1
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Claudia Rossig
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children´s Hospital Muenster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|