor cell lysis, comparable to control CAR T cells producing mutant tTF-NGR lacking pro-coagulatory function. They secreted recombinant tTF-NGR in a strictly antigen-dependent manner upon coincubation with the anti-idiotype antibody ganglidiomab, which selectively engages the extracellular scFv of the CAR, or with GD2-positive tumor cells, shown by ELISA. tTF-NGR produced by human T cells effectively activates the extrinsic coagulation cascade, thus it retains its pro-coagulatory activity. In a murine Ewing sarcoma xenograft model which expresses the CAR target GD2on tumor cells along with CD13 on tumor vascular endothelial cells, GD2-specific CAR T cells with inducible tTF-NGR had noticeably superior therapeutic activity compared with control cells excreting mutant tTF-NGR. Mechanistic evidence hints at hypoxia-induced higher CAR T cell cytolytic activity. We conclude that combined CAR-mediated T cell targeting of cancer cells with CD13-targeted vascular infarction of the TME in a one-vector engineering strategy is a promising approach to overcome limitations of both strategies for effective targeting and eradication of solid cancers.
Citation Format: Bianca Altvater, Sareetha Kailayangiri, Christian Spurny, Maike Flügge, Jutta Meltzer, Lea Greune, Christian Schwöppe, Caroline Brand, Christoph Schliemann, Wolfgang Hartmann, Hinrich Abken, Axel Schambach, Nicole Farwick, Wolfgang E. Berdel, Claudia Rossig. CAR T cells as micropharmacies to induce locoregional tumor vascular infarction by antigen-specific delivery of tissue factor to the tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 3182.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maike Flügge
- 2Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- 1University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Lea Greune
- 1University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- 4Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- 5Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT) and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- 6Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicole Farwick
- 1University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Claudia Rossig
- 1University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
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4
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Fuest S, Post C, Balbach ST, Jabar S, Neumann I, Schimmelpfennig S, Sargin S, Nass E, Budde T, Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Ranft A, Hartmann W, Dirksen U, Rössig C, Schwab A, Pethő Z. Relevance of Abnormal KCNN1 Expression and Osmotic Hypersensitivity in Ewing Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194819. [PMID: 36230742 PMCID: PMC9564116 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The main oncogene in Ewing sarcoma directly drives a high expression of a previously unknown variant KCNN1 (encoding the KCa2.1 channel) that we also verified in samples from >200 patients. Yet, we found that the channel is not functional and does not modulate Ewing sarcoma cell behavior. We could explain this lack of functional impact by the surprising absence of any KCa2.1-carried K+ current in Ewing sarcoma cells. However, we show in a proof-of-principle study that the essential lack of a K+ conductance can be exploited by applying hypoosmotic stress and effectively and selectively killing the Ewing sarcoma cells. Abstract Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a rare and highly malignant bone tumor occurring mainly in childhood and adolescence. Physiologically, the bone is a central hub for Ca2+ homeostasis, which is severely disturbed by osteolytic processes in EwS. Therefore, we aimed to investigate how ion transport proteins involved in Ca2+ homeostasis affect EwS pathophysiology. We characterized the expression of 22 candidate genes of Ca2+-permeable or Ca2+-regulated ion channels in three EwS cell lines and found the Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa2.1 (KCNN1) to be exceptionally highly expressed. We revealed that KCNN1 expression is directly regulated by the disease-driving oncoprotein EWSR1-FL1. Due to its consistent overexpression in EwS, KCNN1 mRNA could be a prognostic marker in EwS. In a large cohort of EwS patients, however, KCNN1 mRNA quantity does not correlate with clinical parameters. Several functional studies including patch clamp electrophysiology revealed no evidence for KCa2.1 function in EwS cells. Thus, elevated KCNN1 expression is not translated to KCa2.1 channel activity in EwS cells. However, we found that the low K+ conductance of EwS cells renders them susceptible to hypoosmotic solutions. The absence of a relevant K+ conductance in EwS thereby provides an opportunity for hypoosmotic therapy that can be exploited during tumor surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Fuest
- Institute of Physiology II, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Christoph Post
- Institute of Physiology II, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sebastian T. Balbach
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Susanne Jabar
- Pediatrics III, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Ilka Neumann
- Institute of Physiology II, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | | | - Sarah Sargin
- Institute of Physiology II, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Elke Nass
- Institute of Physiology I, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Budde
- Institute of Physiology I, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Andreas Ranft
- Pediatrics III, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Uta Dirksen
- Pediatrics III, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Claudia Rössig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Albrecht Schwab
- Institute of Physiology II, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Zoltán Pethő
- Institute of Physiology II, University Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Correspondence:
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5
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Cyra M, Schulte M, Berthold R, Heinst L, Jansen EP, Grünewald I, Elges S, Larsson O, Schliemann C, Steinestel K, Hafner S, Simmet T, Wardelmann E, Kailayangiri S, Rossig C, Isfort I, Trautmann M, Hartmann W. SS18-SSX drives CREB activation in synovial sarcoma. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:399-413. [PMID: 35556229 PMCID: PMC9187574 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00673-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Synovial sarcoma (SySa) is a rare soft tissue tumor characterized by a reciprocal t(X;18) translocation. The chimeric SS18-SSX fusion protein represents the major driver of the disease, acting as aberrant transcriptional dysregulator. Oncogenic mechanisms whereby SS18-SSX mediates sarcomagenesis are incompletely understood, and strategies to selectively target SySa cells remain elusive. Based on results of Phospho-Kinase screening arrays, we here investigate the functional and therapeutic relevance of the transcription factor CREB in SySa tumorigenesis. Methods Immunohistochemistry of phosphorylated CREB and its downstream targets (Rb, Cyclin D1, PCNA, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2) was performed in a large cohort of SySa. Functional aspects of CREB activity, including SS18-SSX driven circuits involved in CREB activation, were analyzed in vitro employing five SySa cell lines and a mesenchymal stem cell model. CREB mediated transcriptional activity was modulated by RNAi-mediated knockdown and small molecule inhibitors (666-15, KG-501, NASTRp and Ro 31-8220). Anti-proliferative effects of the CREB inhibitor 666-15 were tested in SySa avian chorioallantoic membrane and murine xenograft models in vivo. Results We show that CREB is phosphorylated and activated in SySa, accompanied by downstream target expression. Human mesenchymal stem cells engineered to express SS18-SSX promote CREB expression and phosphorylation. Conversely, RNAi-mediated knockdown of SS18-SSX impairs CREB phosphorylation in SySa cells. Inhibition of CREB activity reduces downstream target expression, accompanied by suppression of SySa cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis invitro and in vivo. Conclusion In conclusion, our data underline an essential role of CREB in SySa tumorigenesis and provides evidence for molecular targeted therapies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13402-022-00673-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalene Cyra
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.,Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Miriam Schulte
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.,Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Ruth Berthold
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.,Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Lorena Heinst
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.,Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Esther-Pia Jansen
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.,Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Inga Grünewald
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.,Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Sandra Elges
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Olle Larsson
- Departments of Oncology and Pathology, The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christoph Schliemann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Konrad Steinestel
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Susanne Hafner
- Institute of Pharmacology of Natural Products and Clinical Pharmacology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Simmet
- Institute of Pharmacology of Natural Products and Clinical Pharmacology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Eva Wardelmann
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ilka Isfort
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.,Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Marcel Trautmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany. .,Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany. .,Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.
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6
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Holterhus M, Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Rossig C. The Cellular Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Childhood Solid Cancers: Informing More Effective Immunotherapies. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092177. [PMID: 35565307 PMCID: PMC9105669 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Common pediatric solid cancers fail to respond to standard immuno-oncology agents relying on preexisting adaptive antitumor immune responses. The adoptive transfer of tumor-antigen specific T cells, such as CAR-gene modified T cells, is an attractive strategy, but its efficacy has been limited. Evidence is accumulating that local barriers in the tumor microenvironment prevent the infiltration of T cells and impede therapeutic immune responses. A thorough understanding of the components of the functional compartment of the tumor microenvironment and their interaction could inform effective combination therapies and novel engineered therapeutics, driving immunotherapy towards its full potential in pediatric patients. This review summarizes current knowledge on the cellular composition and significance of the tumor microenvironment in common extracranial solid cancers of childhood and adolescence, such as embryonal tumors and bone and soft tissue sarcomas, with a focus on myeloid cell populations that are often present in abundance in these tumors. Strategies to (co)target immunosuppressive myeloid cell populations with pharmacological anticancer agents and with selective antagonists are presented, as well as novel concepts aiming to employ myeloid cells to cooperate with antitumor T cell responses.
