Successful targeting of PD-1/PD-L1 with chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer cells and nivolumab in a humanized mouse cancer model

Sci Adv. 2022 Nov 25;8(47):eadd1187. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.add1187. Epub 2022 Nov 23.

Abstract

In recent decades, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered immune effector cells have demonstrated promising antileukemic activity. Nevertheless, their efficacy remains unsatisfactory on solid cancers, plausibly due to the influence of tumor microenvironments (TME). In a novel mouse cancer model with a humanized immune system, tumor-infiltrating immunosuppressive leukocytes and exhausted programmed death protein-1 (PD-1)high T cells were found, which better mimic patient TME, allowing the screening and assessment of immune therapeutics. Particularly, membrane-bound programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) level was elevated on a tumor cell surface, which serves as an attractive target for natural killer (NK) cell-mediated therapy. Hematopoietic stem cell-derived CAR-NK (CAR pNK) cells targeting the PD-L1 showed enhanced in vitro and in vivo anti-solid tumor function. The CAR pNK cells and nivolumab resulted in a synergistic anti-solid tumor response. Together, our study highlights a robust platform to develop and evaluate the antitumor efficacy and safety of previously unexplored therapeutic regimens.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Nivolumab / pharmacology
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen* / metabolism
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
  • Nivolumab
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Ligands