1) CAR T cells specific for CD19 have shown remarkable success in treating blood cancers but have had limited effect on solid tumors which lack the CD19 antigen.
2) The IMPACT technology uses fusion proteins containing the extracellular domain of CD19 linked to single-chain antibodies targeting other antigens to bridge CAR19 T cells to solid tumors.
3) Experiments showed CAR19 T cells redirected by a CD19-anti-HER2 fusion protein were cytotoxic against HER2-positive ovarian cancer cells in vitro, demonstrating the IMPACT technology can redirect CAR T cells to new tumor targets through antigen bridging.
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1. CAR T cells specific for CD19 can be redirected to kill CD19 negative tumors
1 - Introduction
Remarkable progress has been made in the treatment of
relapsed/refractory Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and Non-
Hodgkin Lymphoma with CAR-CD19 T cells. In contrast,
progress against CD19-negative hematological cancers and
solid tumors has been limited. Intensive efforts to optimize
cellular therapeutics for better ef鍖cacy include provision of
cytokine support and countering immuno-suppression.
However, lack of suf鍖cient antigen is a signi鍖cant additional
hurdle that CAR-T therapeutics for solid tumors must
overcome. We present a novel strategy to utilize CD19 for
sustained antigen presentation in order to promote cellular
therapeutic expansion, ef鍖cacy and persistence. The strategy,
called IMPACTTM (Integrated Modules oPtimize Adoptive
Cell Therapy), employs a methodology that is modular in
design and can be applied to diverse antigens and tumor types,
yet retains the well-established advantages of CAR T cells
directed to CD19.
2 - Technology Overview
IMPACTTM fusion proteins are created by cloning the
extracellular domain (ECD) of a CAR T cell target protein (e.g.
CD19) to an scFv that recognizes a second target protein. The
system is modular: diverse ECD-scFv fusion proteins have
been designed and expressed. In one iteration, this fusion
protein is puri鍖ed and utlized in conjunction with an exising
CAR T cell, e.g. a CD19-anti-Her2 fusion protein is puri鍖ed
and added to a culture of CAR19 T cells and Her2+ tumor cells,
creating a bridge that triggers CAR19 T cell cytotoxic activity.
In another iteration, the CAR19 T cells expresses the CD19-
anti-Her2 fusion protein, and this expression is suf鍖cient to
create the "cytotoxic bridge" as shown in Figure 1. The normal
B cell pools ensures expansion and persistance of the CAR19 T
cells in vivo.
Figure 1. Bridging CAR19 T cells to Her2+ tumor cells
Christine Ambrose1, Lihe Su1, Lan Wu1, Fay Dufort1, Roy R. Lobb1, Andreas Hombach2, Hinrich Abken2, Paul D. Rennert1.
1: Aleta Biotherapeutics, Natick, MA USA; 2: University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
#3768
Tumor cell
CD19+ B cell
CAR19 T
cell
anti-CD19 scFv
CD19 ECD
Her2anti-Her2 scFv
3 - Puri鍖ed IMPACTTM fusion proteins
We cloned the human CD19 ECD (two IgC domains) and the
scFv derived from the anti-Her2 mAb trastuzumab into a
lentiviral expression system for transfection then puri鍖cation
by af鍖nity chromatography and SEC (Lake Pharma). Mono-
meric protein was used in our experiments; this monomer is
stable in solution. The fusion protein carries a C-terminal His
tag. Control proteins (CD19 ECD-His and CD22 ECD 1-3
trastuzumab scFv) were also created.
