EXTH-20. SYNGENEIC B7-H3-SPECIFIC CAR T-CELLS HAVE POTENT ANTI-BRAIN TUMOR ACTIVITY VIA LOCAL OR SYSTEMIC DELIVERY

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND We and others have identified B7-H3 (CD276) as a promising target for CAR T-cell-based immunotherapies for pediatric brain tumors. So far, B7-H3-CAR T cells have only been studied in xenograft models for brain tumors, which do not recapitulate the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). To overcome this obstacle, we decided to adapt the immune competent GL261 murine glioma model which mimics human disease and host immune barriers. METHODS To evaluate their safety and efficacy, murine B7-H3-CAR T-cells were generated using retroviral particles encoding a 2nd generation B7-H3-CAR with a CD28.z signaling domain. Expansion, persistence, and anti-tumor activity were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Components of the brain TME were then evaluated using flow cytometry and immunostaining. RESULTS B7-H3-CAR T cells only killed B7-H3+ tumor cells, secreted significant levels of IFNγ and IL-2 in an antigen-dependent manner and expanded an average of 85-fold in repeat stimulation assay with B7-H3+ tumor cells in contrast to control CAR T-cells. In vivo, intratumoral (2x106) or systemic (3x106) injection of syngeneic B7-H3-CAR T-cells into mice with orthotopic GL261 glioma induced complete regression in 60% of treated mice resulting in a significant survival advantage. Mice showed no evidence of acute or long-term toxicities related to CAR T-cell infusions. We confirmed this encouraging safety profile by systemic administration of a high dose (1x107) B7-H3-CAR T-cells and performing histological analyses of all major organs on day 14 post T-cell injection, which showed no notable signs of injury or on-target/off-tumor toxicities. CONCLUSIONS We successfully generated syngeneic B7-H3-CAR T-cells and have demonstrated that these cells have potent anti-tumor activity in the immune competent GL261 glioma model via local or systemic delivery without apparent toxicities. Our study paves the way for future testing of B7-H3-CAR T-cells in early phase clinical studies.