Cellular Immunotherapy for Carcinoma Using Genetically Modified EGFR-Specific T Lymphocytes

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in a variety of human malignancies, including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Overexpression of EGFR is a predictive marker of therapeutic response and several lines of evidence suggest that EGF...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xikun Zhou, Jing Li, Zhen Wang, Zhongwen Chen, Ji Qiu, Yinbing Zhang, Wei Wang, Yu Ma, Nongyu Huang, Kaijun Cui, Jiong Li, Yu-quan Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2013-05-01
Series:Neoplasia: An International Journal for Oncology Research
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1476558613800401
Description
Summary:Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in a variety of human malignancies, including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Overexpression of EGFR is a predictive marker of therapeutic response and several lines of evidence suggest that EGFR is an excellent target for tumor therapy. However, the effective antitumor capacity of EGFR-specific T cells against EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells has not been fully elucidated. In our previous study, we identified an anti-EGFR single-chain variable fragment (scFv) with specific and high affinity after screening by ribosome display. In this study, the anticancer potential of anti-EGFR scFv was investigated on the basis of cell-targeted therapy. A chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting EGFR was constructed and expressed on the cell membrane of T lymphocytes. These CAR-modified T cells demonstrated antitumor efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the safety evaluation showed that CAR-modified lymphocytes have no or very minimal acute systemic toxicity. Taken together, our study provided the experimental basis for clinical application of genetically engineered lymphocytes; moreover, we also evaluate a new and interesting cell therapy protocol.
ISSN:1476-5586
1522-8002