Identification and validation of T-cell receptors targeting RAS hotspot mutations in human cancers for use in cell-based immunotherapy

Noam Levin, Biman C. Paria, Nolan R. Vale, Rami Yossef, Frank J. Lowery, Maria R. Parkhurst, Zhiya Yu, Maria Florentin, Gal Cafri, Jared J. Gartner, Mackenzie L. Shindorf, Lien T. Ngo, Satyajit Ray, Sanghyun P. Kim, Amy R. Copeland, Paul F. Robbins, Steven A. Rosenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Immunotherapies mediate the regression of human tumors through recognition of tumor antigens by immune cells that trigger an immune response. Mutations in the RAS oncogenes occur in about 30% of all patients with cancer. These mutations play an important role in both tumor establishment and survival and are commonly found in hotspots. Discovering T-cell receptors (TCR) that recognize shared mutated RAS antigens presented on MHC class I and class II molecules are thus promising reagents for “off-the-shelf” adoptive cell therapies (ACT) following insertion of the TCRs into lymphocytes. Experimental Design: In this ongoing work, we screened for RAS antigen recognition in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) or by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). TCRs recognizing mutated RAS were identified from the reactive T cells. The TCRs were then reconstructed and virally transduced into PBLs and tested. Results: Here, we detect and report multiple novel TCR sequences that recognize nonsynonymous mutant RAS hotspot mutations with high avidity and specificity and identify the specific class-I and -II MHC restriction elements involved in the recognition of mutant RAS. Conclusions: The TCR library directed against RAS hotspot mutations described here recognize RAS mutations found in about 45% of the Caucasian population and about 60% of the Asian population and represent promising reagents for “off-the-shelf” ACTs.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume27
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Sep 2021
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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