Abstract
Autologous T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) have produced a spectacular response in hematological malignancies. This success of cellular therapy has inspired the exploration of the therapeutic potential of other immune cell types. In this regard, natural killer (NK) cells hold great potential as they can identify tumor cells by mechanisms that are different from those used by T cells and have a high cytotoxic capacity. Their capacity to recognize tumors and killing potency can be further enhanced by genetic modification. Our laboratory has developed a clinically adaptable method to manufacture genetically modified NK cells using retroviral vectors in compliance with current good manufacturing practice regulations. Here, we describe relevant technical procedures, including isolation of peripheral blood mononucleated cells from a leukapheresis product, T-cell depletion, stimulation and transduction of NK cells, and preparation of transduced NK cells for infusion.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Maude SL, Laetsch TW, Buechner J, Rives S, Boyer M, Bittencourt H, Bader P, Verneris MR, Stefanski HE, Myers GD, Qayed M, De Moerloose B, Hiramatsu H, Schlis K, Davis KL, Martin PL, Nemecek ER, Yanik GA, Peters C, Baruchel A, Boissel N, Mechinaud F, Balduzzi A, Krueger J, June CH, Levine BL, Wood P, Taran T, Leung M, Mueller KT, Zhang Y, Sen K, Lebwohl D, Pulsipher MA, Grupp SA (2018) Tisagenlecleucel in children and young adults with B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. N Engl J Med 378(5):439–448. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1709866
Park JH, Riviere I, Gonen M, Wang X, Senechal B, Curran KJ, Sauter C, Wang Y, Santomasso B, Mead E, Roshal M, Maslak P, Davila M, Brentjens RJ, Sadelain M (2018) Long-term follow-up of CD19 CAR therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. N Engl J Med 378(5):449–459. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1709919
Schuster SJ, Svoboda J, Chong EA, Nasta SD, Mato AR, Anak Ö, Brogdon JL, Pruteanu-Malinici I, Bhoj V, Landsburg D, Wasik M, Levine BL, Lacey SF, Melenhorst JJ, Porter DL, June CH (2017) Chimeric antigen receptor T cells in refractory B-cell lymphomas. N Engl J Med 377(26):2545–2554. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1708566
Liu E, Marin D, Banerjee P, Macapinlac HA, Thompson P, Basar R, Nassif Kerbauy L, Overman B, Thall P, Kaplan M, Nandivada V, Kaur I, Nunez Cortes A, Cao K, Daher M, Hosing C, Cohen EN, Kebriaei P, Mehta R, Neelapu S, Nieto Y, Wang M, Wierda W, Keating M, Champlin R, Shpall EJ, Rezvani K (2020) Use of CAR-transduced natural killer cells in CD19-positive lymphoid tumors. N Engl J Med 382(6):545–553. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1910607
Myers JA, Miller JS (2021) Exploring the NK cell platform for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 18(2):85–100. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-020-0426-7
Huntington ND, Cursons J, Rautela J (2020) The cancer-natural killer cell immunity cycle. Nat Rev Cancer 20(8):437–454. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-020-0272-z
Adams GP, Weiner LM (2005) Monoclonal antibody therapy of cancer. Nat Biotechnol 23(9):1147–1157. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1137
Zhang M, Wen B, Anton OM, Yao Z, Dubois S, Ju W, Sato N, DiLillo DJ, Bamford RN, Ravetch JV, Waldmann TA (2018) IL-15 enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mediated by NK cells and macrophages. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115(46):E10915–E10924. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1811615115
Federico SM, McCarville MB, Shulkin BL, Sondel PM, Hank JA, Hutson P, Meagher M, Shafer A, Ng CY, Leung W, Janssen WE, Wu J, Mao S, Brennan RC, Santana VM, Pappo AS, Furman WL (2017) A pilot trial of humanized anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody (hu14.18K322A) with chemotherapy and natural killer cells in children with recurrent/refractory neuroblastoma. Clin Cancer Res 23(21):6441–6449. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.Ccr-17-0379
Lee SC, Shimasaki N, Lim JSJ, Wong A, Yadav K, Yong WP, Tan LK, Koh LP, Poon MLM, Tan SH, Ow SGW, Bharwani L, Yap YS, Foo MZQ, Coustan-Smith E, Sundar R, Tan HL, Chong WQ, Kumarakulasinghe NB, Lieow JLM, Koe PJX, Goh BC, Campana D (2020) Phase I trial of expanded, activated autologous NK-cell infusions with Trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive cancers. Clin Cancer Res 26(17):4494–4502. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.Ccr-20-0768
Imamura M, Shook D, Kamiya T, Shimasaki N, Chai SM, Coustan-Smith E, Imai C, Campana D (2014) Autonomous growth and increased cytotoxicity of natural killer cells expressing membrane-bound interleukin-15. Blood 124(7):1081–1088. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2014-02-556837. Epub 2014 Jul 8
Liu E, Tong Y, Dotti G, Shaim H, Savoldo B, Mukherjee M, Orange J, Wan X, Lu X, Reynolds A, Gagea M, Banerjee P, Cai R, Bdaiwi MH, Basar R, Muftuoglu M, Li L, Marin D, Wierda W, Keating M, Champlin R, Shpall E, Rezvani K (2018) Cord blood NK cells engineered to express IL-15 and a CD19-targeted CAR show long-term persistence and potent antitumor activity. Leukemia 32(2):520–531. https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2017.226
