Abstract 2821: Incorporation of intrinsic checkpoint blockade enhances functionality of multigenic autologous UltraCAR-T® cells manufactured using non-viral gene delivery and rapid manufacturing process
Authors: Chan Tim , Bolinger Cheryl , Scott Sean , Du Mengyan , Poortman Carol , Koenitzer Byron , Athwal Taranjit , Shepard Lindsey , Slone R. Daniel , Dutta Shourik , Zilko Steven , Dunleavey James M. , Zenere Giorgio , Plummer Jacques , Klocke Bernward , Zinser Christian , Ahmad Shamim , Brough Douglas E. , Shah Rutul R. , Sabzevari Helen 
Published: June 2022

Current chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T manufacturing utilizes viral vectors and extensive ex vivo expansion at large central facilities leading to an exhausted CAR-T phenotype, high costs and long vein-to-vein times. While allogeneic CAR-T can reduce delays in patient treatment, they require extensive manipulation of donor cells, severe lymphodepletion and demonstrate short persistence limiting their therapeutic window.

The UltraCAR-T® platform is designed to overcome these limitations by utilizing non-viral multigene delivery and a rapid, decentralized manufacturing process without ex vivo activation or expansion of T cells. Patient’s own T cells are collected and manufactured at the medical center and re-infused one day after gene transfer.

Here we describe the next generation UltraCAR-T platform that addresses the inhibitory tumor microenvironment by incorporating a novel mechanism for intrinsic downregulation of one or more checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) genes. Our design achieves intrinsic CPI blockade without gene editing and is aimed at avoiding systemic toxicity and the high cost of combining CPI antibodies. Next generation UltraCAR-T cells simultaneously express CAR, membrane bound IL-15 (mbIL15), kill switch, and incorporate intrinsic CPI blockade.

To illustrate the ability of this platform, we designed exemplary non-viral transposons to generate UltraCAR-T cells against multiple tumor targets incorporating intrinsic blockade of either one (PD-1) or two (PD-1 and TIGIT) CPI genes. Healthy donor T cells were transfected using the UltraPorator™ electroporation system to manufacture UltraCAR-T cells without ex vivo activation or expansion. The co-expression of CAR, mbIL15 and kill switch was confirmed by flow cytometry and western blot. Activated UltraCAR-T showed significant reduction in CPI gene expression compared to control CAR-T cells lacking the CPI blockade and did not show unintended off-target activity. Downregulation of CPI gene(s) on UltraCAR-T enhanced cytotoxicity and inflammatory cytokine production, especially at low effector to target (E:T) cell ratios, when co-cultured with PD-L1+/CD155+ tumor cells. Single-cell cytokine proteomics showed significant increase in polyfunctionality of UltraCAR-T with intrinsic downregulation of CPI gene(s). In vivo, a single infusion of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1)-specific UltraCAR-T with intrinsic PD-1 blockade resulted in rapid expansion, an increase in preferred T cell memory (TSCM/TCM) populations, and significantly improved overall survival of ROR1+ PD-L1+ tumor bearing mice.

These preclinical data highlight the improved efficacy of incorporating intrinsic CPI blockade in UltraCAR-T cells using non-viral gene delivery and an established rapid, decentralized manufacturing process.

Citation Format: Tim Chan, Cheryl Bolinger, Sean Scott, Mengyan Du, Carol Poortman, Byron Koenitzer, Taranjit Athwal, Lindsey Shepard, R. Daniel Slone, Shourik Dutta, Steven Zilko, James M. Dunleavey, Giorgio Zenere, Jacques Plummer, Bernward Klocke, Christian Zinser, Shamim Ahmad, Douglas E. Brough, Rutul R. Shah, Helen Sabzevari. Incorporation of intrinsic checkpoint blockade enhances functionality of multigenic autologous UltraCAR-T® cells manufactured using non-viral gene delivery and rapid manufacturing process [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 2821.