Lee, L;
Draper, B;
Chaplin, N;
Philip, B;
Chin, M;
Galas-Filipowicz, D;
Onuoha, S;
... Pule, M; + view all
(2017)
An APRIL based chimeric antigen receptor for dual targeting of BCMA and TACI in Multiple Myeloma.
Blood
, 2017
(5)
, Article 781351. 10.1182/blood-2017-05-781351.
Preview |
Text
blood-2017-05-781351.full.pdf - Accepted Version Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is a promising therapeutic target for multiple myeloma (MM), but expression is variable, and early reports of BCMA targeting chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) suggest antigen down-regulation at relapse. Dual antigen targeting increases targetable tumour antigens and reduces the risk of antigen negative disease escape. 'A proliferation-inducing ligand' (APRIL) is a natural high affinity ligand for BCMA and transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI). We quantified surface tumour expression of BCMA and TACI on primary MM cells (n=50). All cases tested expressed BCMA and 39(78%) of them also expressed TACI. We engineered a third generation APRIL-based CAR (ACAR), which killed targets expressing either BCMA or TACI (p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively, cf control, E:T ratio 16:1). We confirmed cytolysis at antigen levels similar to those on primary MM, at low effector to target ratios (56.2±3.9% killing of MM.1s at 48 hours, E:T ratio 1:32, p<0.01) and of primary MM cells (72.9±12.2% killing at 3 days, E:T ratio 1:1, p<0.05, n=5). Demonstrating tumour control in the absence of BCMA, cytolysis of primary tumour expressing both BCMA and TACI was maintained in the presence of a BCMA targeting antibody. Further, using an intramedullary myeloma model, ACAR T-cells caused regression of established tumour within 2 days. Finally, in an in vivo model of tumour escape, there was complete ACAR-mediated tumour clearance of BCMA+TACI- and BCMA-TACI+ cells while a scFv CAR targeting BCMA alone resulted in outgrowth of BCMA negative tumour. These results support the clinical potential of this approach.
Archive Staff Only
View Item |