Chimeric Antigen Receptor-modified T cells targeting EphA2 for the immunotherapy of paediatric bone tumours

Cancer Gene Ther. 2021 Apr;28(3-4):321-334. doi: 10.1038/s41417-020-00221-4. Epub 2020 Sep 1.

Abstract

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, as an approved treatment option for patients with B cell malignancies, demonstrates that genetic modification of autologous immune cells is an effective anti-cancer regimen. Erythropoietin-producing Hepatocellular receptor tyrosine kinase class A2 (EphA2) is a tumour associated antigen expressed on a range of sarcomas, including paediatric osteosarcoma (OS) and Ewing sarcoma (ES). We tested human EphA2 directed CAR T cells for their capacity to target and kill human OS and ES tumour cells using in vitro and in vivo assays, demonstrating that EphA2 CAR T cells have potent anti-tumour efficacy in vitro and can eliminate established OS and ES tumours in vivo in a dose and delivery route dependent manner. Next, in an aggressive metastatic OS model we demonstrated that systemically infused EphA2 CAR T cells can traffic to and eradicate tumour deposits in murine livers and lungs. These results support further pre-clinical evaluation of EphA2 CAR T cells to inform the design of early phase clinical trial protocols to test the feasibility and safety of this immune cell therapy in paediatric bone sarcoma patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms / immunology
  • Bone Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / methods*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Receptor, EphA2 / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • EPHA2 protein, human
  • Receptor, EphA2