Anti-prostate specific membrane antigen designer T cells for prostate cancer therapy

BACKGROUND: Designer T cells are T lymphocytes engineered toward specific antibody-type membrane antigens through chimeric immunoglobulin-T-cell receptor (IgTCR) genes that have been used for adoptive cellular immunotherapy. We have extended this approach to prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) as a means to attack prostate cancer. METHODS: A chimeric anti-PSMA IgTCR gene was constructed based on an anti-PSMA monoclonal antibody, 3D8. Both T-cell lines and primary cultured human T lymphocytes were transduced with the chimeric anti-PSMA IgTCR construct and were analyzed for IgTCR expression, specific activation by PSMA, cytotoxicity against PSMA-expressing tumor cells in vitro, and retardation of tumor growth in an animal model. RESULTS: The IgTCR was incorporated into the TCR-CD3 complex and formed a functional chimeric complex. The IgTCR-modified T cells were specifically activated through the chimeric receptor with PSMA as measured by IL-2 production and increased CD25 expression and specifically lysed the PSMA-expressing prostate cancer cells in vitro as well as retarded tumor growth in an animal model. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-PSMA designer T cells exhibit an antibody-type specificity that can recognize PSMA expressing tumor cells in a MHC-independent fashion, resulting in T-cell activation, target cell lysis in vitro and inhibition of tumor growth in vivo.