Table 1. Af鍖nities of fusion proteins for target molecules,
determined by ELISA analyses
biotin-Her2
His-scFv
CD19 ECD
Figure 2. FACs binding of CD19-anti-Her2 scFv and CD22-
anti-Her2 scFv fusion proteins to SKOV-3 ovarian cancer
cells
4 - Construction and characterization of CAR19 T cells
The scFv from anti-CD19 mAb FMC63 was cloned in frame
with a FLAG-tagged linker, the CD28 transmembrane sequence
and the cytoplasmic domains of CD28, 4-1BB and CD3龍. The
FLAG tag was encoded to facilitate detection of the CAR by
FACs analysis following transduction into primary human T
cells (Figure 3). The CAR19 T cells were tested for cytotoxic
activity in a cell killing assay using B cell lymphoma lines
(ATCC). One example is shown in Figure 3.
anti-CD19
mAb
FMC63
biotinylated
Her2
protein
CD19-anti-
Her2
0.4nM 3.15nM
CD22-anti-
Her2
1.92nM
CD19 5.1nM
SKOV-3 mAb-PE anti-His-PE
CD19-anti-
Her2
2nM 9nM
CD22-anti-
Her2
2.2nM 1nM
FMC63-PE
anti-His-PE
His-scFv
Her2
CD19 ECD
Tumor
cell
anti-CD19-
coated well
≒Her-2---biotin
anti-CD22-PE
anti-His-PE
Figure 3. Expression of the CD19 CAR and cytotoxicity
against a CD19+ B cell lymphoma line
5 - Fusion protein mediated cytotoxicity
The ability of the fusion proteins to bridge to CAR19 cells and
mediate killing of Her2+ SKOV-3 tumor cells was evaluated.
First we performed a titration.
Figure 4. Cytotoxicity induced by titration of the IMPACTTM
CD19-anti-Her2 scFv fusion protein with CAR19 T cells and
SKOV3 tumor cells
Next, 1ug/ml of protein or was added either to the CAR19 T
cells, or to the SKOV-3 tumor cells, then incubated for 30' on
ice, before mixing with the cognate cell partner. In the control
experiment both cell types and the protein were added
simultaneously.
a) CAR expression pro鍖le
(anti-Flag, FACs)
b) Induction of IFN粒 (ELISA)
c) Cytotoxicity assayed using
GFP+ Raji cells
a
cb
curve 鍖tting 10 : 1
10 : 1 5 : 1
EC50
(cytotoxicity)
9pM 11.6pM
CAR19 : SKOV-3 at 10 : 1 CAR19 : SKOV-3 at 5 : 1
RESULTS
RESULTS
RESULTS
KEY POINTS
≒ activity at very low concentration
≒ no inactivation in the presence of
excess fusion protein up to 15ug/ml
Figure 5. Cytotoxicity following different orders of addition
of fusion protein to cells
6 CAR19 with the IMPACTTM fusion protein
encoded as an integrated gene
The development candidates are being constructed as
integrated genes (i-genes) using lentiviral vectors and
packaging systems. A prototype schematic is shown here:
SvFv and bispeci鍖c scFv CD19 fusion protein constructs are
being optimized. Our current programs use scFvs to CD20,
BCMA, CLL-1, ROR-1 and Her2.
Transduction of primary human T cells with the viral particles
yielded cell surface CAR expression and detectible fusion
protein (< 5ng/ml). These cells were placed into culture with
SKOV-3 tumor cells in order to assess cytotoxicity.
Figure 6. CAR19 T cells secreting an IMPACTTM fusion
protein (CAR130) demonstrate redirected cytotoxicity
In Closing:
We conclude that IMPACTTM fusion proteins mediate
redirected tumor cell killing at very low concentrations, are
not 'shut-down' by the soluble protein, and can be
successfully secreted from CAR T cells. The 鍖rst in vivo study
using puri鍖ed fusion proteins, CAR19 cells and SKOV-3
tumors is in progress.
fusion protein
controls
fusion protein
controls
fusion protein
control
42: CD19-anti-Her2 scFv
28: CD19
RESULTS:
The order of addition
had no impact on
cytotoxicity induced
by the fusion protein
FMC63 CAREF1a promoter CD19-anti-Her2 scFvT2A
FMC63 CAR T2A + CD19-anti-Her2 scFv
RESULTS:
The CAR19 secreting
the CD19-anti-Her2-
scFv fusion protein
speci鍖cally mediated
killing of Her2+
SKOV-3 cells
130: IMPACT cells
UTD: control cells
expansion, persistence
CAR19 : SKOV-3 at 10 : 1