RESUMO
The gene and cell therapy field saw its first approved treatments in Europe in 2012 and the United States in 2017 and is projected to be at least a $10B USD industry by 2025. Despite this success, a massive gap exists between the companies, clinics, and researchers developing these therapeutic approaches, and their availability to the patients who need them. The unacceptable reality is a geographic exclusion of low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) in gene therapy development and ultimately the provision of gene therapies to patients in LMIC. This is particularly relevant for gene therapies to treat human immunodeficiency virus infection and hemoglobinopathies, global health crises impacting tens of millions of people primarily located in LMIC. Bridging this divide will require research, clinical and regulatory infrastructural development, capacity-building, training, an approval pathway and community adoption for success and sustainable affordability. In 2020, the Global Gene Therapy Initiative was formed to tackle the barriers to LMIC inclusion in gene therapy development. This working group includes diverse stakeholders from all sectors and has set a goal of introducing two gene therapy Phase I clinical trials in two LMIC, Uganda and India, by 2024. Here we report on progress to date for this initiative.
Assuntos
Países em Desenvolvimento , Infecções por HIV , Humanos , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells typically use a strong constitutive promoter to ensure maximal long-term CAR expression. However, recent evidence suggests that restricting the timing and magnitude of CAR expression is functionally beneficial, whereas constitutive CAR activation may lead to exhaustion and loss of function. We created a self-driving CD19-targeting CAR, which regulates its own function based on the presence of a CD19 antigen engaged by the CAR itself, by placing self-driving CAR19 constructs under transcriptional control of synthetic activator protein 1 (AP1)-nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) or signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5 promoters. CD19 antigen-regulated expression was observed for self-driving AP1-NFκB-CAR19, with CAR19 upregulation within 18 h after exposure to target CD19, and corresponded to the level of tumor burden. Self-driving CAR-T cells showed enhanced tumor-dependent activation, expansion, and low exhaustion in vitro as compared to constitutively expressed EF1α and murine stem cell virus (MSCV) CARs and mediated tumor regression and survival in Raji-bearing NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice. Long-term CAR function correlated with upregulated CAR expression within 24 h of exposure to tumor antigen. The self-driving AP1-NFκB-CAR19 circuit was also used to inducibly express dominant-negative transforming growth factor ß receptor II (TGFBRIIdn), which effectively countered the negative effects of TGF-ß on CAR-T activation. Thus, a self-driving CAR approach may offer a new modality to express CAR and auxiliary proteins by enhancing CAR-T functional activity and limiting exhaustion.
Assuntos
Linfoma de Burkitt/terapia , Imunoterapia Adotiva/métodos , NF-kappa B/genética , Receptor do Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta Tipo II/genética , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Fator de Transcrição STAT5/genética , Fator de Transcrição AP-1/genética , Animais , Linfoma de Burkitt/genética , Linfoma de Burkitt/imunologia , Linfoma de Burkitt/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Células K562 , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos NOD , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Glypican 3 (GPC3) is an oncofetal antigen involved in Wnt-dependent cell proliferation that is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated whether the functions of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that target GPC3 are affected by their antibody-binding properties. METHODS: We collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors and patients with HCC and used them to create CAR T cells, based on the humanized YP7 (hYP7) and HN3 antibodies, which have high affinities for the C-lobe and N-lobe of GPC3, respectively. NOD/SCID/IL-2Rgcnull (NSG) mice were given intraperitoneal injections of luciferase-expressing (Luc) Hep3B or HepG2 cells and after xenograft tumors formed, mice were given injections of saline or untransduced T cells (mock control), or CAR (HN3) T cells or CAR (hYP7) T cells. In other NOD/SCID/IL-2Rgcnull (NSG) mice, HepG2-Luc or Hep3B-Luc cells were injected into liver, and after orthotopic tumors formed, mice were given 1 injection of CAR (hYP7) T cells or CD19 CAR T cells (control). We developed droplet digital polymerase chain reaction and genome sequencing methods to analyze persistent CAR T cells in mice. RESULTS: Injections of CAR (hYP7) T cells eliminated tumors in 66% of mice by week 3, whereas CAR (HN3) T cells did not reduce tumor burden. Mice given CAR (hYP7) T cells remained tumor free after re-challenge with additional Hep3B cells. The CAR T cells induced perforin- and granzyme-mediated apoptosis and reduced levels of active ß-catenin in HCC cells. Mice injected with CAR (hYP7) T cells had persistent expansion of T cells and subsets of polyfunctional CAR T cells via antigen-induced selection. These T cells were observed in the tumor microenvironment and spleen for up to 7 weeks after CAR T-cell administration. Integration sites in pre-infusion CAR (HN3) and CAR (hYP7) T cells were randomly distributed, whereas integration into NUPL1 was detected in 3.9% of CAR (hYP7) T cells 5 weeks after injection into tumor-bearing mice and 18.1% of CAR (hYP7) T cells at week 7. There was no common site of integration in CAR (HN3) or CD19 CAR T cells from tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSIONS: In mice with xenograft or orthoptic liver tumors, CAR (hYP7) T cells eliminate GPC3-positive HCC cells, possibly by inducing perforin- and granzyme-mediated apoptosis or reducing Wnt signaling in tumor cells. GPC3-targeted CAR T cells might be developed for treatment of patients with HCC.