Ishii et al. re-differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells from an EWS/FLI1-specific CTL clone to generate functionally rejuvenated CTLs (rejTs), and demonstrated their antitumor effect in Ewing sarcoma models. EWS/FLI1-rejTs showed increased proliferation, stem cell memory phenotype, and a less exhausted phenotype compared to EWS/FLI1-CTL clones, indicating phenotypic rejuvenation. RejTs exhibited antigen-specific cytotoxicity and prolonged survival in the Ewing sarcoma xenograft model. Compared to intravenous delivery, intraperitoneal EWS/FLI1-rejTs cells more effectively suppressed TC-71 tumor growth and prolonged survival in xenografts.

Contributed by Shishir Pant

ABSTRACT: The prognosis of Ewing sarcoma caused by EWS/FLI1 fusion is poor, especially after metastasis. Although therapy with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) targeted against altered EWS/FLI1 sequences at the gene break/fusion site may be effective, CTLs generated from peripheral blood are often exhausted because of continuous exposure to tumor antigens. We addressed this by generating induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived functionally rejuvenated CTLs (rejTs) directed against the neoantigen encoded by the EWS/FLI1 fusion gene. In this study, we examined the antitumor effects of EWS/FLI1-rejTs against Ewing sarcoma. The altered amino acid sequence at the break/fusion point of EWS/FLI1, when presented as a neoantigen, evokes an immune response that targets EWS/FLI1+ sarcoma. Although the frequency of generated EWS/FLI1-specific CTLs was only 0.003%, we successfully established CTL clones from a healthy donor. We established iPSCs from an EWS/FLI1-specific CTL clone and redifferentiated them into EWS/FLI1-specific rejTs. To evaluate cytotoxicity, we cocultured EWS/FLI1-rejTs with Ewing sarcoma cell lines. EWS/FLI1-rejTs rapidly and continuously suppressed the proliferation of Ewing sarcoma for >40 hours. Using an Ewing sarcoma xenograft mouse model, we verified the antitumor effect of EWS/FLI1-rejTs via imaging, and EWS/FLI1-rejTs conferred a statistically significant survival advantage. "Off-the-shelf" therapy is less destructive and disruptive than chemotherapy, and radiation is always desirable, particularly in adolescents, whom Ewing sarcoma most often affects. Thus, EWS/FLI1-rejTs targeting an Ewing sarcoma neoantigen could be a promising new therapeutic tool.

Author Info: (1) Hematology, Juntendo University Hospital. (2) Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine. (3) Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, University of Tsukuba Hospital.

Author Info: (1) Hematology, Juntendo University Hospital. (2) Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine. (3) Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, University of Tsukuba Hospital. (4) Hematology, Juntendo University School of Medicine. (5) Hematology, Juntendo University Hospital. (6) Hematology, Juntendo University Hospital. (7) Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University. (8) TOKIWA-Bio, Inc. (9) Pathology, Kurume University. (10) Pathology, Kurume Univeristy. (11) Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine. (12) Hematology, Juntendo University Hospital m-ando@juntendo.ac.jp.