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7
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Wiebel M, Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Meltzer J, Grobe K, Kupich S, Rossig C. Surface expression of the immunotherapeutic target G D2 in osteosarcoma depends on cell confluency. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2021; 4:e1394. [PMID: 33811471 PMCID: PMC8551999 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy of pediatric sarcomas is challenged by the paucity of targetable cell surface antigens. A candidate target in osteosarcoma (OS) is the ganglioside GD2 , but heterogeneous expression of GD2 limits its value. AIM We aimed to identify mechanisms that upregulate GD2 target expression in OS. METHODS AND RESULTS GD2 surface expression in OS cells, studied by flow cytometry, was found to vary both among and within individual OS cell lines. Pharmacological approaches, including inhibition of the histone methyltransferase Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) and modulation of the protein kinase C, failed to increase GD2 expression. Instead, cell confluency was found to be associated with higher GD2 expression levels both in monolayer cultures and in tumor spheroids. The sensitivity of OS cells to targeting by GD2 -specific CAR T cells was compared in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay. Higher cell confluencies enhanced the sensitivity of OS cells to GD2 -antigen specific, CAR T-cell-mediated in vitro cytolysis. Mechanistic studies revealed that confluency-dependent upregulation of GD2 expression in OS cells is mediated by increased de novo biosynthesis, through a yet unknown mechanism. CONCLUSION Expression of GD2 in OS cell lines is highly variable and associated with increasing cell confluency in vitro. Strategies for selective upregulation of GD2 are needed to enable effective therapeutic targeting of this antigen in OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malena Wiebel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and OncologyUniversity Children's Hospital MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and OncologyUniversity Children's Hospital MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and OncologyUniversity Children's Hospital MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and OncologyUniversity Children's Hospital MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Kay Grobe
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and PathobiochemistryUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Sabine Kupich
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and PathobiochemistryUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and OncologyUniversity Children's Hospital MuensterMuensterGermany
- Cells‐in‐Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 ‐ CiM)University of MuensterMuensterGermany
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8
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Bahri M, Kailayangiri S, Vermeulen S, Galopin N, Rossig C, Paris F, Fougeray S, Birklé S. SIRPα-specific monoclonal antibody enables antibody-dependent phagocytosis of neuroblastoma cells. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 71:71-83. [PMID: 34023958 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-02968-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy with anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) provides some benefits for patients with neuroblastoma (NB). However, the therapeutic efficacy remains limited, and treatment is associated with significant neuropathic pain. Targeting O-acetylated GD2 (OAcGD2) by 8B6 mAb has been proposed to avoid pain by more selective tumor cell targeting. Thorough understanding of its mode of action is necessary to optimize this treatment strategy. Here, we found that 8B6-mediated antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) performed by macrophages is a key effector mechanism. But efficacy is limited by upregulation of CD47 expression on neuroblastoma cells in response to OAcGD2 mAb targeting, inhibiting 8B6-mediated ADCP. Antibody specific for the CD47 receptor SIRPα on macrophages restored 8B6-induced ADCP of CD47-expressing NB cells and improved the antitumor activity of 8B6 mAb therapy. These results identify ADCP as a critical mechanism for tumor cytolysis by anti-disialoganglioside mAb and support a combination with SIRPα blocking agents for effective neuroblastoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Bahri
- CRCINA, Université de Nantes, 44000, Nantes, France
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, 48149, Muenster, Germany
| | | | | | - Claudia Rossig
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, 48149, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Sophie Fougeray
- CRCINA, Université de Nantes, 44000, Nantes, France
- UFR Des Sciences Pharmaceutiques Et Biologiques, Université de Nantes, 44035-01, Nantes, France
| | - Stéphane Birklé
- CRCINA, Université de Nantes, 44000, Nantes, France.
- UFR Des Sciences Pharmaceutiques Et Biologiques, Université de Nantes, 44035-01, Nantes, France.
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9
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Englisch A, Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Hartmann W, Rossig C. VEGFR2 as a target for CAR T cell therapy of Ewing sarcoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020; 67:e28313. [PMID: 32729251 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are a novel modality to treat refractory cancers. The development of CAR T cells against Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is limited by a lack of targetable surface antigens. We investigated vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) expressed on tumor-associated blood vessels as potential CAR target in this cancer. METHODS Expression of VEGFR2 was studied by immunohistochemistry in human EwS biopsies and in murine xenografts and by flow cytometry in EwS cell lines. CARs with short, medium, and long hinge domains against either human or murine VEGFR2 were generated and expressed in human T cells by retroviral gene transfer. The capacity of the individual CARs to activate T cells in response to VEGFR2-expressing cells was compared in vitro. RESULTS Tumor-associated endothelial cells in human EwS biopsies and in xenografts expressed VEGFR2. Tumor cells in the majority of EwS biopsies were also VEGFR2-positive. Following modification with anti-mouse or anti-human VEGFR2-specific CAR genes, T cells specifically lysed VEGFR2-expressing target cells of the respective species. CAR T cells with short-length or medium-length hinge domains were functionally superior over those with the long hinge region by in vitro parameters, including antigen-specific degranulation responses, lysis of tumor spheroids, tumor necrosis factor α secretion, sequential killing, and proliferation. CONCLUSIONS VEGFR2 is consistently expressed on endothelial cells of the tumor stroma in EwS and thus is a candidate target for CAR T cells in this cancer. Among various VEGFR2-specific CARs, a construct with a short hinge domain was chosen to be further developed toward clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Englisch
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk Institute for Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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10
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Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Urban K, Meltzer J, Greune L, Farwick N, Jamitzky S, Rossig C. Abstract 4999: Evaluation of anti-Gr1 antibody for depletion of MDSC in preclinical NSG mouse models of pediatric sarcoma. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2020-4999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Preclinical in vivo studies of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells often rely on NOD-scid gamma (NSG) mouse models which lack T cells, B cells and NK cells and thereby allow for reliable engraftment of human tumor xenografts. But murine myeloid cells present in the NSG mouse strain can affect the tumor microenvironment as well as the function of adoptively transferred human immune effector cells. Long et al. (Cancer Immunol Res. 2016 Oct;4(10):869-880) reported that pediatric sarcoma xenografts in NSG mice induce in vivo expansion of murine CD11b+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), and that this cell population suppresses human CAR T cell proliferation in vitro. We investigated a strategy to avoid inhibitory effects of murine MDSCs on Ewing sarcoma xenografts in NSG mice by in vivo pretreatment with murine antibody against two cell surface antigens, Ly6C/Ly-6G (granulocyte-differentiation antigen-1, Gr-1), expressed on murine MDSC. Analysis of the CD11b+ myeloid cell populations in NSG mice 17-37 days after subcutaneous transplantation of the Ewing sarcoma cell line TC-71 showed a noticeable increase of CD11b+ cells in the peripheral blood compared to non-tumor bearing NSG mice (median 3.4 × 103, range 0.7-15.5 × 103 cells/ml, n=8 vs median 2.1 × 103, range 1.2-4.0 × 103 cells/ml, n=7). The increase was even more pronounced in the spleens, with a median absolute number of 2.6 × 106 CD11b+ cells (range 0.2-21 × 106 cells) per spleen in sarcoma-bearing mice versus 0.5 × 106 CD11b+ cells (range 0.2-0.8 × 106 cells) per spleen in mice without tumors. The granulocytic MDSC subset coexpressing Ly6Gpos was the most prominent subpopulation in spleen and blood. To eliminate murine MDSCs, we treated sarcoma-bearing mice twice weekly with 200 µg anti-Gr1 antibody RB6-8C5 over a period of 2 weeks, starting at tumor volumes of 100-200 mm3. While the combined percentage of the Ly6Gpos and Ly6Cpos cell populations in the spleens decreased compared to untreated mice (median 55%, range 36-75%, n=9 versus median 74%, range 72-86%, n=8), the total numbers of CD11b+ cells further increased (median 3.1 × 106, range 0.4 × 106-11 × 106 cells/spleen). Our data suggest that anti-Gr1 antibody pretreatment leads to blockade of the Ly6C/Ly6G receptors rather than eliminating MDSC subsets. To optimize preclinical pediatric sarcoma models, other methods for depletion or functional inactivation of mouse MDSCs will need to be evaluated.