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Glipicanas/metabolismo , Imunoterapia Adotiva , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/transplante , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Animais , Apoptose , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/imunologia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Proliferação de Células , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Glipicanas/genética , Glipicanas/imunologia , Granzimas/metabolismo , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/imunologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Masculino , Camundongos Endogâmicos NOD , Camundongos SCID , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Perforina/metabolismo , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/genética , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Carga Tumoral , Microambiente Tumoral , Via de Sinalização Wnt , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
We explored the utility of targeting anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a cell surface receptor overexpressed on pediatric solid tumors, using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based immunotherapy. T cells expressing a CAR incorporating the single-chain variable fragment sequence of the ALK48 mAb linked to a 4-1BB-CD3ζ signaling domain lysed ALK-expressing tumor lines and produced interferon-gamma upon antigen stimulation but had limited anti-tumor efficacy in two xenograft models of human neuroblastoma. Further exploration demonstrated that cytokine production was highly dependent upon ALK target density and that target density of ALK on neuroblastoma cell lines was insufficient for maximal activation of CAR T cells. In addition, ALK CAR T cells demonstrated rapid and complete antigen-induced loss of receptor from the T cell surface via internalization. Using a model that simultaneously modulated antigen density and CAR expression, we demonstrated that CAR functionality is regulated by target antigen and CAR density and that low expression of either contributes to limited anti-tumor efficacy of the ALK CAR. These data suggest that stoichiometric relationships between CAR receptors and target antigens may significantly impact the anti-tumor efficacy of CAR T cells and that manipulation of these parameters could allow precise tuning of CAR T cell activity.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Neoplasias/imunologia , Receptores Proteína Tirosina Quinases/metabolismo , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Receptores de Superfície Celular/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Quinase do Linfoma Anaplásico , Animais , Antígenos de Neoplasias/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Expressão Gênica , Ordem dos Genes , Vetores Genéticos/genética , Humanos , Imunoterapia Adotiva , Lentivirus/genética , Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Camundongos , Neoplasias/genética , Neoplasias/imunologia , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Neoplasias/terapia , Receptores Proteína Tirosina Quinases/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores Proteína Tirosina Quinases/genética , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/genética , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
Adoptive transfer of T cells genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting the CD19 B cell-associated protein have demonstrated potent activity against relapsed/refractory B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Not all patients respond, and CD19-negative relapses have been observed. Overexpression of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR; encoded by CRLF2) occurs in a subset of adults and children with B-ALL and confers a high risk of relapse. Recent data suggest the TSLPR signaling axis is functionally important, suggesting that TSLPR would be an ideal immunotherapeutic target. We constructed short and long CARs targeting TSLPR and tested efficacy against CRLF2-overexpressing B-ALL. Both CARs demonstrated activity in vitro, but only short TSLPR CAR T cells mediated leukemia regression. In vivo activity of the short CAR was also associated with long-term persistence of CAR-expressing T cells. Short TSLPR CAR treatment of mice engrafted with a TSLPR-expressing ALL cell line induced leukemia cytotoxicity with efficacy comparable with that of CD19 CAR T cells. Short TSLPR CAR T cells also eradicated leukemia in 4 xenograft models of human CRLF2-overexpressing ALL. Finally, TSLPR has limited surface expression on normal tissues. TSLPR-targeted CAR T cells thus represent a potent oncoprotein-targeted immunotherapy for high-risk ALL.
