Characterization of a switchable chimeric antigen receptor platform in a pre-clinical solid tumor model

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

The universal modular chimeric antigen receptor (UniCAR) platform redirects CAR-T cells using a separated, soluble targeting module with a short half-life. This segregation allows precise controllability and flexibility. Herein we show that the UniCAR platform can be used to efficiently target solid cancers in vitro and in vivo using a pre-clinical prostate cancer model which overexpresses prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA). Short-term administration of the targeting module to tumor bearing immunocompromised mice engrafted with human UniCAR-T cells significantly delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival of recipient mice both in a low and high tumor burden model. In addition, we analyzed phenotypic and functional changes of cancer cells and UniCAR-T cells in association with the administration of the targeting module to reveal potential immunoevasive mechanisms. Most notably, UniCAR-T cell activation induced upregulation of immune-inhibitory molecules such as programmed death ligands. In conclusion, this work illustrates that the UniCAR platform mediates potent anti-tumor activity in a relevant in vitro and in vivo solid tumor model.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1342909
JournalOncoimmunology
Volume6
Issue number10
Publication statusPublished - 3 Oct 2017
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 29123951
ORCID /0000-0003-1776-9556/work/171065805

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Chimeric antigen receptors, immune checkpoints, immunoevasion, prostate stem cell antigen, solid tumors, targeting module