Citation Format: Sareetha Kailayangiri, Bianca Altvater, Katja Urban, Jutta Meltzer, Lea Greune, Nicole Farwick, Silke Jamitzky, Claudia Rossig. Evaluation of anti-Gr1 antibody for depletion of MDSC in preclinical NSG mouse models of pediatric sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4999.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Katja Urban
- University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Lea Greune
- University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Nicole Farwick
- University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Silke Jamitzky
- University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
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11
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Erber R, Kailayangiri S, Hübner H, Rübner M, Hartmann A, Häberle L, Meyer J, Mackensen A, Landgraf L, Schulz-Wendtland R, Beckmann MW, Fasching PA, Farwick N, Rössig C, Gaß P. Disialogangliosids GD2 beim Mammakarzinom und dessen Einfluss auf die Prognose. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2020. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R Erber
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - S Kailayangiri
- Universitätskinderklinik Münster, Pädiatische Hämatologie und Onkologie, Münster
| | - H Hübner
- Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - M Rübner
- Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - A Hartmann
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - L Häberle
- Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
- Biostatische Einheit, Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - J Meyer
- Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
- Biostatische Einheit, Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - A Mackensen
- Medizinische Klinik 5, Hämatologie und Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - L Landgraf
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - R Schulz-Wendtland
- Institut für Diagnostische Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - M W Beckmann
- Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
| | - P A Fasching
- Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - N Farwick
- Universitätskinderklinik Münster, Pädiatische Hämatologie und Onkologie, Münster
| | - C Rössig
- Universitätskinderklinik Münster, Pädiatische Hämatologie und Onkologie, Münster
| | - P Gaß
- Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, Erlangen
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12
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Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Wiebel M, Jamitzky S, Rossig C. Overcoming Heterogeneity of Antigen Expression for Effective CAR T Cell Targeting of Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1075. [PMID: 32357417 PMCID: PMC7281243 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) gene-modified T cells (CAR T cells) can eradicate B cell malignancies via recognition of surface-expressed B lineage antigens. Antigen escape remains a major mechanism of relapse and is a key barrier for expanding the use of CAR T cells towards solid cancers with their more diverse surface antigen repertoires. In this review we discuss strategies by which cancers become amenable to effective CAR T cell therapy despite heterogeneous phenotypes. Pharmaceutical approaches have been reported that selectively upregulate individual target antigens on the cancer cell surface to sensitize antigen-negative subclones for recognition by CARs. In addition, advanced T cell engineering strategies now enable CAR T cells to interact with more than a single antigen simultaneously. Still, the choice of adequate targets reliably and selectively expressed on the cell surface of tumor cells but not normal cells, ideally by driving tumor growth, is limited, and even dual or triple antigen targeting is unlikely to cure most solid tumors. Innovative receptor designs and combination strategies now aim to recruit bystander cells and alternative cytolytic mechanisms that broaden the activity of CAR-engineered T cells beyond CAR antigen-dependent tumor cell recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, 48149 Münster, Germany
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13
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Isfort I, Cyra M, Elges S, Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Rossig C, Mikesch JH, Wozniak A, Schöffski P, Wardelmann E, Trautmann M, Hartmann W. Abstract 388: SS18-SSX modulates YAP/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional activity in synovial sarcoma. Cancer Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Synovial sarcoma (SySa) is a rare soft-tissue malignancy characterized by a specific reciprocal translocation t(X;18). The resulting chimeric SS18-SSX fusion protein acts as transcriptional dysregulator representing the major oncogenic driver in SySa tumorigenesis. Since targeting the fusion protein itself remains a particular challenge, it appears reasonable to therapeutically address signaling pathways which are functionally dependent on the SS18-SSX fusion protein. As different tumor entities were recently shown to harbor aberrant Hippo signaling patterns leading to increased activity of the transcriptional coactivators YAP/TAZ, the aim of this study was to analyze the role of YAP/TAZ in SySa and to decipher the functional link to the SS18-SSX fusion protein.
Experimental procedures: YAP/TAZ expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a large cohort of SySa tissue specimens (n=65). Five SySa cell lines and mesenchymal SCP-1 stem cells stably expressing the SS18-SSX fusion protein were employed for in vitro analyses. We set out to analyze whether YAP/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional activity is dependent on the SySa-specific fusion protein, if this dependency is mediated by IGF-IR signaling (known to be activated in SySa) and to understand the biological function of YAP/TAZ in SySa. To modulate YAP/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional activity, RNAi-mediated knockdown and the small molecule inhibitor verteporfin were applied. Finally, the therapeutic effect of YAP/TAZ inhibition was tested in vivo using SySa cell line-based and patient-derived xenografts.
Results: SySa tissue specimens and cell lines strongly expressed nuclear YAP/TAZ. RNAi-mediated knockdown of SS18-SSX fusion protein led to significant reduction of YAP/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional activity while SS18-SSX overexpression in SCP-1 cells induced aberrant YAP/TAZ signals. This regulatory connection was at least partly realized through an IGF-II/IGF-IR loop, in which the SS18-SSX fusion protein drives IGF2 expression causing dysregulation of the Hippo effectors LATS1 and MOB1, eventually leading to YAP/TAZ activation. Inhibition of YAP/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional activity by RNAi or verteporfin resulted in a significant induction of apoptosis and significant reduction of SySa cell growth in vitro and in vivo.
Conclusions: Our study reveals SS18-SSX fusion protein-driven YAP/TAZ-TEAD signals to play an elementary role in SySa. Given the high efficacy of YAP/TAZ-directed pharmacological approaches in SySa xenografts, this preclinical study may constitute the basis for a novel therapeutic strategy to inhibit SS18-SSX-driven tumorigenesis.
Citation Format: Ilka Isfort, Magdalene Cyra, Sandra Elges, Sareetha Kailayangiri, Bianca Altvater, Claudia Rossig, Jan-Henrik Mikesch, Agnieszka Wozniak, Patrick Schöffski, Eva Wardelmann, Marcel Trautmann, Wolfgang Hartmann. SS18-SSX modulates YAP/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional activity in synovial sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 388.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilka Isfort
- 1University Hospital Muenster, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Division of Translational Pathology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Magdalene Cyra
- 1University Hospital Muenster, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Division of Translational Pathology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sandra Elges
- 1University Hospital Muenster, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Division of Translational Pathology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- 2University Children's Hospital Muenster, Departments of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- 2University Children's Hospital Muenster, Departments of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- 2University Children's Hospital Muenster, Departments of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jan-Henrik Mikesch
- 3University Hospital Muenster, Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Muenster, Germany
| | - Agnieszka Wozniak
- 4KU Leuven, Department of Oncology and University Hospitals Leuven, Department of General Medical Oncology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Schöffski
- 4KU Leuven, Department of Oncology and University Hospitals Leuven, Department of General Medical Oncology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eva Wardelmann
- 5University Hospital Muenster, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Marcel Trautmann
- 1University Hospital Muenster, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Division of Translational Pathology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- 1University Hospital Muenster, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, Division of Translational Pathology, Muenster, Germany
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14
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Isfort I, Cyra M, Elges S, Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Rossig C, Steinestel K, Grünewald I, Huss S, Eßeling E, Mikesch JH, Hafner S, Simmet T, Wozniak A, Schöffski P, Larsson O, Wardelmann E, Trautmann M, Hartmann W. SS18-SSX–Dependent YAP/TAZ Signaling in Synovial Sarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:3718-3731. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-3553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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15
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Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Lesch S, Balbach S, Göttlich C, Kühnemundt J, Mikesch JH, Schelhaas S, Jamitzky S, Meltzer J, Farwick N, Greune L, Fluegge M, Kerl K, Lode HN, Siebert N, Müller I, Walles H, Hartmann W, Rossig C. EZH2 Inhibition in Ewing Sarcoma Upregulates G D2 Expression for Targeting with Gene-Modified T Cells. Mol Ther 2019; 27:933-946. [PMID: 30879952 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineering of T cells allows one to specifically target tumor cells via cell surface antigens. A candidate target in Ewing sarcoma is the ganglioside GD2, but heterogeneic expression limits its value. Here we report that pharmacological inhibition of Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) at doses reducing H3K27 trimethylation, but not cell viability, selectively and reversibly induces GD2 surface expression in Ewing sarcoma cells. EZH2 in Ewing sarcoma cells directly binds to the promoter regions of genes encoding for two key enzymes of GD2 biosynthesis, and EZH2 inhibition enhances expression of these genes. GD2 surface expression in Ewing sarcoma cells is not associated with distinct in vitro proliferation, colony formation, chemosensitivity, or in vivo tumorigenicity. Moreover, disruption of GD2 synthesis by gene editing does not affect its in vitro behavior. EZH2 inhibitor treatment sensitizes Ewing sarcoma cells to effective cytolysis by GD2-specific CAR gene-modified T cells. In conclusion, we report a clinically applicable pharmacological approach for enhancing efficacy of adoptively transferred GD2-redirected T cells against Ewing sarcoma, by enabling recognition of tumor cells with low or negative target expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Stefanie Lesch
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany; Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Balbach
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Claudia Göttlich
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC), Translational Center Regenerative Therapies, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Johanna Kühnemundt
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC), Translational Center Regenerative Therapies, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jan-Henrik Mikesch
- Department of Medicine A, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sonja Schelhaas
- European Institute for Molecular Imaging (EIMI), University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Silke Jamitzky
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Nicole Farwick
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Lea Greune
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Maike Fluegge
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Kornelius Kerl
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Holger N Lode
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nikolai Siebert
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medicine Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ingo Müller
- Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Heike Walles
