title: Tumor-targeting CTL expressing a single-chain Fv specific for VEGFR2.
abstract: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are critical effector cells in tumor immunity. Adoptive transfer therapy with in vitro-expanded tumor-specific CTL is a promising approach for preventing cancer metastasis and recurrence. Transferred CTL are not effective in clinical trials, however, due to inadequate tumor-infiltration. Therefore, the development of functionally modified CTL, such as tumor-targeting CTL, is widely desired. Here, we designed the tumor-targeting CTL expressing a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv-CTL) specific for vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2/flk1) by transducing the CTL with a retroviral vector. The scFv-CTL bound to VEGFR2/flk1-expressing cells and retained their cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. In addition, adoptive transfer of scFv-CTL into tumor-bearing mice effectively suppressed tumor growth due to the augmented accumulation of the transferred CTL in the tumor tissue. These findings indicate that the creation of CTL capable of targeting tumor vascular endothelial cells by scFv-expression technique is considerably promising for improvement of efficacy in adoptive immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanagawa
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagawa
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Shinsaku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2