Generating tumor-specific T cells based on a head and neck cancer organoid for adoptive cell therapy

BackgroundA head and neck cancer organoid (HNCO) and peripheral blood T cell co-culture model was established to investigate whether HNCOs can induce the differentiation of peripheral blood T cells into tumor-reactive T cells. Additionally, this study seeks to explore the cytotoxicity of these T cel...

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Main Authors: Yinyu Chen, Shoupeng Wang, Luxi Zheng, Lin Chen, Feng Xu, Shuqi Guo, Jian Meng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1573965/full
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author Yinyu Chen
Yinyu Chen
Shoupeng Wang
Luxi Zheng
Luxi Zheng
Lin Chen
Feng Xu
Shuqi Guo
Shuqi Guo
Jian Meng
Jian Meng
Jian Meng
author_facet Yinyu Chen
Yinyu Chen
Shoupeng Wang
Luxi Zheng
Luxi Zheng
Lin Chen
Feng Xu
Shuqi Guo
Shuqi Guo
Jian Meng
Jian Meng
Jian Meng
author_sort Yinyu Chen
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundA head and neck cancer organoid (HNCO) and peripheral blood T cell co-culture model was established to investigate whether HNCOs can induce the differentiation of peripheral blood T cells into tumor-reactive T cells. Additionally, this study seeks to explore the cytotoxicity of these T cells against autologous tumor organoids, providing theoretical and experimental evidence for the feasibility of this model as a platform for adoptive cell immunotherapy in head and neck cancer (HNC).MethodsHNCO single cells were co-cultured with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) collected and isolated from patients with HNC. The culture supernatant was collected and assayed for interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α). The expression of T cell activation markers cluster of differentiation (CD)137 and CD107a was measured by flow cytometry to confirm tumor specificity and cytotoxicity. Additionally, the optimal effector-to-target (E/T) ratio was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and HNCO killing was quantified by fluorescent labeling.ResultsOf the 27 successfully established HNCO-T cell co-culture systems, 81.48% induced the in vitro differentiation and tumor-reactive CD8+ T cell expansion capable of mediating the killing of mature HNCOs.ConclusionThe patient-derived HNCO-T cell co-culture model effectively induced PBL differentiation into tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells with enhanced tumor-killing activities. This model serves as a novel in vitro preclinical tool for advancing personalized adoptive immunotherapy in HNC.
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spelling doaj-art-b8680e00eda4468988856db74a16bc6e2025-08-20T03:46:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15739651573965Generating tumor-specific T cells based on a head and neck cancer organoid for adoptive cell therapyYinyu Chen0Yinyu Chen1Shoupeng Wang2Luxi Zheng3Luxi Zheng4Lin Chen5Feng Xu6Shuqi Guo7Shuqi Guo8Jian Meng9Jian Meng10Jian Meng11Department of Stomatology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaThe Xuzhou Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaThe Xuzhou Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe Xuzhou Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaBackgroundA head and neck cancer organoid (HNCO) and peripheral blood T cell co-culture model was established to investigate whether HNCOs can induce the differentiation of peripheral blood T cells into tumor-reactive T cells. Additionally, this study seeks to explore the cytotoxicity of these T cells against autologous tumor organoids, providing theoretical and experimental evidence for the feasibility of this model as a platform for adoptive cell immunotherapy in head and neck cancer (HNC).MethodsHNCO single cells were co-cultured with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) collected and isolated from patients with HNC. The culture supernatant was collected and assayed for interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α). The expression of T cell activation markers cluster of differentiation (CD)137 and CD107a was measured by flow cytometry to confirm tumor specificity and cytotoxicity. Additionally, the optimal effector-to-target (E/T) ratio was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and HNCO killing was quantified by fluorescent labeling.ResultsOf the 27 successfully established HNCO-T cell co-culture systems, 81.48% induced the in vitro differentiation and tumor-reactive CD8+ T cell expansion capable of mediating the killing of mature HNCOs.ConclusionThe patient-derived HNCO-T cell co-culture model effectively induced PBL differentiation into tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells with enhanced tumor-killing activities. This model serves as a novel in vitro preclinical tool for advancing personalized adoptive immunotherapy in HNC.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1573965/fulladoptive cell therapyperipheral blood T cellshead and neck cancerorganoidco-culture
spellingShingle Yinyu Chen
Yinyu Chen
Shoupeng Wang
Luxi Zheng
Luxi Zheng
Lin Chen
Feng Xu
Shuqi Guo
Shuqi Guo
Jian Meng
Jian Meng
Jian Meng
Generating tumor-specific T cells based on a head and neck cancer organoid for adoptive cell therapy
Frontiers in Immunology
adoptive cell therapy
peripheral blood T cells
head and neck cancer
organoid
co-culture
title Generating tumor-specific T cells based on a head and neck cancer organoid for adoptive cell therapy
title_full Generating tumor-specific T cells based on a head and neck cancer organoid for adoptive cell therapy
title_fullStr Generating tumor-specific T cells based on a head and neck cancer organoid for adoptive cell therapy
title_full_unstemmed Generating tumor-specific T cells based on a head and neck cancer organoid for adoptive cell therapy
title_short Generating tumor-specific T cells based on a head and neck cancer organoid for adoptive cell therapy
title_sort generating tumor specific t cells based on a head and neck cancer organoid for adoptive cell therapy
topic adoptive cell therapy
peripheral blood T cells
head and neck cancer
organoid
co-culture
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1573965/full
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