Assuntos
Imunoterapia Adotiva/métodos , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras B/terapia , Receptores de Citocinas/antagonistas & inibidores , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Animais , Antígenos CD19/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos NOD , Camundongos SCID , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras B/imunologia , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/imunologia , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/uso terapêutico , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
Fibrocytes are hematopoietic stem cell-derived fibroblast precursors that are implicated in chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and wound healing. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) expand in cancer-bearing hosts and contribute to tumor immune evasion. They are typically described as CD11bâºHLA-DRâ» in humans. We report abnormal expansions of CD11bâºHLA-DR⺠myeloid cells in peripheral blood mononuclear fractions of subjects with metastatic pediatric sarcomas. Like classical fibrocytes, they display cell surface α smooth muscle actin, collagen I/V, and mediate angiogenesis. However, classical fibrocytes serve as antigen presenters and augment immune reactivity, whereas fibrocytes from cancer subjects suppressed anti-CD3-mediated T-cell proliferation, primarily via indoleamine oxidase (IDO). The degree of fibrocyte expansion observed in individual subjects directly correlated with the frequency of circulating GATA3âºCD4⺠cells (R = 0.80) and monocytes from healthy donors cultured with IL-4 differentiated into fibrocytes with the same phenotypic profile and immunosuppressive properties as those observed in patients with cancer. We thus describe a novel subset of cancer-induced myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which bear the phenotypic and functional hallmarks of fibrocytes but mediate immune suppression. These cells are likely expanded in response to Th2 immune deviation and may contribute to tumor progression via both immune evasion and angiogenesis.
Assuntos
Fibroblastos/patologia , Linfócitos/patologia , Células Mieloides/patologia , Rabdomiossarcoma/patologia , Sarcoma de Ewing/secundário , Evasão Tumoral/imunologia , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Biomarcadores Tumorais/metabolismo , Western Blotting , Diferenciação Celular , Proliferação de Células , Células Cultivadas , Criança , Fibroblastos/imunologia , Citometria de Fluxo , Fator de Transcrição GATA3 , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Células Endoteliais da Veia Umbilical Humana , Humanos , Imunofenotipagem , Terapia de Imunossupressão , Interleucina-4/farmacologia , Receptores de Lipopolissacarídeos , Ativação Linfocitária , Linfócitos/imunologia , Monócitos/imunologia , Monócitos/patologia , Células Mieloides/imunologia , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Rabdomiossarcoma/sangue , Rabdomiossarcoma/imunologia , Sarcoma de Ewing/sangue , Sarcoma de Ewing/imunologia , Células Th2RESUMO
Immune targeting of B-cell malignancies using chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) is a promising new approach, but critical factors impacting CAR efficacy remain unclear. To test the suitability of targeting CD22 on precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), lymphoblasts from 111 patients with BCP-ALL were assayed for CD22 expression and all were found to be CD22-positive, with median CD22 expression levels of 3500 sites/cell. Three distinct binding domains targeting CD22 were fused to various TCR signaling domains ± an IgG heavy chain constant domain (CH2CH3) to create a series of vector constructs suitable to delineate optimal CAR configuration. CARs derived from the m971 anti-CD22 mAb, which targets a proximal CD22 epitope demonstrated superior antileukemic activity compared with those incorporating other binding domains, and addition of a 4-1BB signaling domain to CD28.CD3 constructs diminished potency, whereas increasing affinity of the anti-CD22 binding motif, and extending the CD22 binding domain away from the membrane via CH2CH3 had no effect. We conclude that second-generation m971 mAb-derived anti-CD22 CARs are promising novel therapeutics that should be tested in BCP-ALL.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras B/imunologia , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras B/terapia , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/imunologia , Lectina 2 Semelhante a Ig de Ligação ao Ácido Siálico/antagonistas & inibidores , Lectina 2 Semelhante a Ig de Ligação ao Ácido Siálico/imunologia , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Citocinas/metabolismo , Citotoxicidade Imunológica , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos NOD , Camundongos SCID , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/imunologia , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
