Nanobody-based CAR T cells that target the tumor microenvironment inhibit the growth of solid tumors in immunocompetent mice

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has been successful in clinical trials against hematological cancers, but has experienced challenges in the treatment of solid tumors. One of the main difficulties lies in a paucity of tumor-specific targets that can serve as CAR recognition domains. We...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xie, Yushu Joy, Dougan, Michael, Jailkhani, Noor, Ingram, Jessica, Fang, Tao, Kummer, Laura, Momin, Noor, Pishesha, Novalia, Rickelt, Steffen, Hynes, Richard O., Ploegh, Hidde
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2020
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/124961
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Summary:Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has been successful in clinical trials against hematological cancers, but has experienced challenges in the treatment of solid tumors. One of the main difficulties lies in a paucity of tumor-specific targets that can serve as CAR recognition domains. We therefore focused on developing VHH-based, single-domain antibody (nanobody) CAR T cells that target aspects of the tumor microenvironment conserved across multiple cancer types. Many solid tumors evade immune recognition through expression of checkpoint molecules, such as PD-L1, that down-regulate the immune response. We therefore targeted CAR T cells to the tumor microenvironment via the checkpoint inhibitor PD-L1 and observed a reduction in tumor growth, resulting in improved survival. CAR T cells that target the tumor stroma and vasculature through the EIIIB+ fibronectin splice variant, which is expressed by multiple tumor types and on neovasculature, are likewise effective in delaying tumor growth. VHH-based CAR T cells can thus function as antitumor agents for multiple targets in syngeneic, immunocompetent animal models. Our results demonstrate the flexibility of VHH-based CAR T cells and the potential of CAR T cells to target the tumor microenvironment and treat solid tumors. Keywords: chimeric antigen receptor; tumor microenvironment; immunotherapy