NYMC Faculty Publications
Novel Cytokine-Antibody Fusion Protein, N-820, to Enhance the Functions of Ex Vivo Expanded Natural Killer Cells Against Burkitt Lymphoma
DOI
10.1136/jitc-2020-001238
Journal Title
Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer
First Page
e001238
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2020
Department
Pediatrics
Second Department
Health Behavior and Community Health
Abstract
Background: The prognosis of patients with relapsed or progressive B cell (CD20+) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL), including Burkitt lymphoma (BL), is dismal due to chemoradiotherapy resistance. Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. N-820 is a fusion protein of N-803 (formerly known as ALT-803) to four single-chains of rituximab. This agent has tri-specific binding activity to CD20 and enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
Methods: We investigated the anti-tumor combinatorial effects of N-820 with ex vivo expanded peripheral blood natural killer (exPBNK) cells against rituximab-sensitive and rituximab-resistant CD20+ BL in vitro using cytoxicity assays and in vivo using human BL xenografted NOD/SCID/IL2rγnull (NSG) mice. We also investigated the cytokines/chemokines/growth factors released using ELISA and multiplex assay. Gene expression changes were examined using real-time PCR arrays.
Results: N-820 significantly enhanced the expression of NK activating receptors (p<0.001) and the proliferation of exPBNK cells with enhanced Ki67 expression and Stat5 phosphorylation (p<0.001). N-820 significantly enhanced the secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors including GM-CSF, RANTES, MIP-1B (p<0.001) from exPBNK cells as compared with the combination of rituximab+N-803. Importantly, N-820 significantly enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity (p<0.001) of exPBNK with enhanced granzyme B and IFN-γ release (p<0.001) against BL. Gene expression profiles in exPBNK stimulated by N-820+Raji-2R showed enhanced transcription of CXCL9, CXCL1, CSF2, CSF3, GZMB, and IFNG. Moreover, N-820 combined with exPBNK significantly inhibited rituximab-resistant BL growth (p<0.05) and extended the survival (p<0.05) of BL xenografted NSG mice.
Conclusions: Our results provide the rationale for the development of a clinical trial of N-820 alone or in combination with endogenous or ex vivo expanded NK cells in patients with CD20+ B-NHL failing prior rituximab containing chemoimmunotherapy regimens.
Recommended Citation
Chu, Y., Nayyar, G., Kham Su, N., Rosenblum, J. M., Soon-Shiong, P., Lee, J., Safrit, J. T., Barth, M., Lee, D., & Cairo, M. S. (2020). Novel Cytokine-Antibody Fusion Protein, N-820, to Enhance the Functions of Ex Vivo Expanded Natural Killer Cells Against Burkitt Lymphoma. Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer, 8 (2), e001238. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2020-001238