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC), Translational Center Regenerative Therapies, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk Institute for Pathology, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany; Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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Rossig C, Kailayangiri S, Jamitzky S, Altvater B. Carbohydrate Targets for CAR T Cells in Solid Childhood Cancers. Front Oncol 2018; 8:513. [PMID: 30483473 PMCID: PMC6240699 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Application of the CAR targeting strategy in solid tumors is challenged by the need for adequate target antigens. As a consequence of their tissue origin, embryonal cancers can aberrantly express membrane-anchored gangliosides. These are carbohydrate molecules consisting of a glycosphingolipid linked to sialic acids residues. The best-known example is the abundant expression of ganglioside GD2 on the cell surface of neuroblastomas which derive from GD2-positive neuroectoderm. Gangliosides are involved in various cellular functions, including signal transduction, cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion and cell death. In addition, transformation of human cells to cancer cells can be associated with distinct glycosylation profiles which provide advantages for tumor growth and dissemination and can serve as immune targets. Both gangliosides and aberrant glycosylation of proteins escape the direct molecular and proteomic screening strategies currently applied to identify further immune targets in cancers. Due to their highly restricted expression and their functional roles in the malignant behavior, they are attractive targets for immune engineering strategies. GD2-redirected CAR T cells have shown activity in clinical phase I/II trials in neuroblastoma and next-generation studies are ongoing. Further carbohydrate targets for CAR T cells in preclinical development are O-acetyl-GD2, NeuGc-GM3 (N-glycolyl GM3), GD3, SSEA-4, and oncofetal glycosylation variants. This review summarizes knowledge on the role and function of some membrane-expressed non-protein antigens, including gangliosides and abnormal protein glycosylation patterns, and discusses their potential to serve as a CAR targets in pediatric solid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003-CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Silke Jamitzky
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Jamitzky S, Lesch S, Mikesch JH, Schelhaas S, Michael S, Meltzer J, Farwick N, Hartmann W, Wardelmann E, Fischer P, Hardes J, Rossig C. Abstract 4631: Expression of ganglioside GD2 in Ewing sarcoma cells is not associated with specific functional characteristics or stem cell features. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-4631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Safe and effective targeting of cancer with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered T cells relies on the presence of adequate tumor-associated surface antigens. We have found that Ewing sarcomas (EwS) express ganglioside GD2 and are recognized by T cells engineered with GD2-specific CARs. In an extended series of 97 EwS patient samples, 52 were GD2pos by immunohistochemistry. Based on reports that GD2 in breast cancer defines a malignant population with stem cell characteristics, we hypothesized that GD2 expression in EwS is associated with high capacity to self-renew and reinitiate tumor growth. Among 15 individual EwS cell lines with variable surface expression of GD2 by flow cytometry, GD2 expression levels were not associated with the capacities to proliferate and expand in vitro, form colonies in semi-solid medium, nor with their chemosensitivity, assessed by cell viabilities in the presence of increasing concentrations of the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin. Subpopulations with GD2hi phenotype selected from GD2pos and from GD2low EwS cell lines by cell sorting maintained their GD2hi and GD2low expression status during subsequent cultures over several weeks. The two subpopulations did not have different in vitro growth, colony-formation capacity, or chemosensitivity. In xenografting experiments, GD2hi and GD2low subpopulations of two EwS cell lines initiated tumors with comparable efficacies. To obtain direct evidence that GD2 surface expression is irrelevant for the biology of EwS cells, we performed genetic knockdown of the GD3S gene which drives biosynthesis of GD2 by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. GD3S gene editing resulted in effective elimination of GD2 surface expression in the GD2hi EwS cell lines TC-71, VH-64 and A4573. The knockdown did not affect the capacity of the cells to proliferate, form colonies in soft agar in vitro, nor their chemosensitivity compared to wild-type EwS cells from the individual cell lines. We conclude that GD2 expression in EwS cells, other than reported in breast cancer, is not associated with distinct functional features. Specifically, GD2 does not affect the growth characteristics, clono- and tumorigenicity and chemosensitivity of the tumor cells. Elimination of GD2pos subpopulations from heterogeneous tumors by CAR T cell targeting is therefore unlikely to eradicate the disease and will have to be combined with additional targeting strategies.
Citation Format: Sareetha Kailayangiri, Bianca Altvater, Silke Jamitzky, Stefanie Lesch, Jan-Henrik Mikesch, Sonja Schelhaas, Schaefers Michael, Jutta Meltzer, Nicole Farwick, Wolfgang Hartmann, Eva Wardelmann, Petra Fischer, Jendrik Hardes, Claudia Rossig. Expression of ganglioside GD2 in Ewing sarcoma cells is not associated with specific functional characteristics or stem cell features [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4631.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sareetha Kailayangiri
- 1Univ. Children's Hospital Münster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- 1Univ. Children's Hospital Münster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Silke Jamitzky
- 1Univ. Children's Hospital Münster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Stefanie Lesch
- 1Univ. Children's Hospital Münster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Sonja Schelhaas
- 3European Institute for Molecular Imaging, Muenster, Germany
| | - Schaefers Michael
- 4Univ. Hospital Münster, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- 1Univ. Children's Hospital Münster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Nicole Farwick
- 1Univ. Children's Hospital Münster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- 5Univ. Hospital Münster, Gerhard Domagk Institute of Pathology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Eva Wardelmann
- 5Univ. Hospital Münster, Gerhard Domagk Institute of Pathology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Petra Fischer
- 5Univ. Hospital Münster, Gerhard Domagk Institute of Pathology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jendrik Hardes
- 6Univ. Hospital Münster, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- 1Univ. Children's Hospital Münster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
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Spurny C, Kailayangiri S, Jamitzky S, Altvater B, Wardelmann E, Dirksen U, Hardes J, Hartmann W, Rossig C. Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is not a predominant feature in Ewing sarcomas. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2018; 65. [PMID: 28868758 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.26719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor engagement on T cells by its ligand programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a key mechanism of immune escape, and antibody blockade of the interaction has emerged as an effective immunotherapeutic strategy in some cancers. The role and relevance of the PD-1 checkpoint in Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is not yet understood. PROCEDURE Here, we investigated expression of PD-L1 and PD-1 in EwS by immunohistochemistry analysis of pretherapeutic tumor biopsies and in tumor xenografts following treatment with human T cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against the tumor-associated antigen GD2 . PD-L1 surface expression in EwS cell lines was assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS PD-L1 expression was not detectable on tumor cells in any of the 60 EwS biopsies. Infiltrating PD-L1 positive T cells were found in one tumor, and four biopsies contained PD-1-positive T cells. Of 13 EwS cell lines, none constitutively expressed PD-L1 on the cell surface. Interferon-γ cytokine stimulation induced upregulation of the ligand on all cell lines. Adoptive therapy with CAR gene-modified T cells in a mouse model did not induce PD-L1 expression in EwS xenografts despite tumor infiltration with PD-1+ CD3+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS EwS cells can upregulate PD-L1 under inflammatory conditions, but do not express the ligand in the pretherapeutic tumor microenvironment or postexposure to CAR T cells. PD-1 checkpoint blockade alone is thus unlikely to evoke potent immune responses against EwS. Identification of the relevant immune evasion strategies in EwS will be vital for the development of effective immune targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Spurny
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Silke Jamitzky
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Eva Wardelmann
- Gerhard Domagk Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Uta Dirksen
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jendrik Hardes
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Gerhard Domagk Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003-CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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Spurny C, Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Jamitzky S, Hartmann W, Wardelmann E, Ranft A, Dirksen U, Amler S, Hardes J, Fluegge M, Meltzer J, Farwick N, Greune L, Rossig C. T cell infiltration into Ewing sarcomas is associated with local expression of immune-inhibitory HLA-G. Oncotarget 2017; 9:6536-6549. [PMID: 29464090 PMCID: PMC5814230 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is an aggressive mesenchymal cancer of bones or soft tissues. The mechanisms by which this cancer interacts with the host immune system to induce tolerance are not well understood. We hypothesized that the non-classical, immune-inhibitory HLA-molecule HLA-G contributes to immune escape of EwS. While HLA-Gpos suppressor T cells were not increased in the peripheral blood of EwS patients, HLA-G was locally expressed on the tumor cells and/or on infiltrating lymphocytes in 16 of 47 pretherapeutic tumor biopsies and in 4 of 12 relapse tumors. HLA-G expression was not associated with risk-related patient variables or response to standard chemotherapy, but with significantly increased numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD3+ T cells compared to HLA-Gneg EwS biopsies. In a mouse model, EwS xenografts after adoptive therapy with tumor antigen-specific CAR T cells strongly expressed HLA-G whereas untreated control tumors were HLA-Gneg. IFN-γ stimulation of EwS cell lines in vitro induced expression of HLA-G protein. We conclude that EwS cells respond to tumor-infiltrating T cells by upregulation of HLA-G, a candidate mediator of local immune escape. Strategies that modulate HLA-G expression in the tumor microenvironment may enhance the efficacy of cellular immunotherapeutics in this cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Spurny
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Silke Jamitzky
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Gerhard Domagk Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Eva Wardelmann
- Gerhard Domagk Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Andreas Ranft
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,University Hospital Essen, Pediatrics III, West German Cancer Centre, Essen, Germany
| | - Uta Dirksen
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,University Hospital Essen, Pediatrics III, West German Cancer Centre, Essen, Germany
| | - Susanne Amler
- Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jendrik Hardes
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Maike Fluegge
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Nicole Farwick
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Lea Greune
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Germany
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20
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Rossig C, Pule M, Altvater B, Saiagh S, Wright G, Ghorashian S, Clifton-Hadley L, Champion K, Sattar Z, Popova B, Hackshaw A, Smith P, Roberts T, Biagi E, Dreno B, Rousseau R, Kailayangiri S, Ahlmann M, Hough R, Kremens B, Sauer MG, Veys P, Goulden N, Cummins M, Amrolia PJ. Vaccination to improve the persistence of CD19CAR gene-modified T cells in relapsed pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2017; 31:1087-1095. [PMID: 28126984 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Trials with second generation CD19 chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T-cells report unprecedented responses but are associated with risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Instead, we studied the use of donor Epstein-Barr virus-specific T-cells (EBV CTL) transduced with a first generation CD19CAR, relying on the endogenous T-cell receptor for proliferation. We conducted a multi-center phase I/II study of donor CD19CAR transduced EBV CTL in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Patients were eligible pre-emptively if they developed molecular relapse (>5 × 10-4) post first stem cell transplant (SCT), or prophylactically post second SCT. An initial cohort showed poor expansion/persistence. We therefore investigated EBV-directed vaccination to enhance expansion/persistence. Eleven patients were treated. No CRS, neurotoxicity or graft versus host disease (GVHD) was observed. At 1 month, 5 patients were in CR (4 continuing, 1 de novo), 1 PR, 3 had stable disease and 3 no response. At a median follow-up of 12 months, 10 of 11 have relapsed, 2 are alive with disease and 1 alive in CR 3 years. Although CD19CAR CTL expansion was poor, persistence was enhanced by vaccination. Median persistence was 0 (range: 0-28) days without vaccination compared to 56 (range: 0-221) days with vaccination (P=0.06). This study demonstrates the feasibility of multi-center studies of CAR T cell therapy and the potential for enhancing persistence with vaccination.
