CRISPR-Cas9-mediated disruption of PD-1 on human T cells for adoptive cellular therapies of EBV positive gastric cancer. (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Su, Shu; Zou, Zhengyun; Chen, Fangjun; Ding, Naiqing; Du, Juan; Shao, Jie; Li, Lin; Fu, Yao; Hu, Bian; Yang, Yang; Sha, Huizi; Meng, Fanyan; Wei, Jia; Huang, Xingxu; Liu, Baorui
• Is Part Of: Oncoimmunology. Volume 6:Number 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Adoptive cell therapy -- checkpoint blockade -- CRISPR -- EBV-associated gastric cancer; Tumors -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- therapy -- Periodicals; Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2016.1249558
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2162-402X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The successful use of immune cell checkpoint inhibitors PD-1 and PD-L1, over the past 5 y has raised the concern of using immunotherapy to treat various cancers. Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) exhibits high infiltration of lymphocytes and high amplification of immune-related genes including PD-L1 as distinguished from Epstein-Barr virus-non-associated gastric cancer (EBVnGC). Here, we presume that this PD-1/PD-L1 pathway may hinder the efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy toward EBVaGC. These studies reveal possibility of generating PD-1-disrupted CTL by CRISPR-Cas9 system and demonstrate enhanced immune response of these PD-1-disrupted CTLs to the EBV-LMP2A antigen and superior cytotoxicity to the EBV-positive gastric cancer cell. In addition, when combined with low-dose radiotherapy, these PD-1-disrupted CTLs mediated an impressive antitumor effect in a xenograft mouse model of EBVaGC. Taken together, these studies illustrate PD-1/PD-L1-mediated immune tolerance of EBVaGC and provide a new strategy for targeting immune checkpoints to break the tolerance for the T cell-based adoptive therapy.