Current multimodal treatments for patients with neuroblastoma (NBL), including anti-disialoganglioside (GD2) monoclonal antibody (mAb) based immunotherapy, result in a favorable outcome in around only half of the patients with advanced disease. To improve this, novel immunocombinational strategies need to be developed and tested in autologous preclinical NBL models. A genetically well-explored autologous mouse model for NBL is the TH-MYCN model. However, the immunobiology of the TH-MYCN model remains largely unexplored. We developed a mouse model using a transplantable TH-MYCN cell line in syngeneic C57Bl/6 mice and characterized the immunobiology of this model. In this report, we show the relevance and opportunities of this model to study immunotherapy for human NBL. Similar to human NBL cells, syngeneic TH-MYCN-derived 9464D cells endogenously express the tumor antigen GD2 and low levels of MHC Class I. The presence of the adaptive immune system had little or no influence on tumor growth, showing the low immunogenicity of the NBL cells. In contrast, depletion of NK1.1+ cells resulted in enhanced tumor outgrowth in both wild-type and Rag1(-/-) mice, showing an important role for NK cells in the natural anti-NBL immune response. Analysis of the tumor infiltrating leukocytes ex vivo revealed the presence of both tumor associated myeloid cells and T regulatory cells, thus mimicking human NBL tumors. Finally, anti-GD2 mAb mediated NBL therapy resulted in ADCC in vitro and delayed tumor outgrowth in vivo. We conclude that the transplantable TH-MYCN model represents a relevant model for the development of novel immunocombinatorial approaches for NBL patients.
Assuntos
Modelos Animais de Doenças , Gangliosídeos/imunologia , Proteínas de Homeodomínio/fisiologia , Imunoterapia , Neuroblastoma/terapia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/fisiologia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/farmacologia , Western Blotting , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismo , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/patologia , Proliferação de Células , Feminino , Citometria de Fluxo , Imunofluorescência , Humanos , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/patologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Transgênicos , Proteína Proto-Oncogênica N-Myc , Neuroblastoma/imunologia , Neuroblastoma/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Linfócitos T Reguladores/metabolismo , Linfócitos T Reguladores/patologia , Transgenes/fisiologia , Células Tumorais CultivadasRESUMO
The inability of people living with HIV (PLWH) to eradicate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is due in part to the inadequate HIV-specific cellular immune response. The antiviral function of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, which are crucial for HIV control, is impaired during chronic viral infection because of viral escape mutations, immune exhaustion, HIV antigen downregulation, inflammation, and apoptosis. In addition, some HIV-infected cells either localize to tissue sanctuaries inaccessible to CD8+ T cells or are intrinsically resistant to CD8+ T cell killing. The novel design of synthetic chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that enable T cells to target specific antigens has led to the development of potent and effective CAR-T cell therapies. While initial clinical trials using anti-HIV CAR-T cells performed over 20 years ago showed limited anti-HIV effects, the improved CAR-T cell design, which enabled its success in treating cancer, has reinstated CAR-T cell therapy as a strategy for HIV cure with notable progress being made in the recent decade.Effective CAR-T cell therapy against HIV infection requires the generation of anti-HIV CAR-T cells with potent in vivo activity against HIV-infected cells. Preclinical evaluation of anti-HIV efficacy of CAR-T cells and their safety is fundamental for supporting the initiation of subsequent clinical trials in PLWH. For these preclinical studies, we developed a novel humanized mouse model supporting in vivo HIV infection, the development of viremia, and the evaluation of novel HIV therapeutics. Preclinical assessment of anti-HIV CAR-T cells using this mouse model involves a multistep process including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) harvested from human donors, T cell purification, ex vivo T cell activation, transduction with lentiviral vectors encoding an anti-HIV CAR, CAR-T cell expansion and infusion in mice intrasplenically injected with autologous PBMCs followed by the determination of CAR-T cell capacity for HIV suppression. Each of the steps described in the following protocol were optimized in the lab to maximize the quantity and quality of the final anti-HIV CAR-T cell products.
