PSMA-specific CAR-engineered T cells eradicate disseminated prostate cancer in preclinical models.

oleh: Gaia Zuccolotto, Giulio Fracasso, Anna Merlo, Isabella Monia Montagner, Maria Rondina, Sara Bobisse, Mariangela Figini, Sara Cingarlini, Marco Colombatti, Paola Zanovello, Antonio Rosato

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01

Deskripsi

Immunology-based interventions have been proposed as a promising curative chance to effectively attack postoperative minimal residual disease and distant metastatic localizations of prostate tumors. We developed a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct targeting the human prostate-specific membrane antigen (hPSMA), based on a novel and high affinity specific mAb. As a transfer method, we employed last-generation lentiviral vectors (LV) carrying a synthetic bidirectional promoter capable of robust and coordinated expression of the CAR molecule, and a bioluminescent reporter gene to allow the tracking of transgenic T cells after in vivo adoptive transfer. Overall, we demonstrated that CAR-expressing LV efficiently transduced short-term activated PBMC, which in turn were readily stimulated to produce cytokines and to exert a relevant cytotoxic activity by engagement with PSMA+ prostate tumor cells. Upon in vivo transfer in tumor-bearing mice, CAR-transduced T cells were capable to completely eradicate a disseminated neoplasia in the majority of treated animals, thus supporting the translation of such approach in the clinical setting.