Allogeneic cetuximab-armed gamma delta T cells using antibody-cell conjugation technology for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumors

Background Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has become a strategic approach in cancer therapy, using various modalities including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-αβT cell therapies. Despite significant advancements in autologous CAR-αβT cell therapies in B-cell lymphoma, current cel...

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Main Authors: Yi-Chiu Kuo, Hao-Kang Li, Tai-Sheng Wu, Ying Ru, Chia-Yun Lee, Pei-Ju Leng, Yi-Chun Hsieh, Yun-Jung Chiang, Zih-Fei Cheng, Yan-Liang Lin, Shih-Chia Hsiao, Sai-Wen Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Online Access:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/13/7/e010500.full
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author Yi-Chiu Kuo
Hao-Kang Li
Tai-Sheng Wu
Ying Ru
Chia-Yun Lee
Pei-Ju Leng
Yi-Chun Hsieh
Yun-Jung Chiang
Zih-Fei Cheng
Yan-Liang Lin
Shih-Chia Hsiao
Sai-Wen Tang
author_facet Yi-Chiu Kuo
Hao-Kang Li
Tai-Sheng Wu
Ying Ru
Chia-Yun Lee
Pei-Ju Leng
Yi-Chun Hsieh
Yun-Jung Chiang
Zih-Fei Cheng
Yan-Liang Lin
Shih-Chia Hsiao
Sai-Wen Tang
author_sort Yi-Chiu Kuo
collection DOAJ
description Background Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has become a strategic approach in cancer therapy, using various modalities including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-αβT cell therapies. Despite significant advancements in autologous CAR-αβT cell therapies in B-cell lymphoma, current cell therapies face challenges such as potential risks associated with genetic engineering, waiting time and high costs of autologous CAR-αβT cell therapies. Innovations in click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry have enabled the development of antibody-cell conjugation (ACC) technology, which links cancer-targeting antibodies to immune cells without genetic modifications, potentially providing a safer profile.Methods In this study, we introduce ACE2016, an innovative allogeneic cell therapy targeting EGFR. ACE2016 is generated by ACC technology to conjugate donor-derived γδ2 T cells with the EGFR-specific antibody cetuximab.Results Our preclinical studies demonstrate that ACE2016 exhibits superior cytotoxicity against various EGFR-expressing cancer cell lines and minimal cytotoxic effects on normal cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that ACE2016 enhances cytotoxicity through increased capacity towards EGFR-expressing cancer cells, enhanced levels of cytotoxic cytokines and recruitment of peripheral cytotoxic cells, reflecting significant tumor suppression and prolonged survival in ACE2016-treated groups without causing treatment-related toxicity in vivo.Conclusions These findings support the clinical potential of ACE2016 as an off-the-shelf γδ2 T-cell therapy for EGFR-expressing cancers, offering a combination of specificity, scalability, and safety in the development of solid tumor therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-02833a99ff4f44eebc89c8d2be5c328e2025-08-20T02:39:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer2051-14262025-07-0113710.1136/jitc-2024-010500Allogeneic cetuximab-armed gamma delta T cells using antibody-cell conjugation technology for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumorsYi-Chiu Kuo0Hao-Kang Li1Tai-Sheng Wu2Ying Ru3Chia-Yun Lee4Pei-Ju Leng5Yi-Chun Hsieh6Yun-Jung Chiang7Zih-Fei Cheng8Yan-Liang Lin9Shih-Chia Hsiao10Sai-Wen Tang11Acepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USAAcepodia Biotech Inc, Alameda, California, USABackground Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has become a strategic approach in cancer therapy, using various modalities including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-αβT cell therapies. Despite significant advancements in autologous CAR-αβT cell therapies in B-cell lymphoma, current cell therapies face challenges such as potential risks associated with genetic engineering, waiting time and high costs of autologous CAR-αβT cell therapies. Innovations in click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry have enabled the development of antibody-cell conjugation (ACC) technology, which links cancer-targeting antibodies to immune cells without genetic modifications, potentially providing a safer profile.Methods In this study, we introduce ACE2016, an innovative allogeneic cell therapy targeting EGFR. ACE2016 is generated by ACC technology to conjugate donor-derived γδ2 T cells with the EGFR-specific antibody cetuximab.Results Our preclinical studies demonstrate that ACE2016 exhibits superior cytotoxicity against various EGFR-expressing cancer cell lines and minimal cytotoxic effects on normal cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that ACE2016 enhances cytotoxicity through increased capacity towards EGFR-expressing cancer cells, enhanced levels of cytotoxic cytokines and recruitment of peripheral cytotoxic cells, reflecting significant tumor suppression and prolonged survival in ACE2016-treated groups without causing treatment-related toxicity in vivo.Conclusions These findings support the clinical potential of ACE2016 as an off-the-shelf γδ2 T-cell therapy for EGFR-expressing cancers, offering a combination of specificity, scalability, and safety in the development of solid tumor therapy.https://jitc.bmj.com/content/13/7/e010500.full
spellingShingle Yi-Chiu Kuo
Hao-Kang Li
Tai-Sheng Wu
Ying Ru
Chia-Yun Lee
Pei-Ju Leng
Yi-Chun Hsieh
Yun-Jung Chiang
Zih-Fei Cheng
Yan-Liang Lin
Shih-Chia Hsiao
Sai-Wen Tang
Allogeneic cetuximab-armed gamma delta T cells using antibody-cell conjugation technology for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumors
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
title Allogeneic cetuximab-armed gamma delta T cells using antibody-cell conjugation technology for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumors
title_full Allogeneic cetuximab-armed gamma delta T cells using antibody-cell conjugation technology for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumors
title_fullStr Allogeneic cetuximab-armed gamma delta T cells using antibody-cell conjugation technology for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumors
title_full_unstemmed Allogeneic cetuximab-armed gamma delta T cells using antibody-cell conjugation technology for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumors
title_short Allogeneic cetuximab-armed gamma delta T cells using antibody-cell conjugation technology for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumors
title_sort allogeneic cetuximab armed gamma delta t cells using antibody cell conjugation technology for the treatment of egfr expressing solid tumors
url https://jitc.bmj.com/content/13/7/e010500.full
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