Assuntos
Infecções por HIV , Imunoterapia Adotiva , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos , Humanos , Animais , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/imunologia , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/genética , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Infecções por HIV/terapia , Infecções por HIV/virologia , Imunoterapia Adotiva/métodos , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/imunologia , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/genética , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , HIV-1/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Transdução GenéticaRESUMO
The landscape of therapeutic options for B cell malignancies has fundamentally changed with regulatory and marketing approval of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cell products. The cell types used for CAR-T production, the length of time of manufacture, the stimulation matrix, and the nature of the gene vector used to transduce human T cells all are significant variables that require adequate quality control before infusion. Having approved products available to clinicians using a centralized production paradigm has not stopped innovation in investigator-initiated trials. Moreover, the high costs of the commercial products have been a significant wake-up call to those concerned about rising costs in health care, and the ability of developing nations, and nations with managed care systems to support these costs. Place-of-care manufacturing is a clear alternative to the approved products created in a centralized manufacturing approach. It is supported by continued technological innovation and the willingness of clinicians to develop new ways to decrease costs and make these curative therapies equitably available.
Assuntos
Neoplasias , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos , Humanos , Imunoterapia Adotiva , Linfócitos TRESUMO
CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CD19-CAR) has changed the treatment landscape and outcomes for patients with pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Unfortunately, primary nonresponse (PNR), sustained CD19+ disease, and concurrent expansion of CD19-CAR occur in 20% of the patients and is associated with adverse outcomes. Although some failures may be attributable to CD19 loss, mechanisms of CD19-independent, leukemia-intrinsic resistance to CD19-CAR remain poorly understood. We hypothesize that PNR leukemias are distinct compared with primary sensitive (PS) leukemias and that these differences are present before treatment. We used a multiomic approach to investigate this in 14 patients (7 with PNR and 7 with PS) enrolled in the PLAT-02 trial at Seattle Children's Hospital. Long-read PacBio sequencing helped identify 1 PNR in which 47% of CD19 transcripts had exon 2 skipping, but other samples lacked CD19 transcript abnormalities. Epigenetic profiling discovered DNA hypermethylation at genes targeted by polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) in embryonic stem cells. Similarly, assays of transposase-accessible chromatin-sequencing revealed reduced accessibility at these PRC2 target genes, with a gain in accessibility of regions characteristic of hematopoietic stem cells and multilineage progenitors in PNR. Single-cell RNA sequencing and cytometry by time of flight analyses identified leukemic subpopulations expressing multilineage markers and decreased antigen presentation in PNR. We thus describe the association of a stem cell epigenome with primary resistance to CD19-CAR therapy. Future trials incorporating these biomarkers, with the addition of multispecific CAR T cells targeting against leukemic stem cell or myeloid antigens, and/or combined epigenetic therapy to disrupt this distinct stem cell epigenome may improve outcomes of patients with B-ALL.
Assuntos
Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras , Linfócitos T , Criança , Humanos , Epigenoma , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/genética , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/terapia , Antígenos CD19 , Células-Tronco HematopoéticasRESUMO
Pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) have dismal cure rates, and effective therapy is urgently needed. The oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is highly expressed in RMS and lowly expressed in healthy tissues. Here, we describe a second-generation FGFR4-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), based on an anti-human FGFR4-specific murine monoclonal antibody 3A11, as an adoptive T cell treatment for RMS. The 3A11 CAR T cells induced robust cytokine production and cytotoxicity against RMS cell lines in vitro. In contrast, a panel of healthy human primary cells failed to activate 3A11 CAR T cells, confirming the selectivity of 3A11 CAR T cells against tumors with high FGFR4 expression. Finally, we demonstrate that 3A11 CAR T cells are persistent in vivo and can effectively eliminate RMS tumors in two metastatic and two orthotopic models. Therefore, our study credentials CAR T cell therapy targeting FGFR4 to treat patients with RMS.
