Clinical-grade T cells rendered specific for CD19 have demonstrated anti-tumor activity. We are now proposing a translational study to investigate the temporal-spatial biodistribution and microenvironment associated with adoptively transferred CD19-specific T cells as achieved using positron emission tomography (PET). To target aggressive B-cell malignancies, we have initiated two clinical trials to infuse autologous and allogeneic T cells that have been genetically modified to express a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) which recognizes CD19 on the cell surface, independent of MHC. This new R01 grant application establishes an inter-disciplinary (chemistry, imaging, biostatistics, bioinformatics, nuclear medicine, gene therapy, and immunology) and multi-institution (MDACC and TMH) team, partnering with industry (CellSight Technologies, Inc.) to investigate a platform for imaging infused CAR+ T cells by PET. This will be accomplished by coexpressing a mutant of herpes simplex virus-1 thymidine kinase (sr39tk) with the CD19-specific CAR in T cells using the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon/transposase system which we have adapted for clinical translation. We will synchronously electro-transfer two DNA plasmids expressing the SB transposons (i) CAR and (ii) sr39tk, using a new method we dub ?double transposition?.
Aim #1 seeks to determine if non-viral gene transfer will produce T cells that co-express CD19-specific CAR and sr39tk under control of constitutive and conditional promoters. The sr39tk reporter gene will be fused to hygromycin phosphotransferase (Hy) and thus CAR+sr39tk+ T cells will be selectively propagated in presence of cytocidal concentration of hygromycin B on γ- irradiated artificial antigen presenting cells that co-express CD19 along with desired T-cell co-stimulatory molecules.
Aim #2 seeks to undertake longitudinal μPET imaging of infused human CAR+sr39tk+ T cells with the reporter probe [18F]FHBG in immunocompromised mice to assess biodistribution and sensitivity of detection. T-cell activation status will be imaged by comparing (i) conditional expression of sr39tk under control of NFAT promoter with (ii) the new PET probe [18F]F-AraG developed at CellSight. T-cell hypoxia will be assessed by introducing a molecular sensor for oxygen to test whether sr39tk can report low oxygen tension.
Aim #3 seeks to translate these pre-clinical data to a new clinical study infusing CAR+sr39tk+ T cells in patients undergoing gene therapy with CD19-specific T cells. This trial will be a companion study to our existing trial (IND# 14193) infusing CAR+ T cells after autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for research participants with advanced B-lymphoid malignancies. The PET probe [18F]FHBG, marketed by CellSight Technologies, will be manufactured for clinical imaging at TMH, per IND #61880. In aggregate, these studies will test the central hypothesis that CD19-specific CAR+sr39tk+ T cells can be imaged in humans using PET. These studies will establish principles and practices for translating PET-based imaging of CAR+ T cells and provide the first human imaging data on the biodistribution of genetically modified T cells.

Public Health Relevance

Genetically modified T cells are being infused as investigational targeted treatment for lymphomas. Here, we seek to build on our gene therapy to enable infused T cells to be imaged using positron emission tomography.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA163587-03
Application #
8711377
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SBIB-X (57))
Program Officer
Baker, Houston
Project Start
2012-09-04
Project End
2017-07-31
Budget Start
2014-08-01
Budget End
2015-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$564,591
Indirect Cost
$140,216
Name
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
800772139
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
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Liadi, Ivan; Singh, Harjeet; Romain, Gabrielle et al. (2015) Individual Motile CD4(+) T Cells Can Participate in Efficient Multikilling through Conjugation to Multiple Tumor Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 3:473-82
Caruso, Hillary G; Hurton, Lenka V; Najjar, Amer et al. (2015) Tuning Sensitivity of CAR to EGFR Density Limits Recognition of Normal Tissue While Maintaining Potent Antitumor Activity. Cancer Res 75:3505-18
Rushworth, David; Jena, Bipulendu; Olivares, Simon et al. (2014) Universal artificial antigen presenting cells to selectively propagate T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptor independent of specificity. J Immunother 37:204-13
Singh, Harjeet; Huls, Helen; Kebriaei, Partow et al. (2014) A new approach to gene therapy using Sleeping Beauty to genetically modify clinical-grade T cells to target CD19. Immunol Rev 257:181-90
Maiti, Sourindra N; Huls, Helen; Singh, Harjeet et al. (2013) Sleeping beauty system to redirect T-cell specificity for human applications. J Immunother 36:112-23
Singh, Harjeet; Figliola, Matthew J; Dawson, Margaret J et al. (2013) Manufacture of clinical-grade CD19-specific T cells stably expressing chimeric antigen receptor using Sleeping Beauty system and artificial antigen presenting cells. PLoS One 8:e64138
Hackett, Perry B; Largaespada, David A; Switzer, Kirsten C et al. (2013) Evaluating risks of insertional mutagenesis by DNA transposons in gene therapy. Transl Res 161:265-83
Deniger, Drew C; Switzer, Kirsten; Mi, Tiejuan et al. (2013) Bispecific T-cells expressing polyclonal repertoire of endogenous ?? T-cell receptors and introduced CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor. Mol Ther 21:638-47
Ghosh, Pradip; Zhang, Jiawei; Shi, Zheng-Zheng et al. (2013) Synthesis and evaluation of an imidazole derivative-fluorescein conjugate. Bioorg Med Chem 21:2418-2425

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