Safety and persistence of WT1-specific T-cell receptor gene-transduced lymphocytes in patients with AML and MDS.

Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) is constantly expressed in leukemic cells of acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). A T-cell receptor (TCR) that specifically reacts with WT1 peptide in the context of HLA-A*24:02 has been identified. We conducted a first-in-human trial of TCR-gene transduced T-cell (TCR-T-cell) transfer in patients with refractory acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and high-risk MDS to investigate the safety and cell kinetics of the T cells.

Stimulation through very late antigen-4 and -5 improves the multifunctionality and memory formation of CD8⁺ T cells.

T cells express multiple integrin molecules. The significance of signaling through these molecules on acquisition of T-cell effector functions and memory formation capacity remains largely unknown. Moreover, the impact of stimulation through these signals on the generation of T cells for adoptive immunotherapy has not been elucidated.

An efficient large-scale retroviral transduction method involving preloading the vector into a RetroNectin-coated bag with low-temperature shaking.

In retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer, transduction efficiency can be hampered by inhibitory molecules derived from the culture fluid of virus producer cell lines. To remove these inhibitory molecules to enable better gene transduction, we had previously developed a transduction method using a fibronectin fragment-coated vessel (i.e.

Adoptive transfer of genetically modified Wilms' tumor 1-specific T cells in a novel malignant skull base meningioma model.

Background: Meningiomas are the most commonly diagnosed primary intracranial neoplasms. Despite significant advances in modern therapies, the management of malignant meningioma and skull base meningioma remains a challenge. Thus, the development of new treatment modalities is urgently needed for these difficult-to-treat meningiomas.

T-cell receptor gene therapy targeting melanoma-associated antigen-A4 inhibits human tumor growth in non-obese diabetic/SCID/γcnull mice.

Adoptive cell therapy with lymphocytes that have been genetically engineered to express tumor-reactive T-cell receptors (TCR) is a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy. We have been exploring the development of TCR gene therapy targeting cancer/testis antigens, including melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) family antigens, that are ideal targets for adoptive T-cell therapy. The efficacy of TCR gene therapy targeting MAGE family antigens, however, has not yet been evaluated in vivo.

Optimization of lentiviral vector transduction into peripheral blood mononuclear cells in combination with the fibronectin fragment CH-296 stimulation.

Large scale T-cell expansion and efficient gene transduction are required for adoptive T-cell gene therapy. Based on our previous observations, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can be expanded efficiently while conserving a naïve phenotype by stimulating with both recombinant human fibronectin fragment (CH-296) and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies. In this article, we explored the possibility of using this co-stimulation method to generate engineered T cells using lentiviral vector.

In vivo persistence of genetically modified T cells generated ex vivo using the fibronectin CH296 stimulation method.

Recombinant human fibronectin fragment (FN-CH296, RetroNectin) has been widely used for retroviral gene therapy to enhance gene transfer efficiency. Based on the observation that immobilized FN-CH296 together with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD3) enhanced cell proliferation while conserving the naive phenotype of T cells, we used FN-CH296 costimulation to generate engineered T cells. For comparison, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated under three kinds of conditions including anti-CD3 only, anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies conjugated with beads (anti-CD3/anti-CD28) and immobilized FN-CH296 together with anti-CD3 (anti-CD3/FN-CH296); all three treatments were followed by retroviral gene transfer.

Long-term phenotypic, functional and genetic stability of cancer-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) alphabeta genes transduced to CD8+ T cells.

In adoptive T-cell transfer as an intervention for malignant diseases, retroviral transfer of T-cell receptor (TCR) genes derived from CD8(+) cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clones provides an opportunity to generate a large number of T cells with the same antigen specificity. We cloned the TCR-alphabeta genes from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A(*)2402-restricted CTL clone specific for MAGE-A4(143-151). The TCR-alphabeta genes were transduced to 99.

Clinical response in Japanese metastatic melanoma patients treated with peptide cocktail-pulsed dendritic cells.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic, chemotherapy-resistant melanoma is an intractable cancer with a very poor prognosis. As to immunotherapy targeting metastatic melanoma, HLA-A2+ patients were mainly enrolled in the study in Western countries. However, HLA-A24+ melanoma patients-oriented immunotherapy has not been fully investigated.

Recognition of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced in vitro with autologous lymphoblastoid cell line and LMP2-derived, HLA-A24-restricted 9-mer peptide.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several types of malignancies including Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and gastric carcinoma. Previous reports have suggested that EBV-related antigen-targeting immunotherapy is one of the promising approaches for the treatment of these malignancies other than gastric carcinoma. EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) has been shown to express Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2).

Cytotoxic T cell induction against human malignant melanoma cells using HLA-A24-restricted melanoma peptide cocktail.

