Yamamoto TN, Lee PH, Vodnala SK, Gurusamy D, Kishton RJ, Yu Z, Eidizadeh A, Eil R, Fioravanti J, Gattinoni L, Kochenderfer JN, Fry TJ, Aksoy BA, Hammerbacher JE, Cruz AC, Siegel RM, Restifo NP, Klebanoff CA (2019)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2019
Book Volume: 129
Pages Range: 1551-1565
Journal Issue: 4
DOI: 10.1172/JCI121491
Across clinical trials, T cell expansion and persistence following adoptive cell transfer (ACT) have correlated with superior patient outcomes. Herein, we undertook a pan-cancer analysis to identify actionable ligand-receptor pairs capable of compromising T cell durability following ACT. We discovered that FASLG, the gene encoding the apoptosis-inducing ligand FasL, is overexpressed within the majority of human tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Further, we uncovered that Fas, the receptor for FasL, is highly expressed on patient-derived T cells used for clinical ACT. We hypothesized that a cognate Fas-FasL interaction within the TME might limit both T cell persistence and antitumor efficacy. We discovered that genetic engineering of Fas variants impaired in the ability to bind FADD functioned as dominant negative receptors (DNRs), preventing FasL-induced apoptosis in Fas-competent T cells. T cells coengineered with a Fas DNR and either a T cell receptor or chimeric antigen receptor exhibited enhanced persistence following ACT, resulting in superior antitumor efficacy against established solid and hematologic cancers. Despite increased longevity, Fas DNR–engineered T cells did not undergo aberrant expansion or mediate autoimmunity. Thus, T cell–intrinsic disruption of Fas signaling through genetic engineering represents a potentially universal strategy to enhance ACT efficacy across a broad range of human malignancies.
APA:
Yamamoto, T.N., Lee, P.-H., Vodnala, S.K., Gurusamy, D., Kishton, R.J., Yu, Z.,... Klebanoff, C.A. (2019). T cells genetically engineered to overcome death signaling enhance adoptive cancer immunotherapy. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 129(4), 1551-1565. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI121491
MLA:
Yamamoto, Tori N., et al. "T cells genetically engineered to overcome death signaling enhance adoptive cancer immunotherapy." Journal of Clinical Investigation 129.4 (2019): 1551-1565.
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