CAR T-cells targeting the integrin αvβ6 and co-expressing the chemokine receptor CXCR2 demonstrate enhanced homing and efficacy against several solid malignancies

TY - JOUR

T1 - CAR T-cells targeting the integrin αvβ6 and co-expressing the chemokine receptor CXCR2 demonstrate enhanced homing and efficacy against several solid malignancies

AU - Whilding, Lynsey M.

AU - Halim, Leena

AU - Draper, Benjamin

AU - Parente-Pereira, Ana C.

AU - Zabinski, Tomasz

AU - Davies, David Marc

AU - Maher, John

PY - 2019/5/14

Y1 - 2019/5/14

N2 - Despite the unprecedented clinical success of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T-cells against haematological malignancy, solid tumors impose a far greater challenge to success. Largely, this stems from an inadequate capacity of CAR T-cells that can traffic and maintain function within a hostile microenvironment. To enhance tumor-directed T-cell trafficking, we have engineered CAR T-cells to acquire heightened responsiveness to interleukin (IL)-8. Circulating IL-8 levels correlate with disease burden and prognosis in multiple solid tumors in which it exerts diverse pathological functions including angiogenesis, support of cancer stem cell survival, and recruitment of immunosuppressive myeloid cells. To harness tumor-derived IL-8 for therapeutic benefit, we have co-expressed either of its cognate receptors (CXCR1 or CXCR2) in CAR T-cells that target the tumor-associated αvβ6 integrin. We demonstrate here that CXCR2-expressing CAR T-cells migrate more efficiently towards IL-8 and towards tumor conditioned media that contains this cytokine. As a result, these CAR T-cells elicit superior anti-tumor activity against established αvβ6-expressing ovarian or pancreatic tumor xenografts, with a more favorable toxicity profile. These data support the further engineering of CAR T-cells to acquire responsiveness to cancer-derived chemokines in order to improve their therapeutic activity against solid tumors.

AB - Despite the unprecedented clinical success of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T-cells against haematological malignancy, solid tumors impose a far greater challenge to success. Largely, this stems from an inadequate capacity of CAR T-cells that can traffic and maintain function within a hostile microenvironment. To enhance tumor-directed T-cell trafficking, we have engineered CAR T-cells to acquire heightened responsiveness to interleukin (IL)-8. Circulating IL-8 levels correlate with disease burden and prognosis in multiple solid tumors in which it exerts diverse pathological functions including angiogenesis, support of cancer stem cell survival, and recruitment of immunosuppressive myeloid cells. To harness tumor-derived IL-8 for therapeutic benefit, we have co-expressed either of its cognate receptors (CXCR1 or CXCR2) in CAR T-cells that target the tumor-associated αvβ6 integrin. We demonstrate here that CXCR2-expressing CAR T-cells migrate more efficiently towards IL-8 and towards tumor conditioned media that contains this cytokine. As a result, these CAR T-cells elicit superior anti-tumor activity against established αvβ6-expressing ovarian or pancreatic tumor xenografts, with a more favorable toxicity profile. These data support the further engineering of CAR T-cells to acquire responsiveness to cancer-derived chemokines in order to improve their therapeutic activity against solid tumors.

KW - Cancer

KW - CAR-T

KW - Chemokine receptor

KW - Chimeric antigen receptor

KW - Homing

KW - Immunotherapy

KW - Integrin

KW - Solid tumor

KW - T-cell

KW - αvβ6

U2 - 10.3390/cancers11050674

DO - 10.3390/cancers11050674

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85067195416

SN - 2072-6694

VL - 11

SP - 1

EP - 17

JO - Cancers

JF - Cancers

IS - 5

M1 - 674

ER -