Many human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-class I (mainly A*0201)-restricted peptide-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) have been derived from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of melanoma patients. However, few studies regarding HLA-A*2402-restricted melanoma-associated peptides have been performed, because HLA-A24 is not a common allele in Caucasians. In this study, we investigated the specific CTL-inducing activity of 5 HLA-A*2402-restricted peptides derived from gp100, tyrosinase, MAGE1, MAGE2 and MAGE3.

Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy of cancer with carcinoembryonic antigen-derived, HLA-A24-restricted CTL epitope: Clinical outcomes of 18 patients with metastatic gastrointestinal or lung adenocarcinomas.

We conducted a clinical study of cancer vaccine therapy with dendritic cells (DCs) and HLA-A24-restricted carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-derived peptide to assess the feasibility and efficacy of such therapy. Eighteen patients with CEA-expressing metastatic gastrointestinal or lung adenocarcinomas who were positive for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24 were enrolled. DCs were generated from the patients' autologous monocyte-enriched fractions of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4.

Enhancement of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies following vaccination with CEA peptide-pulsed dendritic cells.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is strongly expressed in a vast majority of gastrointestinal carcinomas. Recently, epitope peptides of CEA were identified. We have demonstrated HLA-A24-restricted peptide, CEA652[9] (TYACFVSNL), was capable of eliciting specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) which could lyse tumor cells expressing HLA-A24 and CEA.

Screening of HLA-A24-restricted epitope peptides from prostate-specific membrane antigen that induce specific antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Purpose: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is a transmembrane glycoprotein predominantly expressed in prostate cancer, is an attractive target for tumor-specific immunotherapy. To identify human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24-restricted epitope peptides from PSMA for further application of the dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy targeting prostate cancer, we have screened several PSMA-encoded HLA-A24-binding peptides for their capabilities to elicit specific antitumor CTL response in vitro.

Experimental Design: The amino acid sequence of PSMA was screened for peptides consisting of 9 or 10 amino acids, which possess the known HLA-A24-binding motif.

Immunotherapy of solid cancer using dendritic cells pulsed with the HLA-A24-restricted peptide of carcinoembryonic antigen.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), an oncofetal glycoprotein overexpressed in most gastrointestinal and lung cancers, is a candidate molecule for cancer immunotherapy. Recently, a CEA-derived 9-mer peptide, CEA652 (TYACFVSNL), has been identified as the epitope of cytotoxic T lymphocytes restricted with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24, which is present in 60% of the Japanese population and in some Caucasians. The authors performed a clinical study of a vaccine using autologous dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with CEA652 and adjuvant cytokines, natural human interferon alpha (nhuIFN-alpha), and natural human tumor necrosis factor alpha (nhuTNF-alpha), for the treatment of patients with CEA-expressing advanced metastatic malignancies.

Mapping the HLA-A24-restricted T-cell epitope peptide from a tumour-associated antigen HER2 / neu: possible immunotherapy for colorectal carcinomas.

HER2 / neu is a potential antigen candidate for immunotherapy because of its correlation to a poor prognosis and high expressions in many kinds of epithelial tumours. Especially in the colorectal carcinomas, the higher expression of HER2 / neu is recognized in metastatic regions as well as in primary sites. Several CTL epitopes restricted by HLA-A2.

Identification of HLA-A24 epitope peptides of carcinoembryonic antigen which induce tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is expressed in several cancer types, is a potential target for specific immunotherapy. HLA-A24 is the most frequent allele among Japanese and is also frequently present in Asians and Caucasians. We tested CEA-encoded HLA-A24 binding peptides for their capacity to elicit anti-tumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro.

Suppression of cytokine production in T helper type 2 cells by nitric oxide in comparison with T helper type 1 cells.

We examined the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on cytokine production in T helper (Th) cell subsets, using murine splenic CD4+ T cells and two types of Th clones. Interferon-gamma-treated murine peritoneal exudate cells (IFN-PEC) suppressed DNA synthesis to 60% of the control level in CD4+ T cells stimulated with the anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. The production of IL-2 and IL-4 in the CD4+ T cells decreased to 63.

Inhibitory mechanisms of antibody production by nitrogen oxides released from activated macrophages during the immune response: relationship to energy consumption.

We investigated the relationship between the sensitivity of mouse splenocytes in immune response to nitrogen oxides and energy consumption rate of the cells. Macrophage-like cells (Mm1) pretreated with IL-6 served as the source of the nitrogen oxides. The antibody production of both 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet haemocyanin-primed splenocytes and B cell hybridomas was markedly reduced; about 20-40% of splenocytes and B cell hybridomas were killed by co-culture with IL-6-treated Mm1.