Glioblastoma (GBM) therapy is challenging due to tumor heterogeneity and variable target expression. Li and Zhang et al. showed that Fn14, the TWEAK receptor, was highly expressed in gliomas with poor prognosis and was low to undetectable in normal tissue. In mouse GBM models, antitumor effects of an anti-Fn14xCD3 BiTE given intratumorally were compared with systemic Fn14 CAR T cells and Fn14 CAR T cells expressing IL-15. All three constructs were antigen-specific and highly cytotoxic, but xenografts treated with Fn14 CAR T cells regrew, whereas IL-15 enhanced survival and CAR T cell expansion and showed comparable antitumor effects to anti-Fn14 BiTE.
Contributed by Katherine Turner
ABSTRACT: T cell-engaging therapies involving bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) and chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have achieved great success in the treatment of hematological tumors. However, the paucity of ideal cell surface molecules that can be targeted on glioblastoma (GBM) partially reduces the immunotherapeutic efficacy. Recently, high expression of Fn14 has been reported in several solid tumors, so the strategy of exploiting this specific antigen for GBM immunotherapy is worth studying. Consequently, we constructed Fn14_ CD3 BiTE and Fn14-specific CAR-T cells and investigated their cytotoxic activity against GBM in vitro and in vivo. First, expression of Fn14 was confirmed in glioma tissues and GBM cells. Then, we designed Fn14-specific BiTE and CAR-T cells and tested their cytotoxicity in GBM cell cultures and mouse models of GBM. Fn14 was highly expressed in GBM tissues and cell lines, while it was undetectable in normal brain samples. Fn14_ CD3 BiTE, Fn14 CAR-T cells and Fn14 CAR-T/IL-15 cells were antigen-specific and highly cytotoxic, showing good antitumor activity in vitro and causing significant regression of established solid tumors in xenograft models. However, the xenografts treated with Fn14 CAR-T cells regrew, whereas xenografts treated with Fn14 CAR-T/IL-15 cells did not. IL-15 engineering augmented the antitumor activity of Fn14 CAR-T cells and resulted in significant antitumor effects similar to those of Fn14_ CD3 BiTE. Our results suggest that Fn14 is an appropriate target for GBM. Anti-Fn14 BiTE and Fn14-specific CAR-T/IL-15 cells may be exciting immunotherapeutic options for malignant brain cancer.
Author Info: (1) Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (2) State Key Laborat
Author Info: (1) Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (2) State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (3) Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (4) Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (5) Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (6) Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (7) Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (8) State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (9) Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (10) Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (11) Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (12) State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. (13) Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China.
