Efficiently targeting neuroblastoma with the combination of anti-ROR1 CAR NK cells and N-803 in vitro and in vivo in NB xenografts

Yaya Chu, Gaurav Nayyar, Meijuan Tian, Dean A. Lee, Mehmet F. Ozkaynak, Jessica Ayala-Cuesta, Kayleigh Klose, Keira Foley, Alyssa S. Mendelowitz, Wen Luo, Yanling Liao, Janet Ayello, Gregory K. Behbehani, Stanley Riddell, Timothy P. Cripe, Mitchell S. Cairo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The prognosis for children with recurrent and/or refractory neuroblastoma (NB) is dismal. The receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1), which is highly expressed on the surface of NB cells, provides a potential target for novel immunotherapeutics. Anti-ROR1 chimeric antigen receptor engineered ex vivo expanded peripheral blood natural killer (anti-ROR1 CAR exPBNK) cells represent this approach. N-803 is an IL-15 superagonist with enhanced biological activity. In this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effects of anti-ROR1 CAR exPBNK cells with or without N-803 against ROR1+ NB models. Compared to mock exPBNK cells, anti-ROR1 CAR exPBNK cells had significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against ROR1+ NB cells, and N-803 further increased cytotoxicity. High-dimensional analysis revealed that N-803 enhanced Stat5 phosphorylation and Ki67 levels in both exPBNK and anti-ROR1 CAR exPBNK cells with or without NB cells. In vivo, anti-ROR1 CAR exPBNK plus N-803 significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced survival in human ROR1+ NB xenografted NSG mice compared to anti-ROR1 CAR exPBNK alone. Our results provide the rationale for further development of anti-ROR1 CAR exPBNK cells plus N-803 as a novel combination immunotherapeutic for patients with recurrent and/or refractory ROR1+ NB.

Original languageEnglish
Article number200820
JournalMolecular Therapy Oncology
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 20 2024

Keywords

  • IL-15 superagonist
  • MT: Regular Issue
  • ROR1
  • chimerical antigen receptor
  • cytotoxicity
  • expanded natural killer cells
  • neuroblastoma
  • targeted immunotherapy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Efficiently targeting neuroblastoma with the combination of anti-ROR1 CAR NK cells and N-803 in vitro and in vivo in NB xenografts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this