Assuntos
Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos , Rabdomiossarcoma , Animais , Criança , Humanos , Camundongos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Imunoterapia Adotiva , Receptor Tipo 4 de Fator de Crescimento de Fibroblastos/genética , Receptor Tipo 4 de Fator de Crescimento de Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/genética , Rabdomiossarcoma/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) remains a fatal brainstem tumor demanding innovative therapies. As B7-H3 (CD276) is expressed on central nervous system (CNS) tumors, we designed B7-H3-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, confirmed their preclinical efficacy, and opened BrainChild-03 (NCT04185038), a first-in-human phase I trial administering repeated locoregional B7-H3 CAR T cells to children with recurrent/refractory CNS tumors and DIPG. Here, we report the results of the first three evaluable patients with DIPG (including two who enrolled after progression), who received 40 infusions with no dose-limiting toxicities. One patient had sustained clinical and radiographic improvement through 12 months on study. Patients exhibited correlative evidence of local immune activation and persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) B7-H3 CAR T cells. Targeted mass spectrometry of CSF biospecimens revealed modulation of B7-H3 and critical immune analytes (CD14, CD163, CSF-1, CXCL13, and VCAM-1). Our data suggest the feasibility of repeated intracranial B7-H3 CAR T-cell dosing and that intracranial delivery may induce local immune activation. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report of repeatedly dosed intracranial B7-H3 CAR T cells for patients with DIPG and includes preliminary tolerability, the detection of CAR T cells in the CSF, CSF cytokine elevations supporting locoregional immune activation, and the feasibility of serial mass spectrometry from both serum and CSF. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1.
Assuntos
Neoplasias do Tronco Encefálico , Glioma Pontino Intrínseco Difuso , Humanos , Antígenos B7 , Neoplasias do Tronco Encefálico/terapia , Linfócitos TRESUMO
Using two MYCN transgenic mouse strains, we established 10 transplantable neuroblastoma cell lines via serial orthotopic passage in the adrenal gland. Tissue arrays demonstrate that by histochemistry, vascularity, immunohistochemical staining for neuroblastoma markers, catecholamine analysis, and concurrent cDNA microarray analysis, there is a close correspondence between the transplantable lines and the spontaneous tumors. Several genes closely associated with the pathobiology and immune evasion of neuroblastoma, novel targets that warrant evaluation, and decreased expression of tumor suppressor genes are demonstrated. These studies describe a unique and generalizable approach to expand the utility of transgenic models of spontaneous tumor, providing new tools for preclinical investigation.
Assuntos
Descoberta de Drogas , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Neuroblastoma/patologia , Animais , Apoptose , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Quinase 4 Dependente de Ciclina/análise , Genes Supressores de Tumor , Ensaios de Triagem em Larga Escala , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Proteína Proto-Oncogênica N-Myc , Transplante de Neoplasias , Neuroblastoma/tratamento farmacológico , Neuroblastoma/genética , Neuroblastoma/ultraestrutura , Proteínas Nucleares/genética , Proteínas Oncogênicas/genética , Molécula-1 de Adesão Celular Endotelial a Plaquetas/análise , Análise de Componente Principal , Análise Serial de TecidosRESUMO
The advent of CAR-T cell therapy has changed the face of clinical care for relapsed and refractory pre-B-acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL) and lymphoma. Although curative responses are reported, long-term cures remain below 50%. Different CAR T-cell leukemia targets appear to have different mechanisms of CAR-T escape. For CD22, therapeutic evasion is linked to down-modulation of the number CD22 proteins expressed on the extracellular aspect of the leukemia cell plasma membrane. Recently, pharmacologic agents known to induce cellular differentiation or epigenetic modification of leukemia have been shown to impact CD22 and CD19 expression levels on B-ALL, and thereby increase sensitivity to CAR-T mediated cytolysis. We explored the impact of epigenetic modifiers and differentiation agents on leukemia cell lines of B cell origin, as well as normal B cells. We confirmed the activity of bryostatin to increase CD22 expression on model cell lines. However, bryostatin does not change CD22 levels on normal B cells. Furthermore, bryostatin inhibited CAR-T mediated cytolysis of the Raji Burkitt lymphoma cell line. Bryostatin increased the cytolysis by CD22 CAR-T for B-ALL cell lines by at least three mechanisms: 1) the previously reported increase in CD22 target cell numbers on the cell surface, 2) the induction of NK ligands, and 3) the induction of ligands that sensitize leukemia cells to activated T cell antigen-non-specific killing. The opposite effect was seen for Burkitt lymphoma, which arises from a more mature B cell lineage. These findings should caution investigators against a universal application of agents shown to increase killing of leukemia target cells by CAR-T in a specific disease class, and highlights that activation of non-CAR-mediated killing by activated T cells may play a significant role in the control of disease. We have termed the killing of leukemia targets, by a set of cell-surface receptors that does not overlap with NK-like killing "CTAK," CAR-T Cell antigen-non-specific killing.
