Project description:We here applied single-cell RNA sequencing of circulating T-cells from primary MM patients to perform transcriptional profiling and assess T-cell fitness in the context of emerging resistance to CAR-T cell therapy. Response to PD-1 inhibition after CAR-T was dictated by the fitness state of non-CAR T cells
Project description:Success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in lymphoid malignancies has not yet been recapitulated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We developed CAR T-cells targeting CD371 with a mutated CD28 costimulatory domain to limit T-cell exhaustion, and constitutive interleukin-18 secretion to enhance immune function (CD371/SAVVY/IL-18 CAR). We initiated a phase I trial (NCT06017258), successfully manufactured and administered CD371/SAVVY/IL-18 CAR T-cells in 5 patients with relapsed/refractory AML, and observed expansion following a single infusion of 3x104 or 3x105 CAR T-cells/kg; three patients refractory to ≥5 lines of therapy and post-allogeneic transplant exhibited AML clearance. Single-cell analyses revealed that circulating CAR T-cells in responders included predominantly cytotoxic CD8+ effector T-cells 2 weeks post-infusion while co-existing NK-cells expressed markers of activation. This pilot study highlights the activity of low-dose IL-18 “armored” CAR T-cells against refractory AML and their potential to promote CAR T-cell cytotoxicity and innate endogenous anti-tumor immunity.
Project description:Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the clinical treatment of hematological malignancies due to the prominent anti-tumor effects. B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR-T cells have demonstrated promising effects in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. However, the dynamics of CAR-T cell proliferation and cytotoxicity in a patient remains largely unexplored. Single-cell RNA sequencing samples were collected at three phases: CAR-T products before infusion, CAR-T on day 8 after infusion, and CAR-T on day 15 after infusion. After obtaining the PBMCs for each phase, CAR-T and endogenous T cells were collected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting with anti-Mouse IgG Biotin, FITC Streptavidin, and anti-human CD3 APC.
Project description:<p>Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) exhibits profound immunometabolic suppression that impairs antigen presentation and constrains immunotherapy efficacy. Through integrated multi-omics analyses of primary human SCLC tumors, we identified midkine (MDK) as a dominant tumor-secreted driver of immune evasion. Mechanistically, MDK activates STAT3 to induce indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), driving tryptophan-kynurenine metabolic reprogramming. This axis suppresses myeloid antigen presentation, reduces HLA class I expression, and impairs CD8+ T cell function, establishing a immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). We engineered DLL3-targeted CAR T cells secreting anti-MDK scFv. These dual-functional CAR T cells neutralize MDK within the TME, restore antigen presentation, alleviate metabolic suppression, and reinvigorate CD8+ T cell responses. In SCLC models, they exhibited markedly enhanced antitumor activity, improved metabolic fitness, and durable immune activation without systemic toxicity. Collectively, our findings identify MDK as a key immunometabolic regulator and support sMDK-DLL3 CAR T cells as a targeted immunotherapy for SCLC.</p>
Project description:Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells induce responses in patients with relapsed/refractory leukemia; however, long-term efficacy is frequently limited by post-CAR relapses. The inability to target antigen-low cells is an intrinsic vulnerability of second-generation CAR T-cells and underlies the majority of relapses following CD22BBz CAR T-cell therapy. We interrogated CD22BBz CAR signaling in response to low antigen and found inefficient phosphorylation of LAT, limiting downstream signaling. To overcome this, we designed the Adjunctive LAT-Activating CAR T-cell (ALA-CART) platform, pairing a second-generation CAR with a LAT-CAR incorporating the intracellular domain of LAT. ALA-CART cells demonstrated reduced differentiation during manufacturing and increased LAT phosphorylation, MAPK signaling and AP-1 activity. Consequently, ALA-CART cells showed improved cytotoxicity, proliferation, persistence and efficacy against antigen-low leukemias that were refractory to clinically-active CD22BBz CAR T-cells. These data suggest restoration of LAT signaling through the ALA-CART platform represents a promising strategy for overcoming multiple mechanisms of CAR T-cell failure.
Project description:Long-lived, self-renewing, multipotent T memory stem cells (TSCM) can trigger profound and sustained tumor regression but their rareness poses a major hurdle to their clinical application. Presently, clinically compliant procedures to generate relevant numbers of this T cell population are undefined. Here, we provide a strategy for deriving large numbers of clinical grade tumor-redirected TSCM cells starting from naïve precursors. CD8+CD62L+CD45RA+ naïve T cells enriched by streptamer-based serial positive selection were activated by CD3/CD28 engagement in the presence of IL-7, IL-21 and the glycogen synthase-3β inhibitor TWS119, and genetically engineered to express a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CD19-CAR). These conditions allowed for the generation of CD19-CAR modified TSCM cells that were phenotypically, functionally and transcriptomically equivalent to their naturally occurring counterpart. Compared with T cell products currently under clinical investigation, CD19-CAR modified TSCM cells exhibit enhanced metabolic fitness, persistence and anti-tumor activity against systemic acute lymphoblastic leukemia xenografts. Based on these findings, we have initiated a phase 1 clinical study to evaluate the activity of CD19-CAR modified TSCM in patients with B-cell malignancies refractory to prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Three healthy human blood donors provided lymphocyte-enriched apheresis blood for this study after informed consent. From all samples, total RNA was isolated using an miRNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen), processed by Ambionâ??s WT expression kit, fragmented and labeled with a WT Terminal Labeling Kit (Affymetrix), hybridized to WT Human Gene 1.0 ST arrays (Affymetrix) and stained on a Genechip Fluidics Station 450 (Affymetrix), all according to the respective manufacturer's instructions. Samples represent exon-level and gene-level analyses.
Project description:Alternate strategies are needed for B-cell malignancy patients relapsing after CD19-targeted immunotherapy. Here, integrated cell surface proteomics and epigenetic analysis initially revealed CD72 as an optimal target for poor-prognosis MLL-rearranged B-ALL, which we further found to be expressed widely across B-cell malignancies. Using a recently-described, fully-in vitro system we selected CD72-specific nanobodies, incorporated them into CARs, and demonstrated robust activity against B-cell malignancy models, including CD19 loss. “Antigen escape profiling” modeled membrane proteome changes in the context of CD72 loss while pharmacologic SHIP1 inhibition increased CD72 surface density. We establish CD72-nanobody CAR T’s as a promising therapy for refractory B-cell malignancies.
Project description:Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed with peripheral blood cells before (Day 0, T0), during nivolumab treatment (Day 7, T1; Day 21, T2), and when plasma EBV turned negative (Day 76, T3) in 1 patient (patient 7). scRNA-seq libraries were generated following the recommended protocol of the 3’ scRNA-seq 10X genomics platform and using v2 chemistry, and sequenced data was collected by illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing.