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      High-Affinity GD2-Specific CAR T Cells Induce Fatal Encephalitis in a Preclinical Neuroblastoma Model

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          Abstract

          The GD2 ganglioside, which is abundant on the surface of neuroblastoma cells, is targeted by an FDA-approved therapeutic monoclonal antibody and is an attractive tumor-associated antigen for cellular immunotherapy. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)–modified T cells can have potent antitumor activity in B-cell malignancies, and trials to harness this cytolytic activity toward GD2 in neuroblastoma are under way. In an effort to enhance the antitumor activity of CAR T cells that target GD2, we generated variant CAR constructs predicted to improve the stability and the affinity of the GD2-binding, 14G2a-based, single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of the CAR and compared their properties in vivo. We included the E101K mutation of GD2 scFv (GD2-E101K) that has enhanced antitumor activity against a GD2 + human neuroblastoma xenograft in vivo. However, this enhanced antitumor efficacy in vivo was concomitantly associated with lethal central nervous system (CNS) toxicity comprised of extensive CAR T-cell infiltration and proliferation within the brain and neuronal destruction. The encephalitis was localized to the cerebellum and basal regions of the brain that display low amounts of GD2. Our results highlight the challenges associated with target antigens that exhibit shared expression on critical normal tissues. Despite the success of GD2-specific antibody therapies in the treatment of neuroblastoma, the fatal neurotoxicity of GD2-specific CAR T-cell therapy observed in our studies suggests that GD2 may be a difficult target antigen for CAR T-cell therapy without additional strategies that can control CAR T-cell function within the CNS.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          101614637
          41946
          Cancer Immunol Res
          Cancer Immunol Res
          Cancer immunology research
          2326-6066
          2326-6074
          9 June 2018
          27 November 2017
          January 2018
          17 June 2018
          : 6
          : 1
          : 36-46
          Affiliations
          [1 ]Division of Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
          [2 ]Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
          [3 ]Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
          Author notes
          Corresponding Author: Michael C. Milone, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, 7103 Founders Pavilion, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-662-6575; Fax: 215-662-7529; milone@ 123456mail.med.upenn.edu
          Article
          PMC6004321 PMC6004321 6004321 nihpa973532
          10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-17-0211
          6004321
          29180536
          b07047c5-3755-43fe-90eb-c76f01c311eb
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