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MESH Headings
- Antigens, CD19
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Chimera
- Female
- Herpesvirus 4, Human
- Humans
- Immunotherapy/methods
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive
- Male
- Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Recurrence
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/transplantation
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/virology
- Vaccination
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Affiliation(s)
- C Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - M Pule
- Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - B Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - S Saiagh
- Unite de Therapie Cellulaire et Genetique, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - G Wright
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Molecular and Cellular Immunology, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - S Ghorashian
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - K Champion
- Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, London, UK
| | - Z Sattar
- Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, London, UK
| | - B Popova
- Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, London, UK
| | - A Hackshaw
- Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, London, UK
| | - P Smith
- Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, London, UK
| | - T Roberts
- Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, London, UK
| | - E Biagi
- Clinica Pediatrica, Università Milano Bicocca, Osp. San Gerardo/Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - B Dreno
- Unite de Therapie Cellulaire et Genetique, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - R Rousseau
- Department of Pediatric Haemato-Oncology, Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, France
| | - S Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - M Ahlmann
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - R Hough
- Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - B Kremens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - M G Sauer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - P Veys
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Molecular and Cellular Immunology, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - N Goulden
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Molecular and Cellular Immunology, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - M Cummins
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK
| | - P J Amrolia
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Molecular and Cellular Immunology, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
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21
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Albring JC, Inselmann S, Sauer T, Schliemann C, Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Rössig C, Hartmann W, Knorrenschild JR, Sohlbach K, Groth C, Lohoff M, Neubauer A, Berdel WE, Burchert A, Stelljes M. PD-1 checkpoint blockade in patients with relapsed AML after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 2016; 52:317-320. [PMID: 27892950 DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2016.274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J C Albring
- Department of Medicine A, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - S Inselmann
- Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Philipps Universität Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - T Sauer
- Department of Medicine A, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - C Schliemann
- Department of Medicine A, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - B Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Münster, Germany
| | - S Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Münster, Germany
| | - C Rössig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Münster, Germany
| | - W Hartmann
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology of the University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - J R Knorrenschild
- Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Philipps Universität Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - K Sohlbach
- Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Philipps Universität Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - C Groth
- Department of Medicine A, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - M Lohoff
- Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Philipps Universität Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - A Neubauer
- Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Philipps Universität Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - W E Berdel
- Department of Medicine A, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - A Burchert
- Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Philipps Universität Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - M Stelljes
- Department of Medicine A, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Spurny C, Jamitzky S, Schelhaas S, Jacobs AH, Wiek C, Roellecke K, Hanenberg H, Hartmann W, Wiendl H, Pankratz S, Meltzer J, Farwick N, Greune L, Fluegge M, Rossig C. Targeting Ewing sarcoma with activated and GD2-specific chimeric antigen receptor-engineered human NK cells induces upregulation of immune-inhibitory HLA-G. Oncoimmunology 2016; 6:e1250050. [PMID: 28197367 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1250050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Activated and in vitro expanded natural killer (NK) cells have substantial cytotoxicity against many tumor cells, but their in vivo efficacy to eliminate solid cancers is limited. Here, we used chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to enhance the activity of NK cells against Ewing sarcomas (EwS) in a tumor antigen-specific manner. Expression of CARs directed against the ganglioside antigen GD2 in activated NK cells increased their responses to GD2+ allogeneic EwS cells in vitro and overcame resistance of individual cell lines to NK cell lysis. Second-generation CARs with 4-1BB and 2B4 co-stimulatory signaling and third-generation CARs combining both co-stimulatory domains were all equally effective. By contrast, adoptive transfer of GD2-specific CAR gene-modified NK cells both by intratumoral and intraperitoneal delivery failed to eliminate GD2-expressing EwS xenografts. Histopathology review revealed upregulation of the immunosuppressive ligand HLA-G in tumor autopsies from mice treated with NK cells compared to untreated control mice. Supporting the relevance of this finding, in vitro co-incubation of NK cells with allogeneic EwS cells induced upregulation of the HLA-G receptor CD85j, and HLA-G1 expressed by EwS cells suppressed the activity of NK cells from three of five allogeneic donors against the tumor cells in vitro. We conclude that HLA-G is a candidate immune checkpoint in EwS where it can contribute to resistance to NK cell therapy. HLA-G deserves evaluation as a potential target for more effective immunotherapeutic combination regimens in this and other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Christian Spurny
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Silke Jamitzky
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Sonja Schelhaas
- European Institute for Molecular Imaging (EIMI), University of Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Andreas H Jacobs
- European Institute for Molecular Imaging (EIMI), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Constanze Wiek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital, Heinrich Heine University , Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Katharina Roellecke
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital, Heinrich Heine University , Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Helmut Hanenberg
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital, Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany; Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Gerhard-Domagk Institute for Pathology, University of Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Heinz Wiendl
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Susann Pankratz
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Nicole Farwick
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Lea Greune
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Maike Fluegge
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster , Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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Ochs L, Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Spurny C, Rossig C, Jamitzky S. Abstract 2314: Different stimulation conditions affect the immune phenotype of GD2-specific chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells. Cancer Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-2314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The in vivo persistence of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T cells is a major prerequisite for their antitumor activity and was found to be associated with a less differentiated immune phenotype. Here, we compared two in vitro T cell stimulation conditions: coated anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies [3/28], and Dynabead stimulation of enriched CD3+ T cells [DB]. Peripheral blood T cells from three healthy donors were stimulated with either of the two methods, retrovirally transduced with the GD2-specific CAR GD2-BBz on day 2 or 3, and expanded in RPMI/AIMV medium with 50 IU/ml recombinant human interleukin-2 for 13 days. T cell expansion rates were comparable between the two stimulation conditions and independent of CAR gene expression. Transduction efficiencies, determined by staining with the GD2-CAR-specific antibody Ganglidiomab, were also comparable. The immune phenotype by expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO and CD197 was determined by flow cytometry analysis on day 13 or 14 after initial stimulation. The proportions of central memory (TCM), effector memory (TEM) or naïve T cells (TN) within the two types of cultures were noticeably different (Table 1), with a higher proportion of non-transduced CD8+ T cells with a TCM phenotype after DB compared to CD3/CD28 stimulation (p = 0.005 for DB d2, p = 0.01 for DB d3). Compared to non-transduced T cells, CAR-expressing cells of all types of cultures had higher proportions of TCM cells (p = 0.02 for CD4+ T cells, p<0.01 for CD8+ T cells). In conclusion, we found that the stimulation conditions have a strong impact on the T cell phenotype and that retroviral CAR gene transduction can also affect T cell differentiation. The optimal T cell culture conditions for a product with sustained persistence in vivo will ultimately emerge from clinical trials. Table 1:Proportions of T cell subpopulations on day 13 or 14 (medians and ranges)xyTN: CD45RO-/CD197+TCM: CD45RO+/CD197+TEM: CD45RO+/CD197-3/28NT37.9% CD4+ (31.8-41.3) 53.0% CD8+ (20.9-72.9)20.2% CD4+ (20.2-27.0) 6.1% CD8+ (3.7-6.9)35.2% CD4+ (32.8-45.4) 35.5% CD8+ (17.0-66.3)CAR d224.4% CD4+ (15.1-28.8) 32.9% CD8+ (23.9-48.9)33.6% CD4+ (29.9-49.3) 27.7% CD8+ (17.7-38.8)37.3% CD4+ (22.4-47.2) 27.1% CD8+ (25.4-32.7)DBNT33.1% CD4+ (15.0-45.6) 53.8% CD8+ (46.8-53.8)32.6% CD4+ (29.9-45.2) 19.6% CD8+ (17.8-26.3)23.3% CD4+ (16.6-51.7) 12.1% CD8+ (10.6-15.2)CAR d211.5% CD4+ (10.9-27.7) 37.1% CD8+ (24.7-41.860.7% CD4+ (53.0-69.7) 48.0% CD8+ (34.4-65.2)16.5% CD4+ (16.1-26.6) 8.7% CD8+ (5.7-10.3)DBNT33.2% CD4+ (26.5-55.2) 51.6% CD8+ (34.2-62.5)23.0% CD4+ (21.9-40.2) 14.2% CD8+ (11.2-16.9)19.1% CD4+ (17.6-48.6) 15.2% CD8+ (13.0-19.6)CAR d317.5% CD4+ (13.4-34.5) 36.6% CD8+ (28.5-46.5)45.7% CD4+ (36.6-57.5) 38.0% CD8+ (22.2-55.1)22.0% CD4+ (21.4-32.6) 10.8% CD8+ (8.5-19.6)
