[PDF][PDF] Hypoxia-sensing CAR T cells provide safety and efficacy in treating solid tumors

P Kosti, JW Opzoomer, KI Larios-Martinez… - Cell Reports …, 2021 - cell.com
P Kosti, JW Opzoomer, KI Larios-Martinez, R Henley-Smith, CL Scudamore, M Okesola…
Cell Reports Medicine, 2021cell.com
Utilizing T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to identify and attack solid
tumors has proven challenging, in large part because of the lack of tumor-specific targets to
direct CAR binding. Tumor selectivity is crucial because on-target, off-tumor activation of
CAR T cells can result in potentially lethal toxicities. This study presents a stringent hypoxia-
sensing CAR T cell system that achieves selective expression of a pan-ErbB-targeted CAR
within a solid tumor, a microenvironment characterized by inadequate oxygen supply. Using …
Summary
Utilizing T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to identify and attack solid tumors has proven challenging, in large part because of the lack of tumor-specific targets to direct CAR binding. Tumor selectivity is crucial because on-target, off-tumor activation of CAR T cells can result in potentially lethal toxicities. This study presents a stringent hypoxia-sensing CAR T cell system that achieves selective expression of a pan-ErbB-targeted CAR within a solid tumor, a microenvironment characterized by inadequate oxygen supply. Using murine xenograft models, we demonstrate that, despite widespread expression of ErbB receptors in healthy organs, the approach provides anti-tumor efficacy without off-tumor toxicity. This dynamic on/off oxygen-sensing safety switch has the potential to facilitate unlimited expansion of the CAR T cell target repertoire for treating solid malignancies.
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