A bispecific γδ T-cell engager targeting EGFR activates a potent Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-mediated immune response against EGFR-expressing tumors.

Abstract

Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are effector cells with proven antitumor efficacy against a broad range of cancers. This study aimed to assess the antitumor activity and safety of a bispecific antibody directing Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to EGFR-expressing tumors. An EGFR-Vδ2 bispecific T-cell engager (bsTCE) was generated and its capacity to activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells and trigger antitumor activity were tested in multiple in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models. Studies to explore safety were conducted using cross-reactive surrogate engagers in non-human primates (NHP). We found that Vγ9Vδ2 T cells from peripheral blood and tumor specimens of patients with EGFR+ cancers had a distinct immune checkpoint expression profile characterized by low levels of PD-1, LAG-3, and TIM-3. Vγ9Vδ2 T cells could be activated by EGFR-Vδ2 bsTCEs to mediate lysis of various EGFR+ patient-derived tumor samples and substantial tumor growth inhibition and improved survival were observed in in vivo xenograft mouse models using PBMCs as effector cells. EGFR-Vδ2 bsTCEs exerted preferential activity towards EGFR+ tumor cells and induced downstream activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and NK cells without concomitant activation of suppressive regulatory T cells observed with EGFR-CD3 bsTCEs. Administration of fully cross-reactive and half-life extended surrogate engagers to NHPs did not trigger signals in the safety parameters that were assessed. Considering the effector and immune-activating properties of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, the preclinical efficacy data and acceptable safety profile reported here provide a solid basis for testing EGFR-Vδ2 bsTCEs in patients with EGFR+ malignancies.