Müller N, Michen S, Tietze S, Töpfer K, Schulte A, Lamszus K, Schmitz M, Schackert G, Pastan I, Temme A (2015) Engineering NK cells modified with an EGFRvIII-specific chimeric antigen receptor to overexpress CXCR4 improves immunotherapy of CXCL12/SDF-1α-secreting glioblastoma. J Immunother 38(5):197–210. https://doi.org/10.1097/cji.0000000000000082
Di Stasi A, De Angelis B, Rooney CM, Zhang L, Mahendravada A, Foster AE, Heslop HE, Brenner MK, Dotti G, Savoldo B (2009) T lymphocytes coexpressing CCR4 and a chimeric antigen receptor targeting CD30 have improved homing and antitumor activity in a Hodgkin tumor model. Blood 113(25):6392–6402. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2009-03-209650
Imai C, Iwamoto S, Campana D (2005) Genetic modification of primary natural killer cells overcomes inhibitory signals and induces specific killing of leukemic cells. Blood 106(1):376–383
Chang YH, Connolly J, Shimasaki N, Mimura K, Kono K, Campana D (2013) A chimeric receptor with NKG2D specificity enhances natural killer cell activation and killing of tumor cells. Cancer Res 73(6):1777–1786. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472CAN-12-3558. Epub 2013 Jan 9
Kudo K, Imai C, Lorenzini P, Kamiya T, Kono K, Davidoff AM, Chng WJ, Campana D (2014) T lymphocytes expressing a CD16 signaling receptor exert antibody-dependent cancer cell killing. Cancer Res 74(1):93–103
Li Y, Hermanson DL, Moriarity BS, Kaufman DS (2018) Human iPSC-derived natural killer cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors enhance anti-tumor activity. Cell Stem Cell 23(2):181–192.e185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2018.06.002
Kamiya T, Seow SV, Wong D, Robinson M, Campana D (2019) Blocking expression of inhibitory receptor NKG2A overcomes tumor resistance to NK cells. J Clin Invest 129(5):2094–2106. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci123955
Shimasaki N, Campana D (2020) Engineering of natural killer cells for clinical application. Methods Mol Biol 2097:91–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0203-4_6
Shimasaki N, Fujisaki H, Cho D, Masselli M, Lockey T, Eldridge P, Leung W, Campana D (2012) A clinically adaptable method to enhance the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells against B-cell malignancies. Cytotherapy 14(7):830–840. https://doi.org/10.3109/146532492012671519. Epub 2012 Mar 29
Fujisaki H, Kakuda H, Shimasaki N, Imai C, Ma J, Lockey T, Eldridge P, Leung WH, Campana D (2009) Expansion of highly cytotoxic human natural killer cells for cancer cell therapy. Cancer Res 69(9):4010–4017
Harada H, Watanabe S, Saijo K, Ishiwata I, Ohno T (2004) A Wilms tumor cell line, HFWT, can greatly stimulate proliferation of CD56+ human natural killer cells and their novel precursors in blood mononuclear cells. Exp Hematol 32(7):614–621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exphem.2004.03.011
Berg M, Lundqvist A, McCoy P Jr, Samsel L, Fan Y, Tawab A, Childs R (2009) Clinical-grade ex vivo-expanded human natural killer cells up-regulate activating receptors and death receptor ligands and have enhanced cytolytic activity against tumor cells. Cytotherapy 11(3):341–355. https://doi.org/10.1080/14653240902807034
Granzin M, Stojanovic A, Miller M, Childs R, Huppert V, Cerwenka A (2016) Highly efficient IL-21 and feeder cell-driven ex vivo expansion of human NK cells with therapeutic activity in a xenograft mouse model of melanoma. Onco Targets Ther 5(9):e1219007. https://doi.org/10.1080/2162402x.2016.1219007
Angelo LS, Banerjee PP, Monaco-Shawver L, Rosen JB, Makedonas G, Forbes LR, Mace EM, Orange JS (2015) Practical NK cell phenotyping and variability in healthy adults. Immunol Res 62(3):341–356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-015-8664-y
Hank JA, Surfus J, Gan J, Albertini M, Lindstrom M, Schiller JH, Hotton KM, Khorsand M, Sondel PM (1999) Distinct clinical and laboratory activity of two recombinant interleukin-2 preparations. Clin Cancer Res 5(2):281–289
Müller S, Schulz A, Reiss U, Schwarz K, Schreiner T, Wiesneth M, Debatin KM, Friedrich W (1999) Definition of a critical T cell threshold for prevention of GVHD after HLA non-identical PBPC transplantation in children. Bone Marrow Transplant 24(6):575–581. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1701970
Acknowledgments
I thank Prof. Dario Campana for his helpful suggestions for the process and comments on this chapter. I thank Liza Ho, Michelle Ng, Hilary Mock, and Huai Hui Wong for their expert assistance in the establishment of this method for genetically modified NK cells. This work was supported by the GOH Foundation Advanced Cellular Therapy Research and Education Programme and Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF).
Conflict of interest: NS is a co-inventor in patent applications describing some of the technologies used or related technologies.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Shimasaki, N. (2022). Gene Transduction of Natural Killer Cells for Clinical Application. In: Shimasaki, N. (eds) Natural Killer (NK) Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2463. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2160-8_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2160-8_21
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-2159-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-2160-8
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols