Bispecific T cell engager (BiTE®) antibody constructs can mediate bystander tumor cell killing

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 24;12(8):e0183390. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183390. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

For targets that are homogenously expressed, such as CD19 on cells of the B lymphocyte lineage, immunotherapies can be highly effective. Targeting CD19 with blinatumomab, a CD19/CD3 bispecific antibody construct (BiTE®), or with chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) has shown great promise for treating certain CD19-positive hematological malignancies. In contrast, solid tumors with heterogeneous expression of the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) may present a challenge for targeted therapies. To prevent escape of TAA-negative cancer cells, immunotherapies with a local bystander effect would be beneficial. As a model to investigate BiTE®-mediated bystander killing in the solid tumor setting, we used epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a target. We measured lysis of EGFR-negative populations in vitro and in vivo when co-cultured with EGFR-positive cells, human T cells and an EGFR/CD3 BiTE® antibody construct. Bystander EGFR-negative cells were efficiently lysed by BiTE®-activated T cells only when proximal to EGFR-positive cells. Our mechanistic analysis suggests that cytokines released by BiTE®-activated T-cells induced upregulation of ICAM-1 and FAS on EGFR-negative bystander cells, contributing to T cell-induced bystander cell lysis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / immunology*
  • Bystander Effect*
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Cytokines
  • ErbB Receptors

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work. Amgen Inc. provided support in the form of salaries for all authors, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.