Patricia Fuentes, Marina García-Peydró, Juan Alcain, Marta Mosquera, Carmela Cela, Claudia Cifuentes, Montserrat Torrebadell, Ignacio Isola, Mireia Camós, Manuel Ramírez, Balbino Alarcón, María L. Toribio
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Targeted immunotherapy for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), an aggressive tumor of developing T cell progenitors, is an urgent unmet need, especially for relapsed/refractory disease. Selective T-ALL targeting is challenging due to the shared antigen expression between leukemic and normal T cells. Here we identify the pre-T cell receptor (pre-TCR), a surface receptor essential for T cell development, as a biomarker of leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) in human T-ALL. Loss-of-function genetic approaches demonstrate that pre-TCR signaling is necessary for LIC activity and tumor progression in pre-TCR+ T-ALL patient xenografts in mice. Furthermore, we demonstrate the specific therapeutic targeting of the pre-TCR with a monoclonal antibody against the invariant pTα subunit of the human pre-TCR, and validate an anti-pTα antibody–drug conjugate in vivo treatment as a potent immunotherapy for inhibiting LIC activity and tumor progression of T-ALL in mice. These findings reveal the suitability of pre-TCR targeting as a promising therapy for the treatment of individuals with relapsed/refractory T-ALL expressing the pre-TCR. The authors identify pre-TCR as a key biomarker and therapeutic target in T-ALL. Targeting it with an anti-pTα antibody–drug conjugate inhibits leukemia-initiating cells and tumor growth in mice, offering promise for relapsed/refractory T-ALL treatment.
期刊介绍:
Nature Immunology is a monthly journal that publishes the highest quality research in all areas of immunology. The editorial decisions are made by a team of full-time professional editors. The journal prioritizes work that provides translational and/or fundamental insight into the workings of the immune system. It covers a wide range of topics including innate immunity and inflammation, development, immune receptors, signaling and apoptosis, antigen presentation, gene regulation and recombination, cellular and systemic immunity, vaccines, immune tolerance, autoimmunity, tumor immunology, and microbial immunopathology. In addition to publishing significant original research, Nature Immunology also includes comments, News and Views, research highlights, matters arising from readers, and reviews of the literature. The journal serves as a major conduit of top-quality information for the immunology community.