Professor Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine Lynchburg, Virginia, United States
Abstract Text: The use of one's own cells to treat tumors is typified by chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T) therapy yet cells with anti-tumor properties being investigated continues to grow. We have previously proposed a new strategy using tumor-targeted mast cells (MC) obtained from autologous sources and demonstrated proof-of concept previously in vitro and in vivo. We sought to exploit the anti-tumor mediators in MC granules to selectively target them to tumor cells using tumor specific immunoglobin E (IgE) and controllably trigger release of anti-tumor mediators upon tumor cell engagement. We used a human HER2/neu-specific IgE to arm human MCs through the high affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI). The ability of intravenously (i.v.) injected HER2/neu-targeted MCs to effect HER2/neu-positive human tumors was assessed using a immunocompromised xenograft mouse model. It is shown for the first time that MC injected i.v. shrink tumors. These studies provide further proof of concept that MC have anti-tumor properties and could possibly provide another strategy for developing adoptive cell transfer therapeutics for patients.
