Tailored chemokine receptor modification improves homing of adoptive therapy T cells in a spontaneous tumor model

Abstract

In recent years, tumor Adoptive Cell Therapy (ACT), using administration of ex vivo-enhanced T cells from the cancer patient, has become a promising therapeutic strategy. However, efficient homing of the anti-tumoral T cells to the tumor or metastatic site still remains a substantial hurdle. Yet the tumor site itself attracts both tumor-promoting and anti-tumoral immune cell populations through the secretion of chemokines. We attempted to identify these chemokines in a model of spontaneous metastasis, in order to “hijack” their function by expressing matching chemokine receptors on the cytotoxic T cells used in ACT, thus allowing us to enhance the recruitment of these therapeutic cells. Here we show that this enabled the modified T cells to preferentially home into spontaneous lymph node metastases in the TRAMP model, as well as in an inducible tumor model, E.G7-OVA. Due to the improved homing, the modified CD8+ T cells displayed an enhanced in vivo protective effect, as seen by a significant delay in E.G7-OVA tumor growth. These results offer a proof of principle for the tailored application of chemokine receptor modification as a means of improving T cell homing to the target tumor, thus enhancing ACT efficacy. Surprisingly, we also uncover that the formation of the peri-tumoral fibrotic capsule, which has been shown to impede T cell access to tumor, is partially dependent on host T cell presence. This finding, which would be impossible to observe in immunodeficient model studies, highlights possible conflicting roles that T cells may play in a therapeutic context.

Optical in vivo imaging detection of preclinical models of gut tumors through the expression of integrin αVβ3

“…The expression of integrin αvβ3 correlated with disease progression in various type of cancer, including breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer and glioblastomas [ 43 – 49 ]. Given its role in cancer progression and neo-angiogenesis processes, it is not surprising that integrin αvβ3 represents an interesting target for the visualization and treatment of a variety of tumors [ 15 , 40 , 50 – 56 ].…”

TCR Redirected T Cells for Cancer Treatment: Achievements, Hurdles, and Goals

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Regulatory T Cells Beyond Autoimmunity: From Pregnancy to Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease

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