Assuntos
Linfoma de Burkitt , Linfoma de Células B , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras B , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos , Briostatinas/farmacologia , Linfoma de Burkitt/terapia , Linhagem Celular , Humanos , Ligantes , Linfoma de Células B/terapia , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras B/terapia , Linfócitos TRESUMO
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue cancer in children. Treatment outcomes, particularly for relapsed/refractory or metastatic disease, have not improved in decades. The current lack of novel therapies and low tumor mutational burden suggest that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy could be a promising approach to treating RMS. Previous work identified FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4, CD334) as being specifically upregulated in RMS, making it a candidate target for CAR T cells. We tested the feasibility of an FGFR4-targeted CAR for treating RMS using an NSG mouse with RH30 orthotopic (intramuscular) tumors. The first barrier we noted was that RMS tumors produce a collagen-rich stroma, replete with immunosuppressive myeloid cells, when T-cell therapy is initiated. This stromal response is not seen in tumor-only xenografts. When scFV-based binders were selected from phage display, CARs targeting FGFR4 were not effective until our screening approach was refined to identify binders to the membrane-proximal domain of FGFR4. Having improved the CAR, we devised a pharmacologic strategy to augment CAR T-cell activity by inhibiting the myeloid component of the T-cell-induced tumor stroma. The combined treatment of mice with anti-myeloid polypharmacy (targeting CSF1R, IDO1, iNOS, TGFbeta, PDL1, MIF, and myeloid misdifferentiation) allowed FGFR4 CAR T cells to successfully clear orthotopic RMS tumors, demonstrating that RMS tumors, even with very low copy-number targets, can be targeted by CAR T cells upon reversal of an immunosuppressive microenvironment.
Assuntos
Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos , Rabdomiossarcoma , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Imunoterapia Adotiva , Camundongos , Polimedicação , Receptor Tipo 4 de Fator de Crescimento de Fibroblastos/genética , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T , Receptores de Antígenos Quiméricos/genética , Rabdomiossarcoma/tratamento farmacológico , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta , Microambiente TumoralRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Immunotherapies targeting cellular immunity are currently approved for treatment of melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and prostate cancer. Studies on the immunogenicity and immune responsiveness of pediatric tumors are limited, therefore, it remains unclear to what extent T-cell-based immunotherapy holds promise for pediatric solid tumors. PROCEDURE: A new rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (M3-9-M) was derived from an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) occurring in a C57BL/6 mouse transgenic for hepatocyte growth factor and heterozygous for mutated p53. Primary tumors and metastases derived from M3-9-M were studied for similarities to human ERMS, and for immunogenicity and immune responsiveness. RESULTS: Primary and metastatic tumors develop after orthotopic injection of M3-9-M into immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice, which mirror human ERMS with regard to histology, gene expression, and metastatic behavior. Whole cell vaccination using irradiated M3-9-M cells or M3-9-M-pulsed dendritic cells (DC)-induced tumor-specific T-cell responses that prevent tumor growth following low-dose tumor injection, and slow tumor growth following higher doses. Administration of anti-CD25 moAbs to deplete CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells prior to tumor vaccination enhanced the potency of the ERMS tumor vaccine. Adoptive immunotherapy with M3-9-M primed T cells plus DC-based vaccination resulted in complete eradication of day 10 M3-9-M derived tumors. CONCLUSIONS: M3-9-M derived murine ERMS is immunogenic and immunoresponsive; regulatory T cells contribute to immune evasion by murine rhabdomyosarcoma. Adoptive immunotherapy with DC vaccination can eradicate low tumor burdens. Future work will seek to identify the tumor-associated antigens that mediate protective and therapeutic immunity in this model.
