title: T cells redirected by a CD3ζ chimeric antigen receptor can establish self-antigen-specific tumour protection in the long term.
abstract: A majority of cancer deaths are because of an uncontrolled relapse of the disease despite initial remission after therapy, asking for strategies to control tumour cells in the long term. Adoptive therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected T cells showed promising success in primary tumour elimination; the capacity of such engineered T cells to establish enduring tumour protection is currently a matter of discussion, in particular as most targeted 'tumour-associated antigens' are self-antigens. To address the issue in a clinically relevant model that closely mimics the human situation, we recorded rejection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-positive pancreatic tumours in the CEA transgenic mouse that expressed CEA as self-antigen in healthy cells of the gastrointestinal tract. Adoptive therapy with CD8(+) T cells, which were redirected by a CEA-specific, low-affinity CAR with CD3ζ endodomain, eliminated CEA(+) tumours in a primary response; cured mice produced an efficient recall response in the long term towards CEA(+) tumour cells upon rechallenge. Secondary tumour rejection was CEA specific, mediated by engineered T cells and did not require host T cells. No toxicity towards healthy tissues with CEA expression was recorded. Data indicate that adoptive therapy with engineered T cells can establish self-antigen-specific tumour protection in the long term without autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular Medicine Cologne and Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chmielewski
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rappl
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hombach
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; C121704:CD3 antigen, zeta chain; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell