| 1. |
- Dias, J D, et al.
(författare)
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Targeted cancer immunotherapy with oncolytic adenovirus coding for a fully human monoclonal antibody specific for CTLA-4
- 2012
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Ingår i: Gene Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0969-7128 .- 1476-5462. ; 19:10, s. 988-998
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Promising clinical results have been achieved with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) such as ipilimumab and tremelimumab that block cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4, CD152). However, systemic administration of these agents also has the potential for severe immune-related adverse events. Thus, local production might allow higher concentrations at the target while reducing systemic side effects. We generated a transductionally and transcriptionally targeted oncolytic adenovirus Ad5/3-Δ24aCTLA4 expressing complete human mAb specific for CTLA-4 and tested it in vitro, in vivo and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of normal donors and patients with advanced solid tumors. mAb expression was confirmed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Biological functionality was determined in a T-cell line and in PBMCs from cancer patients. T cells of patients, but not those of healthy donors, were activated by an anti-CTLA4mAb produced by Ad5/3-Δ24aCTLA4. In addition to immunological effects, a direct anti-CTLA-4-mediated pro-apoptotic effect was observed in vitro and in vivo. Local production resulted in 43-fold higher (P<0.05) tumor versus plasma anti-CTLA4mAb concentration. Plasma levels in mice remained below what has been reported safe in humans. Replication-competent Ad5/3-Δ24aCTLA4 resulted in 81-fold higher (P<0.05) tumor mAb levels as compared with a replication-deficient control. This is the first report of an oncolytic adenovirus producing a full-length human mAb. High mAb concentrations were seen at tumors with lower systemic levels. Stimulation of T cells of cancer patients by Ad5/3-Δ24aCTLA4 suggests feasibility of testing the approach in clinical trials.
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| 2. |
- Karlsson, S. C. Hannah, et al.
(författare)
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Combining CAR T cells and the Bcl-2 family apoptosis inhibitor ABT-737 for treating B-cell malignancy
- 2013
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Ingår i: Cancer Gene Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0929-1903 .- 1476-5500. ; 20:7, s. 386-393
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- B-cell malignancies upregulate the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family inhibitors of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, making them therapy resistant. However, small-molecule inhibitors of Bcl-2 family members such as ABT-737 restore a functional apoptosis pathway in cancer cells, and its oral analog ABT-263 (Navitoclax) has entered clinical trials. Gene engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells also show promise in B-cell malignancy, and as they induce apoptosis via the extrinsic pathway, we hypothesized that small-molecule inhibitors of the Bcl-2 family may potentiate the efficacy of CAR T cells by engaging both apoptosis pathways. CAR T cells targeting CD19 were generated from healthy donors as well as from pre-B-ALL (precursor-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia) patients and tested together with ABT-737 to evaluate apoptosis induction in five B-cell tumor cell lines. The CAR T cells were effective even if the cell lines exhibited different apoptosis resistance profiles, as shown by analyzing the expression of apoptosis inhibitors by PCR and western blot. When combining T-cell and ABT-737 therapy simultaneously, or with ABT-737 as a presensitizer, tumor cell apoptosis was significantly increased. In conclusion, the apoptosis inducer ABT-737 enhanced the efficacy of CAR T cells and could be an interesting drug candidate to potentiate T-cell therapy.
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| 3. |
- Fransson, Moa, et al.
(författare)
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Intranasal Delivery of CNS-Retargeted Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Prolongs Treatment Efficacy of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
- 2014
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Ingår i: Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0019-2805 .- 1365-2567. ; 142:3, s. 431-441
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Treatment with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) is currently of interest for a number of diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). MSCs is well known to target inflamed tissues however, in a therapeutic scenery, systemic administration will lead to few cells reaching the brain. We hypothesized that MSCs may target the brain upon intranasal (i.n) administration and persist in CNS tissue if expressing a CNS-targeting receptor. To demonstrate proof of concept, MSCs were genetically engineered to express a myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-specific receptor. Engineered MSCs retained their immunosuppressive capacity, infiltrated into the brain upon i.n. cell administration, and were able to significantly reduce disease symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The mice treated with CNS-targeting MSCs were resistant to further EAE induction whereas non-targeted MSC did not give such persistent effects. Histological analysis revealed increased brain restoration in engineered MSC-treated mice. In conclusion, MSCs can be genetically engineered to target the brain and prolong therapeutic efficacy in an EAE model.
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| 4. |
- Lindqvist, Camilla A., et al.
(författare)
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T regulatory cells control T-cell proliferation partly by the release of soluble CD25 in patients with B-cell malignancies
- 2010
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Ingår i: Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0019-2805 .- 1365-2567. ; 131:3, s. 371-376
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is one of the most studied cytokines driving T-cell proliferation, activation and survival. It binds to the IL-2 receptor consisting of three chains, the alpha (CD25), beta and common gamma (gammac). The binding of the CD25 chain to IL-2 is necessary to expose high-affinity binding sites for the beta and gammac chains, which, in turn, are responsible for downstream signalling. A high level of soluble CD25 (sCD25) has been associated with a poor prognosis in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The function and source of origin of this soluble receptor is not well investigated. In the present study we hypothesized that T regulatory (Treg) cells may release CD25 to act as a decoy receptor for IL-2, thereby depriving T-effector cells of IL-2. Peripheral blood from patients with B-cell malignancies (n = 26) and healthy controls (n = 27) was investigated for the presence and function of FoxP3(+) Treg cells and sCD25 by multi-colour flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Further, the proliferative capacity of T cells was evaluated with or without the presence of recombinant sCD25. The results demonstrate that Treg cells from patients had lower CD25 expression intensity and that they released CD25 in vitro. Further, high levels of Treg cells correlated with sCD25 plasma concentration. Recombinant sCD25 could suppress T-cell proliferation in vitro. In conclusion, the release of sCD25 by Treg cells may be a mechanism to deprive IL-2 and thereby inhibit anti-tumour T-cell responses.
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| 5. |
- Malmström, Per-Uno, et al.
(författare)
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AdCD40L immunogene therapy for bladder carcinoma--the first phase I/IIa trial
- 2010
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Ingår i: Clinical Cancer Research. - : American Association for Cancer Research. - 1078-0432 .- 1557-3265. ; 16:12, s. 3279-3287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: Immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation is recommended for high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin is not effective in advanced tumors, and better alternatives are warranted. Immunostimulating gene therapy with adenoviral vectors expressing CD40 ligand (AdCD40L) has shown efficacy in tumor models. CD40 ligand stimulates systemic immunity and may be effective in local and invasive human disease.EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients with invasive bladder cancer scheduled for cystectomy or patients with T(a) tumors were enrolled in a phase I/IIa trial. Patients were treated with three cycles of intrabladder Clorpactin WCS-90 prewash, followed by AdCD40L instillation 1 week apart. Safety, gene transfer, immune effects, and antitumor responses were monitored.RESULTS: All eight recruited patients were treated as scheduled, and therapy was well tolerated. The main adverse effect was transient local pain during prewash. Postoperatively, urinary tract infections and one case of late septicemia with elevated potassium were reported. No adverse events were ascribed to vector therapy. Gene transfer was detected in biopsies, and bladders were heavily infiltrated with T cells. The effector marker IFN-gamma increased in biopsies, whereas levels of circulating T regulatory cells were reduced. Histologic evaluation indicated that AdCD40L therapy reduced the load of malignant cells.CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report on immunogene therapy in bladder cancer and the first using AdCD40L in vivo. Local AdCD40L gene therapy was safe, boosted immune activation, and should be further evaluated as a single or an adjuvant therapy for urothelial malignancies.
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