Citation Format: Laurin Ochs, Bianca Altvater, Sareetha Kailayangiri, Christian Spurny, Claudia Rossig, Silke Jamitzky. Different stimulation conditions affect the immune phenotype of GD2-specific chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2314.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurin Ochs
- University Children′s Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Claudia Rossig
- University Children′s Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Silke Jamitzky
- University Children′s Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
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Jamitzky S, Krueger AC, Janneschuetz S, Piepke S, Kailayangiri S, Spurny C, Rossig C, Altvater B. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibition promotes expansion of human NK cells which maintain their potent antitumor activity against Ewing sarcoma cells. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015; 62:1979-85. [PMID: 26131572 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with primary metastatic or relapsed Ewing sarcomas (EwS) have a poor prognosis. While inhibitory insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R)-specific antibodies have shown single agent activity in some patients with refractory disease, effective therapeutic targeting will rely on optimal combinations with conventional or innovative therapies. Specifically, combination of inhibitory IGF-1R antibodies with adoptive transfer of activated natural killer (NK) cells may have therapeutic benefit in EwS without adding toxicity. PROCEDURE We investigated the in vitro effects of IGF-1R targeting on the immunological profile of EwS cells and on the survival and tumor targeting capacity of K-562-activated NK cells. RESULTS IGF-1R inhibition reliably reduced EwS cell viability without affecting expression of immune-modulatory and MHC molecules. In NK cells, we observed a significant superior expansion following in vitro activation in the presence of IGF-1R-specific antibodies, while expression of differentiation markers and activating receptors remained unaffected. Activated NK cells coincubated with EwS cells showed potent degranulation responses unaffected by IGF-1R inhibition. These findings were reproducible in a stimulator cell-free NK cell expansion system, suggesting that direct effects of IGF-R1 antibodies on the IGF-R1 pathway in NK cells induce their activation and expansion. CONCLUSIONS Activated human NK cells respond to IGF-1R inhibition with superior expansion kinetics while maintaining potent antitumor responses against EwS. Combination of adoptive NK cell transfer with IGF-1R targeting may be an efficient means to eliminate minimal residual disease after conventional therapy and thereby rescue patients at the highest risk of relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Jamitzky
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Childreńs Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Andrea-Caroline Krueger
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Childreńs Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Saskia Janneschuetz
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Childreńs Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Childreńs Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Christian Spurny
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Childreńs Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Childreńs Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003-CiM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Childreńs Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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Spurny C, Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Landmeier S, Ahlmann M, Dirksen U, Ranft A, Wiendl H, Hartmann W, Wardelmann E, Rossig C. Abstract 458: Immune-inhibitory HLA-G is expressed in the tumor microenvironment of Ewing Sarcomas. Cancer Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Ewing Sarcoma (EwS) is an aggressive malignancy of bone and soft tissue which still lacks efficient treatment in case of metastases and relapse. Cellular immunotherapies for EwS are under development, but inhibitory molecules in the tumor microenvironment may counteract antitumor immune responses by preexisting or therapeutic immune effector cells. Here we hypothesized that the non-classical HLA-molecule HLA-G may contribute to immune escape of EwS. HLA-G is a potent inhibitor of both T cells and NK cells. It is naturally expressed on trophoblast cells during pregnancy as well as on mesenchymal stem cells from which EwS cells are thought to originate. We analyzed expression of membrane-bound HLA-G1 by flow cytometry and expression of shedded HLA-G1 and soluble HLA-G5 by ELISA in 14 EwS cell lines with and without stimulation with interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Whereas all cell lines failed to express HLA-G1 both before and after IFN-γ stimulation, and none secreted HLA-G without stimulation, 1 of 14 cell lines (TC-32) responded to IFN-γ stimulation by significant upregulation of soluble HLA-G (p = 0.004). To study HLA-G expression in EwS within their tumor microenvironment, we analyzed paraffin-embedded pretherapeutic tumor biopsies from 35 patients by IHC using the HLA-G specific antibody clone 4H84 and detected HLA-G expression in 12 cases (34%), either on the tumor cells (10/35) and/or on infiltrating lymphocytes (7/35). We further studied the presence of soluble HLA-G and HLA-G+ T cells in the peripheral blood of 19 EwS patients and 15 healthy donors. Serum HLA-G was not increased in the EwS patients compared to healthy controls. Moreover, no significant difference in the proportions of naturally occurring HLA-G+CD4+ (Mean 0.9±0.8% vs. 0.9±0.6%, p = 0.627) or HLA-G+CD8+ (Mean 1.2±1.2% vs. 1.7±1.0%, p = 0.134) suppressor T cells among peripheral blood lymphocytes was found between EwS patients and healthy donors by flow cytometry. Thus, systemic HLA-G secretion and expression is unlikely to have a major role in EwS, but the presence of HLA-G+ cells found in EwS biopsies in a substantial proportion of patients deserves further exploration. To address the potential functional relevance of HLA-G+ cells in the tumor microenvironment, we expressed HLA-G1 in 2 EwS cell lines by retroviral gene transfer. Coincubation of HLA-G-expressing EwS cells with freshly isolated allogeneic NK-cells resulted in suppression of EwS cell lysis by NK cells in 3 of 6 NK cell donors in a flow cytometry based cytotoxicity assay. In detail, HLA-G+ EwS cells suppressed NK-cell cytotoxicity up to 47.0±14.8%, (VH-64, p = 0.001) and up to 87.0±16.0% (WE-68, p = 0.002) compared to mock transduced control.
We conclude that local expression of HLA-G within the tumor microenvironment in EwS is a candidate mediator of immune escape and a potential barrier to cellular immunotherapeutics. Strategies that modulate HLA-G expression may be effective to overcome local immune suppression in this cancer.
Citation Format: Christian Spurny, Bianca Altvater, Sareetha Kailayangiri, Silke Landmeier, Martina Ahlmann, Uta Dirksen, Andreas Ranft, Heinz Wiendl, Wolfgang Hartmann, Eva Wardelmann, Claudia Rossig. Immune-inhibitory HLA-G is expressed in the tumor microenvironment of Ewing Sarcomas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 458. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-458
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Uta Dirksen
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Andreas Ranft
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Heinz Wiendl
- 2University of Muenster Department of Neurology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- 3Gerhard-Domagk Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Eva Wardelmann
- 3Gerhard-Domagk Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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Landmeier S, Krueger AC, Piepke S, Janneschuetz S, Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Spurny C, Juergens H, Rossig C. Abstract 3974: Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibition promotes expansion of human NK cells with potent antitumor activity against Ewing sarcoma cells. Cancer Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2014-3974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Despite optimization of modern treatment strategies, patients with primary metastatic Ewing sarcomas or with relapsed disease have a poor prognosis. The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) pathway is a target of the disease-defining translocations and important for the biology of Ewing sarcomas. IGF-1R antagonists have shown activity in some patients with refractory disease. More effective therapeutic IGF-1R targeting will rely on optimal combinations of IGF-1R mAbs with conventional or innovative therapies. Specifically, adoptive transfer of activated NK cells may have therapeutic benefit in Ewing sarcoma without adding toxicity. Modulatory or synergistic interactions between novel drugs and cellular therapies as a basis for potent combinations have only started to be explored.
Here, we investigated the effects of IGF-1R-specific mAbs on the in vitro activation and expansion of human NK cells and their cytolytic activity against Ewing sarcoma cells. Freshly isolated PBMCs from 6 healthy donors were stimulated with irradiated K-562 in the presence or absence of two different inhibitory IGF-1R mAbs and expanded for up to 23 days. 7 of 8 NK cell cultures expanded in vitro at superior rates (3.3+/-1.2 fold) when IGF-1R mAbs were present in the cultures. These findings were reproduced in a stimulator cell free system based on magnetic cell sorting and subsequent stimulation of NK cells. Thus, IGF-1R-induced increases of NK cell expansion do not rely on interactions with bystander cells. Non-specific Fc-mediated NK cell stimulation was excluded by experiments using whole IgG as control. NK cells were found to surface-express IGF-1R and respond to coincubation with IGF-1R mAb with receptor downregulation (n=3). We conclude that direct effects of IGF-1R mAbs on the IGF-1R pathway in NK cells are likely to induce their activation and expansion. The expression of differentiation markers and activating receptors by in vitro activated and expanded NK cells was unaffected by IGF-1R antagonists. Upon coincubation with the Ewing sarcoma cell lines TC-71, TC-32 and VH-64 and with the newly established, low-passage cell culture DC-ES-6, NK cells that were activated and expanded in the presence and absence of IGF-1R antibody showed comparable, potent and reproducible degranulation responses by CD107a upregulation. Twenty-four hour preincubation of the Ewing sarcoma cell lines with IGF-1R mAb or presence of the mAbs during coculture also did not affect Ewing-sarcoma induced NK cell degranulation responses.
We conclude that human NK cells respond to IGF-1R mAb inhibition with superior expansion kinetics while maintaining potent antitumor responses against Ewing sarcoma. Combining adoptive NK cell transfer with IGF-1R targeting may be an efficient means to eliminate minimal residual disease after conventional therapy and thereby rescue patients at highest risk of relapse.