Assuntos
Imunoterapia , Rabdomiossarcoma/imunologia , Rabdomiossarcoma/terapia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/administração & dosagem , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Vacinas Anticâncer/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Anticâncer/imunologia , Feminino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BLRESUMO
A substantial number of patients with leukemia and lymphoma treated with anti-CD19 or anti-CD22 monoCAR-T cell therapy relapse because of antigen loss or down-regulation. We hypothesized that B cell tumor antigen escape may be overcome by a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) design that simultaneously targets three B cell leukemia antigens. We engineered trispecific duoCAR-T cells with lentiviral vectors encoding two CAR open reading frames that target CD19, CD20, and CD22. The duoCARs were composed of a CAR with a tandem CD19- and CD20-targeting binder, linked by the P2A self-cleaving peptide to a second CAR targeting CD22. Multiple combinations of intracellular T cell signaling motifs were evaluated. The most potent duoCAR architectures included those with ICOS, OX40, or CD27 signaling domains rather than those from CD28 or 4-1BB. We identified four optimal binder and signaling combinations that potently rejected xenografted leukemia and lymphoma tumors in vivo. Moreover, in mice bearing a mixture of B cell lymphoma lines composed of parental triple-positive cells, CD19-negative, CD20-negative, and CD22-negative variants, only the trispecific duoCAR-T cells rapidly and efficiently rejected the tumors. Each of the monoCAR-T cells failed to prevent tumor progression. Analysis of intracellular signaling profiles demonstrates that the distinct signaling of the intracellular domains used may contribute to these differential effects. Multispecific duoCAR-T cells are a promising strategy to prevent antigen loss-mediated relapse or the down-regulation of target antigen in patients with B cell malignancies.
Assuntos
Imunoterapia Adotiva , Linfoma de Células B , Animais , Antígenos CD19 , Linfócitos B , Humanos , Linfoma de Células B/terapia , Camundongos , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T , Lectina 2 Semelhante a Ig de Ligação ao Ácido Siálico , Linfócitos TRESUMO
Management for high-risk neuroblastoma (NBL) has included autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and anti-GD2 immunotherapy, but survival remains around 50%. The aim of this study was to determine if allogeneic HSCT could serve as a platform for inducing a graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect against NBL with combination immunocytokine and NK cells in a murine model. Lethally irradiated C57BL/6 (B6) x A/J recipients were transplanted with B6 bone marrow on Day +0. On day +10, allogeneic HSCT recipients were challenged with NXS2, a GD2+ NBL. On days +14-16, mice were treated with the anti-GD2 immunocytokine hu14.18-IL2. In select groups, hu14.18-IL2 was combined with infusions of B6 NK cells activated with IL-15/IL-15Rα and CD137L ex vivo. Allogeneic HSCT alone was insufficient to control NXS2 tumor growth, but the addition of hu14.18-IL2 controlled tumor growth and improved survival. Adoptive transfer of ex vivo CD137L/IL-15/IL-15Rα activated NK cells with or without hu14.18-IL2 exacerbated lethality. CD137L/IL-15/IL-15Rα activated NK cells showed enhanced cytotoxicity and produced high levels of TNF-α in vitro, but induced cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in vivo. Infusing Perforin-/- CD137L/IL-15/IL-15Rα activated NK cells had no impact on GVT, whereas TNF-α-/- CD137L/IL-15/IL-15Rα activated NK cells improved GVT by decreasing peripheral effector cell subsets while preserving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Depletion of Ly49H+ NK cells also improved GVT. Using allogeneic HSCT for NBL is a viable platform for immunocytokines and ex vivo activated NK cell infusions, but must be balanced with induction of CRS. Regulation of TNFα or activating NK subsets may be needed to improve GVT effects.