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Abstract
<p id="P3">Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) significantly enhance anti-tumor activity
of immune
effector cells. While most studies have evaluated CAR-expression in T cells, here
we evaluate different CAR constructs that improve natural killer (NK) cell-mediated
killing. We identified a CAR containing the transmembrane domain of NKG2D, the 2B4
co-stimulatory domain, and the CD3ζ signaling domain to mediate strong antigen-specific
NK cell signaling. NK cells derived from human iPSCs that express this CAR (NK-CAR-iPSC-NK
cells) have a typical NK cell phenotype and demonstrate improved anti-tumor activity
compared to T-CAR expressing iPSC-derived NK cells (T-CAR-iPSC-NK cells) and non-CAR
expressing cells. Using an ovarian cancer xenograft model, NK-CAR-iPSC-NK cells significantly
inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival compared to PB-NK cells, iPSC-NK cells,
or T-CAR-iPSC-NK cells. Additionally, NK-CAR-iPSC-NK cells demonstrate similar in
vivo activity as T-CAR-expressing T cells, though with less toxicity. These NK-CAR-iPSC-NK
cells now provide standardized, targeted “off the shelf” lymphocytes for anti-cancer
immunotherapy.
</p><p id="P4">Natural killer (NK) cells are a key part of the immune system’s ability
to mediate
anti-cancer activity. Kaufman and colleagues utilize human iPSCs to produce NK cells
with novel chimeric antigen receptors that specifically target cancer cells in an
antigen-specific manner to improve survival in an ovarian cancer xenograft model.
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