Preclinical optimization of a GPC2-targeting CAR T-cell therapy for neuroblastoma

Autor: Nan Li, Haiying Qin, Rosa Nguyen, Mitchell Ho, Ming Sun, Eytan Ruppin, Michael C Kelly, Yingying Cao, Reona Okada, Jeyshka M Reyes-González, Hannah G Stack, Charlie Seibert, Carol J Thiele
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, Vol 11, Iss 1 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2051-1426
DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005881
Popis: Background Although most patients with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) achieve remission after initial therapy, more than 50% experience late relapses caused by minimal residual disease (MRD) and succumb to their cancer. Therapeutic strategies to target MRD may benefit these children. We developed a new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting glypican-2 (GPC2) and conducted iterative preclinical engineering of the CAR structure to maximize its anti-tumor efficacy before clinical translation.Methods We evaluated different GPC2-CAR constructs by measuring the CAR activity in vitro. NOD-SCID mice engrafted orthotopically with human NB cell lines or patient-derived xenografts and treated with human CAR T cells served as in vivo models. Mechanistic studies were performed using single-cell RNA-sequencing.Results Applying stringent in vitro assays and orthotopic in vivo NB models, we demonstrated that our single-chain variable fragment, CT3, integrated into a CAR vector with a CD28 hinge, CD28 transmembrane, and 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain (CT3.28H.BBζ) elicits the best preclinical anti-NB activity compared with other tested CAR constructs. This enhanced activity was associated with an enrichment of CD8+ effector T cells in the tumor-microenvironment and upregulation of several effector molecules such as GNLY, GZMB, ZNF683, and HMGN2. Finally, we also showed that the CT3.28H.BBζ CAR we developed was more potent than a recently clinically tested GD2-targeted CAR to control NB growth in vivo.Conclusion Given the robust preclinical activity of CT3.28H.BBζ, these results form a promising basis for further clinical testing in children with NB.
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