Citation Format: Silke Landmeier, Andrea-Caroline Krueger, Stephanie Piepke, Saskia Janneschuetz, Bianca Altvater, Sareetha Kailayangiri, Christian Spurny, Heribert Juergens, Claudia Rossig. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibition promotes expansion of human NK cells with potent antitumor activity against Ewing sarcoma cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3974. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3974
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Claudia Rossig
- University Children's Hospital Münster, Muenster, Germany
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27
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Altvater B, Kailayangiri S, Theimann N, Ahlmann M, Farwick N, Chen C, Pscherer S, Neumann I, Mrachatz G, Hansmeier A, Hardes J, Gosheger G, Juergens H, Rossig C. Common Ewing sarcoma-associated antigens fail to induce natural T cell responses in both patients and healthy individuals. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2014; 63:1047-60. [PMID: 24973179 PMCID: PMC11028878 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-014-1574-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Disseminated or relapsed Ewing sarcoma (EwS) has remained fatal in the majority of patients. A promising approach to preventing relapse after conventional therapy is to establish tumor antigen-specific immune control. Efficient and specific T cell memory against the tumor depends on the expansion of rare T cells with native specificity against target antigens overexpressed by the tumor. Candidate antigens in EwS include six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate-1 (STEAP1), and the human cancer/testis antigens X-antigen family member 1 (XAGE1) and preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME). Here, we screened normal donors and EwS patients for the presence of circulating T cells reactive with overlapping peptide libraries of these antigens by IFN-γ Elispot analysis. The majority of 22 healthy donors lacked detectable memory T cell responses against STEAP1, XAGE1 and PRAME. Moreover, ex vivo detection of T cells specific for these antigens in both blood and bone marrow were limited to a minority of EwS patients and required nonspecific T cell prestimulation. Cytotoxic T cells specific for the tumor-associated antigens were efficiently and reliably generated by in vitro priming using professional antigen-presenting cells and optimized cytokine stimulation; however, these T cells failed to interact with native antigen processed by target cells and with EwS cells expressing the antigen. We conclude that EwS-associated antigens fail to induce efficient T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated antitumor immune responses even under optimized conditions. Strategies based on TCR engineering could provide a more effective means to manipulating T cell immunity toward targeted elimination of tumor cells.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/drug effects
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/pharmacology
- Bone Marrow Cells/drug effects
- Bone Marrow Cells/immunology
- Case-Control Studies
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Female
- Humans
- K562 Cells
- Male
- Oxidoreductases/biosynthesis
- Oxidoreductases/immunology
- Oxidoreductases/pharmacology
- Sarcoma, Ewing/blood
- Sarcoma, Ewing/immunology
- Sarcoma, Ewing/pathology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Nadine Theimann
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Martina Ahlmann
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Nicole Farwick
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Christiane Chen
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sibylle Pscherer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ilka Neumann
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Gabriele Mrachatz
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Anna Hansmeier
- Department of Internal Medicine A, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Jendrik Hardes
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Georg Gosheger
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Heribert Juergens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 – CiM), University of Muenster, Münster, Germany
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28
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Leuchte K, Altvater B, Hoffschlag S, Potratz J, Meltzer J, Clemens D, Luecke A, Hardes J, Dirksen U, Juergens H, Kailayangiri S, Rossig C. Anchorage-independent growth of Ewing sarcoma cells under serum-free conditions is not associated with stem-cell like phenotype and function. Oncol Rep 2014; 32:845-52. [PMID: 24927333 DOI: 10.3892/or.2014.3269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel treatment strategies for Ewing sarcoma aim to eliminate residual tumor cells that have maintained the capacity to reinitiate tumor growth after intensive conventional therapy. Preclinical models that more closely mimic in vivo tumor growth than standard monolayer cultures are needed. Sphere formation under anchorage-independent, serum-free conditions has been proposed to enrich for cells with tumor-initiating, stem cell-like properties in various solid cancers. In the present study, we assessed the phenotype and functional stem cell characteristics of Ewing sarcoma spheres. Spheres were generated under serum-free culture conditions from four Ewing sarcoma cell lines and four relapse tumor biopsies. Standard monolayer cultures were established as controls. Median levels of surface expression of the Ewing sarcoma marker CD99 as well as the supposed stem cell marker CD133 and the neural crest marker CD57 were comparable between spheres and monolayers. Ewing sarcoma spheres from individual tumors failed to continuously self-renew by secondary sphere formation. They contained variable proportions of side populations (SPs). Sphere culture did not enhance the in vivo tumorigenicity of Ewing sarcoma cells in a murine xenograft model. We conclude that sphere formation under serum-free conditions is not a reliable tool to enrich for cells with stem cell characteristics in Ewing sarcoma. By mimicking the anchorage-independent, multicellular growth of Ewing sarcoma micrometastases, in vitro sphere growth may still add value as a preclinical tool to evaluate the efficacy of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Leuchte
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Simeon Hoffschlag
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Jenny Potratz
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Dagmar Clemens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Andrea Luecke
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Jendrik Hardes
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Uta Dirksen
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Heribert Juergens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
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Liebsch L, Kailayangiri S, Beck L, Altvater B, Koch R, Hotfilder M, Ring J, Faber C, Vieth V, Rossig C. Abstract 3978: Assessment of therapeutic responses of disseminated Ewing sarcoma xenografts to adoptive therapy with chimeric receptor gene-modified T cells in mice by whole body magnetic resonance imaging. Cancer Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2013-3978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Novel treatment strategies in Ewing sarcoma include molecularly targeted drugs and antibodies as well as cellular therapies. Preclinical in vivo models are needed that recapitulate the biology of multifocal disease and reflect the activity of novel therapies against systemic (micro)metastatic disease. Here, we used whole body magnetic resonance imaging techniques to monitor the engraftment and metastatic spread of human Ewing sarcoma xenografts in mice and to address the therapeutic efficacy of adoptive T cell transfer. Of 18 mice receiving intravenous injections of 2x106 VH-64 cells, all developed disseminated tumor growth detectable by whole-body MRI within 31 days. All mice had lung tumors, with a median of 19 tumors (range 1 to 60) per mouse. Sixteen mice had additional tumor manifestations, including bone and/or bone marrow (n=10), soft tissues (n=5), and kidney (n=13). Interobserver agreement was high, with an intraclass correlation of 0.929 for tumor numbers. Dissection and histological analysis confirmed the presence of CD99+ small blue round cell tumors in bones, lungs and kidneys in all examined specimens. Sequential whole body T2 MRI scans at weekly intervals following an initial scan 3 weeks after tumor inoculation revealed in vivo growth of tumors at all sites. To add further tissue information, we performed parallel diffusion weighted whole body imaging with background signal suppression (DWIBS). DWIBS effectively visualized metastatic Ewing sarcoma growth in bones, retroperitoneal organs, and soft tissues, whereas, as expected, susceptibility artifacts in air-filled spaces prevented effective detection of lung tumors. To assess the therapeutic efficacy of adoptive T cell transfer against disseminated Ewing sarcomas in this model, further cohorts of 9 mice each received transfusions of 1x107 14.G2a-28ζ gene-modified human GD2-specific T cells following tumor inoculation. Control mice received non-transduced T cells. The numbers of mice developing tumors and the numbers of tumors at extrapulmonary localizations sites were not noticeably different between treated and control mice. However, animals receiving GD2-targeted gene-modified T cell therapy had lower numbers of pulmonary tumors than controls (p<0.0001). Moreover, the median volumes of soft tissue tumors at first detection were lower in the treatment cohort (p=0.019). Mice treated with GD2-redirected T cells had a growth delay of their lung tumors, with both smaller volumes (p=0.023) and lower numbers of tumors (p=0.024) at 4 weeks after tumor inoculation. Thus, GD2-retargeted T cells cannot prevent disseminated tumor growth in this aggressive systemic disease model, but are active to reduce pulmonary Ewing sarcoma manifestations. Optimized strategies now aim to enhance the efficacy of chimeric T cell receptor therapies.
