Abstract 1321: In vivo immune cell programming using mRNA-LNP chimeric antigen receptors
Authors: Argueta Shannon , Melber Franciele K. , Gorgievski Michael , Divangi Neha , Cochran Edward , Chu Thach , Wang Yuxiao , Ding Jian , Getts Daniel 
Published: March 2024

Introduction: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a dynamic and multifaceted system that comprises largely myeloid lineage immune cells including monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Reprogramming the myeloid compartment within the context of cancer therapy presents an attractive strategy to overcome current limitations in solid tumor treatment. We have developed a novel approach that harnesses the natural ability of Myeloid cells to take up mRNA loaded lipid nanoparticles, to reprogram these cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR’s) that arm these cells to recognize and kill tumor cells.

Methods: Current LNPs technology is sufficient to deliver significant mRNA cargo to numerous cell types, including B cells, T cells and myeloid cells. Leveraging this phenomenon we have developed a new class of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), using protein biology that imparts targeted immune cell expression and functionality, specifically in Myeloid cells. These CARs harness Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-based Activation Motif (ITAM) signaling adaptors expressed exclusively in immune cells, achieving immune cell-type specific CAR-directed tumor lysis and cytokine responses. With a FcaR I (CD89) based CAR design, we have developed a CAR that is dependent on the common Fc receptor gamma chain, primarily restricted to myeloid cells, for stable expression and function.

Results: We have demonstrated specific expression of CD89-based CAR in myeloid cells in mouse and monkey following systemic mRNA/LNP delivery, and in human myeloid cells following in vitro treatment with mRNA/LNPs. Systemic mRNA/LNP delivery of CD89-based CAR has demonstrated robust anti-tumor efficacy against multiple tumor antigens in various xenograft mouse models of human breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and ovarian cancer. Furthermore, in syngeneic mouse tumor models, robust anti-tumor immune responses, characterized by tumoral infiltration of activated CD8+ T cells, diminished tumor-associated Tregs, systemic enhancement of dendritic cells and anti-tumor IgG production, were observed for treated animals.

Conclusions: Taken together, we present CAR designs that achieve expression and function in targeted immune cell populations, capable of eliciting anti-tumor efficacy against multiple target antigens by leveraging innate and adaptive immune responses, and demonstrating a class of novel CAR designs to overcome limitations faced by current in vivo mRNA/LNP delivery strategy. A phase I clinical trial is currently on-going to assess the safety and preliminary efficacy of CD89-based CAR against TROP2+ epithelial malignancies.

Citation Format: Shannon Argueta, Franciele K. Melber, Michael Gorgievski, Neha Divangi, Edward Cochran, Thach Chu, Yuxiao Wang, Jian Ding, Daniel Getts. In vivo immune cell programming using mRNA-LNP chimeric antigen receptors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1321.