New protocol to generate tumor-recognizing T cells with potentially less side-effects
2017
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
Fueled by impressive clinical results, adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT) is gaining more and more momentum in the battle against hematologic malignancies and solid tumors although it has also been associated with serious side effects. In the present study, the researchers aimed at establishing a protocol to expand and transiently transfect with mRNA a particular subset of T cell called γ/δ which may have fewer side effects. T cells were obtained from healthy donors and expanded ex vivo. The mRNA coding for an antibody specifically recognizing cancer cells was introduced; then receptor expression, antigen-specific cytokine secretion, specific cytotoxicity were analyzed in vitro. The study establishes a protocol adaptable to GMP for the expansion of γ/δ T cells and their subsequent RNA-transfection with tumor-specific TCRs or CARs. Given the transient receptor expression, the reduced cytokine release, and the equivalent cytotoxicity, these γ/δ T cells may represent a safer source of adoptive T-cell therapy.
RNA-transfection of γ/δ T cells with a chimeric antigen receptor or an α/β T-cell receptor: a safer alternative to genetically engineered α/β T cells for the immunotherapy of melanoma
Niels Schaft
Added on: 09-20-2021
[1] https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-017-3539-3[2] https://data.jrc.ec.europa.eu/dataset/c1c15110-2338-422e-a228-d3f8e19262c3