Citation Format: Lennart Liebsch, Sareetha Kailayangiri, Laura Beck, Bianca Altvater, Raphael Koch, Marc Hotfilder, Janine Ring, Cornelius Faber, Volker Vieth, Claudia Rossig. Assessment of therapeutic responses of disseminated Ewing sarcoma xenografts to adoptive therapy with chimeric receptor gene-modified T cells in mice by whole body magnetic resonance imaging. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3978. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3978
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Liebsch
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Department of Clinical Radiology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- 2University Children's Hospital Muenster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Laura Beck
- 3University Hospital Muenster, Department of Clinical Radiology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- 2University Children's Hospital Muenster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Raphael Koch
- 4Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Marc Hotfilder
- 2University Children's Hospital Muenster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Janine Ring
- 3University Hospital Muenster, Department of Clinical Radiology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Cornelius Faber
- 3University Hospital Muenster, Department of Clinical Radiology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Volker Vieth
- 3University Hospital Muenster, Department of Clinical Radiology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- 2University Children's Hospital Muenster, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
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Hertel P, Daniel J, Stegehake D, Vaupel H, Kailayangiri S, Gruel C, Woltersdorf C, Liebau E. The ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (Ufm1) cascade of Caenorhabditis elegans. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:10661-71. [PMID: 23449979 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.458000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Ufm1 (ubiquitin-fold modifier 1) is the most recently identified member of the ubiquitin-like protein family. We characterized the Ufm1 cascade of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans in terms of function and analyzed interactions of the involved proteins in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we investigated the phenotypes of the deletion mutants uba5(ok3364) (activating enzyme of Ufm1) and ufc1(tm4888) (conjugating enzyme of Ufm1). The viable deletion mutants showed a decrease in reproduction, development, life span, and a reduced survival under heavy metal stress. However, an increased survival rate under pathogenic, oxidative, heat, and endoplasmic reticulum stress was observed. We propose that the Ufm1 cascade negatively regulates the IRE1-mediated unfolded protein response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Hertel
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Institute for Animal Physiology, University of Muenster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Muenster, Germany
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31
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Leuchte K, Kailayangiri S, Altvater B, Hoffschlag S, Meltzer J, Pscherer S, Luecke A, Clemens D, Potratz J, Dirksen U, Hardes J, Gosheger G, Juergens H, Rossig C. Abstract 2503: Multicellular Ewing sarcoma spheres are efficiently targeted by activated NK cells. Cancer Res 2012. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2012-2503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The outcome of disseminated Ewing sarcoma remains poor despite intensive multimodal treatment regimens. The disease often responds well to chemotherapy, but systemic relapses occur in the majority of patients. Targeting of residual disease by cellular immunotherapy may sustain remission and improve outcome. Specifically, Ewing sarcoma cells have been shown to be exquisitely sensitive to targeting by activated NK cells. To further explore the value of cellular strategies, preclinical models are needed that mimic the anchorage-independent, multicellular growth of Ewing sarcoma micrometastases. Here, we generated Ewing sarcoma spheres from cell lines (VH-64, TC-32, TC-71, A4573) and from four low-passage cell cultures established from Ewing sarcoma biopsies at primary diagnosis or at relapse under serum-free growth conditions. Standard monolayer cultures were used for comparisons. Phenotypic analysis revealed considerable heterogeneity among individual Ewing sarcomas and between spheres and monolayers. While the Ewing sarcoma marker CD99 as well as CD133 were expressed at comparable densities, spheres had significantly higher expression of the neural crest marker CD57 (HNK-1) and of MHC class I than monolayers, whereas CD117 (c-kit) expression was lower. Side populations characterized by Hoechst dye exclusion and previously associated with cancer stem cell function were identified in one of two primary sphere cultures and in VH-64 spheres but were absent or reduced in monolayer cultures. However, cells resuspended from spheres did not form subcutaneous tumors in immunodeficient (NOD/scid) mice at higher efficiencies than monolayer cultures, arguing against higher tumorigenicity of sphere-cultured cells. VH64 spheres were significantly more resistant towards doxorubicine than monolayers, and resuspended cells from sphere cultures remained less susceptible to lysis than monolayer cultures, but among primary tumor cells, consistent differences in chemosensitivity were not observed between the two culture systems. In vitro activated allogeneic NK cells were uniformly capable to lyse single cells derived from both monolayer and sphere cultures from established cell lines and primary cell cultures. Moreover, NK cells efficiently eliminated intact Ewing sarcoma spheres. Thus, cultured Ewing sarcoma cells are highly heterogenous. Their phenotype, function and susceptibility to both chemo- and immunotherapy differs among individual cell lines and primary cultures and under variable in vitro growth conditions. Activated NK cells efficiently target Ewing sarcoma cells both as monolayers and as spheres. The sphere model may provide a useful tool to analyze the contribution of micrometastatic architecture and serum-free niches to immune evasion. Experiments with autologous NK cells and with NK cells engineered to express tumor antigen-specific chimeric receptors are ongoing.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2503. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2503
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Leuchte
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bianca Altvater
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Simeon Hoffschlag
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jutta Meltzer
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sibylle Pscherer
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Andrea Luecke
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Dagmar Clemens
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jenny Potratz
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Uta Dirksen
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jendrik Hardes
- 2University Hospital Muenster, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Muenster, Germany
| | - Georg Gosheger
- 2University Hospital Muenster, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Muenster, Germany
| | - Heribert Juergens
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- 1University Children's Hospital Muenster, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Muenster, Germany
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Altvater B, Pscherer S, Landmeier S, Kailayangiri S, Savoldo B, Juergens H, Rossig C. Activated human γδ T cells induce peptide-specific CD8+ T-cell responses to tumor-associated self-antigens. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2012; 61:385-96. [PMID: 21928126 PMCID: PMC11028957 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-011-1111-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2011] [Accepted: 09/05/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Specific cellular immunotherapy of cancer requires efficient generation and expansion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that recognize tumor-associated self-antigens. Here, we investigated the capacity of human γδ T cells to induce expansion of CD8+ T cells specific for peptides derived from the weakly immunogenic tumor-associated self-antigens PRAME and STEAP1. Coincubation of aminobisphosphonate-stimulated human peripheral blood-derived γδ T cells (Vγ9+Vδ2+), loaded with HLA-A*02-restricted epitopes of PRAME, with autologous peripheral blood CD8+ T cells stimulated the expansion of peptide-specific cytolytic effector memory T cells. Moreover, peptide-loaded γδ T cells efficiently primed antigen-naive CD45RA+ CD8+ T cells against PRAME peptides. Direct comparisons with mature DCs revealed equal potency of γδ T cells and DCs in inducing primary T-cell responses and peptide-specific T-cell activation and expansion. Antigen presentation by γδ T-APCs was not able to overcome the limited capacity of peptide-specific T cells to interact with targets expressing full-length antigen. Importantly, T cells with regulatory phenotype (CD4+ CD25hiFoxP3+) were lower in cocultures with γδ T cells compared to DCs. In summary, bisphosphonate-activated γδ T cells permit generation of CTLs specific for weakly immunogenic tumor-associated epitopes. Exploiting this strategy for effective immunotherapy of cancer requires strategies that enhance the avidity of CTL responses to allow for efficient targeting of cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Antigen Presentation/immunology
- Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
- Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
- Autoantigens/genetics
- Autoantigens/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Cells, Cultured
- Coculture Techniques
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/metabolism
- Diphosphonates/pharmacology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Flow Cytometry
- HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology
- Humans
- Imidazoles/pharmacology
- K562 Cells
- Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects
- Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
- Neoplasms/genetics
- Neoplasms/immunology
- Neoplasms/pathology
- Oxidoreductases/genetics
- Oxidoreductases/immunology
- Peptides/genetics
- Peptides/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism
- Transfection
- Zoledronic Acid
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Sibylle Pscherer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Silke Landmeier
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Barbara Savoldo
- Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Heribert Juergens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany
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Altvater B, Landmeier S, Kailayangiri S, Pscherer S, Leuchte K, Juergens H, Rossig C. γδ T cells: Stimulators of specific CD8+ T cell responses to sarcoma-associated antigens. Klin Padiatr 2010. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1254496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Altvater B, Landmeier S, Pscherer S, Temme J, Schweer K, Kailayangiri S, Campana D, Juergens H, Pule M, Rossig C. 2B4 (CD244) signaling by recombinant antigen-specific chimeric receptors costimulates natural killer cell activation to leukemia and neuroblastoma cells. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15:4857-66. [PMID: 19638467 PMCID: PMC2771629 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-2810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Novel natural killer (NK) cell-directed strategies in cancer immunotherapy aim at specifically modulating the balance between NK cell receptor signals toward tumor-specific activation. The signaling lymphocyte activation molecule-related receptor 2B4 (CD244) is an important regulator of NK cell activation. We investigated whether 2B4-enhanced activation signals can redirect the cytolytic function of human NK cells to NK cell-resistant and autologous leukemia and tumor targets. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In vitro-stimulated NK cells from healthy donors and pediatric leukemia patients were gene modified with CD19 or G(D2)-specific chimeric receptors containing either the T-cell receptor zeta or 2B4 endodomain alone or combined. RESULTS Chimeric 2B4 signaling alone failed to induce interleukin-2 receptor up-regulation and cytokine secretion but triggered a specific degranulation response. Integration of the 2B4 endodomain into T-cell receptor zeta chimeric receptors significantly enhanced all aspects of the NK cell activation response to antigen-expressing leukemia or neuroblastoma cells, including CD25 up-regulation, secretion of IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, release of cytolytic granules, and growth inhibition, and overcame NK cell resistance of autologous leukemia cells while maintaining antigen specificity. CONCLUSION These data indicate that the 2B4 receptor has a potent costimulatory effect in NK cells. Antigen-specific 2B4zeta-expressing NK cells may be a powerful new tool for adoptive immunotherapy of leukemia and other malignancies.
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MESH Headings
- Antigens, CD/immunology
- Antigens, CD19/immunology
- Antigens, CD19/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Humans
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/transplantation
- Leukemia/immunology
- Leukemia/therapy
- Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
- Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1/immunology
- Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial/immunology
- Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial/therapy
- Neuroblastoma/immunology
- Neuroblastoma/therapy
- Protein Engineering
- Receptors, Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Immunologic/immunology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Altvater
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Silke Landmeier
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sibylle Pscherer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jaane Temme
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Katharina Schweer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sareetha Kailayangiri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Dario Campana
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Heribert Juergens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Martin Pule
- Department of Haematology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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