Background Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) overexpress somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). Methods We developed a second-generation, ligand-based, anti-SSTR chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) incorporating the somatostatin analog octreotide in its extracellular moiety. Results Anti-SSTR CAR T cells exerted antitumor activity against SSTR+NET cell linesin vitro. The killing activity was highly specific, as demonstrated by the lack of CAR T cell reactivity against NET cells engineered to express mutated variants of SSTR2/5 by CRISPR/Cas9. When adoptively transferred in NSG mice, anti-SSTR CAR T cells induced significant antitumor activity against human NET xenografts. Although anti-SSTR CAR T cells could recognize the murine SSTRs as shown by their killing ability against murine NET cells, no obvious deleterious effects on SSTR-expressing organs such as the brain or the pancreas were observed in mice. Conclusions Taken together, our results establish anti-SSTR CAR T cells as a potential candidate for early phase clinical investigations in patients with NETs. More broadly, the demonstration that a known peptide drug can direct CAR T cell targeting may streamline the potential utility of multiple peptide motifs and provide a blueprint for therapeutic applications in a variety of cancers.

Development of anti-somatostatin receptors CAR T cells for treatment of neuroendocrine tumors

Mandriani, Barbara;Mannavola, Francesco;Palazzo, Antonio;Marsano, Renè Massimiliano;Ingravallo, Giuseppe;Cazzato, Gerardo;Porta, Camillo;Cives, Mauro
2022-01-01

Abstract

Background Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) overexpress somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). Methods We developed a second-generation, ligand-based, anti-SSTR chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) incorporating the somatostatin analog octreotide in its extracellular moiety. Results Anti-SSTR CAR T cells exerted antitumor activity against SSTR+NET cell linesin vitro. The killing activity was highly specific, as demonstrated by the lack of CAR T cell reactivity against NET cells engineered to express mutated variants of SSTR2/5 by CRISPR/Cas9. When adoptively transferred in NSG mice, anti-SSTR CAR T cells induced significant antitumor activity against human NET xenografts. Although anti-SSTR CAR T cells could recognize the murine SSTRs as shown by their killing ability against murine NET cells, no obvious deleterious effects on SSTR-expressing organs such as the brain or the pancreas were observed in mice. Conclusions Taken together, our results establish anti-SSTR CAR T cells as a potential candidate for early phase clinical investigations in patients with NETs. More broadly, the demonstration that a known peptide drug can direct CAR T cell targeting may streamline the potential utility of multiple peptide motifs and provide a blueprint for therapeutic applications in a variety of cancers.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11586/412855
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