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Simultaneous Targeting of Ovarian Cancer and Its Microenvironment Using Stem Cell-Engineered Off-The-Shelf CAR-NKT Cells

ABSTRACT: Ovarian cancer (OC) poses a significant challenge due to frequent recurrence linked to tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Targeting both OC cells and TME simultaneously holds promise for effective treatment. This study comprehensively analyzed 17 chemonaive and 18 refractory/recurrent OC samples, identifying mesothelin (MSLN) and natural killer receptor (NKR) ligands as tumor targets and CD1d as an OC TME target. Leveraging hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene engineering and feeder-free differentiation culture, we generated allogeneic MSLN-targeting CAR (MCAR)-engineered invariant natural killer T (MCAR-NKT) cells, demonstrating high-yield and high-purity production,potentantitumor efficacy, multiple tumor targeting mechanism, and significant in vivo expansion and persistence. Notably, these cells selectively deplete immunosuppressive TAMs and MDSCs, counteract tumor immune evasion, display a favorable safety profile with low risks of GvHD and CRS, and exhibit a stable “hypoimmunogenic” phenotype attributed to epigenetic and signaling regulations. These findings underscore the preclinical feasibility and therapeutic potential of allogeneic MCAR-NKT cell products for OC, laying a foundation for translational and clinical development.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE252379 | GEO | 2024/01/10

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Immunotherapeutics represent highly promising agents with the potential to improve patient outcomes in a variety of cancer types. Unfortunately, single-agent immunotherapy has achieved limited clinical benefit to date in patients suffering from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This may be due to the presence of a uniquely immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) present in PDACs, which creates a barrier to effective immune surveillance. Critical obstacles to immunotherapy in PDAC tumors include the dense desmoplastic stroma that acts as a barrier to T-cell infiltration and the high numbers of tumor-associated immunosuppressive cells. We have identified hyperactivated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity in neoplastic PDAC cells as a significant regulator of the fibrotic and immunosuppressive TME. We found that FAK activity was elevated in human PDAC tissues and correlates with high levels of fibrosis and poor CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell infiltration. Single-agent FAK inhibition (VS-4718) dramatically limited tumor progression, resulting in a doubling of survival in the p48-Cre/LSL-KrasG12D/p53Flox/+ (KPC) mouse model of human PDAC. This alteration in tumor progression was associated with dramatically reduced tumor fibrosis, decreased numbers of tumor-infiltrating immature myeloid cells and immunosuppressive macrophages. We postulated that these desirable effects of FAK inhibition on the TME might render PDAC tumors more sensitive to immunotherapy. Accordingly, we found that VS-4718 rendered the previously unresponsive KPC mouse model responsive to anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 antagonists leading to a nearly tripling of survival times. These data suggest that FAK inhibition increases immune surveillance by overcoming the fibrotic and immunosuppressive PDAC TME thus rendering tumors more responsive to immunotherapy. We treated KP orthotopic tumor-bearing mice with vehicle and FAK inhibitor (FAKi) for 14 days, then extracted total RNA from tumor tissues.

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Simultaneous Targeting of Ovarian Cancer and Its Microenvironment Using Stem Cell-Engineered Off-The-Shelf CAR-NKT Cells

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