METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF CANCER/TESTIS ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC T-CELLS

Abstract

Provided is a method for preparation of a composition comprising activated human CD8.sup.+ and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes. The method entails use of mature dendritic cells as feeder cells added at an early stage in CD4.sup.+ mediated activation of the CD8.sup.+ cells. Also provided is a method for treatment of cancer using the cells obtained from the process.

Claims

1. The method according to claim 14, comprising, prior to step i), 1) isolating mononuclear cells from a blood sample from a human donor and separating the PBMCs into a fraction enriched for monocytes and a fraction enriched for lymphocytes; 2) culturing a portion of the monocyte-enriched fraction under conditions that facilitate maturation of dendritic cells; 3) subsequently mixing a first portion of the mature dendritic cells obtained in step 2 with a first portion of the lymphocyte fraction obtained in step 1); 4) co-culturing the mixed cells obtained in step 3 to stimulate proliferation of CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes, thereby increasing the CD4.sup.+/CD8.sup.+ ratio compared to the lymphocytes obtained from step 1; and then 5) isolating proliferating lymphocytes from the co-cultured cells of step 4, and subsequently contacting them with an agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens followed by a period of culture that results in said expression of cancer/testis antigens; and wherein step i) and ii) comprises; 6) mixing the cancer/testis antigen expressing lymphocytes obtained in step 5 with a second portion of the fraction enriched for lymphocytes in step 1; 7) subsequently culturing the lymphocyte mixture from step 6 to stimulate proliferation of CD8.sup.+ and NK lymphocytes, wherein a second portion of mature dendritic cells obtained from step 2 are added to the proliferating lymphocytes in any of steps 5-7 and at the latest 6 days after step 6.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein steps 1-2 have duration of about 6 days, wherein steps 3-4 have a duration of about 7 days, wherein step 5 has a duration of about 2 days, and wherein steps 6-8 have a duration of about 11 days.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of mature dendritic cells is added in step 5 prior to, concurrently with or after contacting the proliferating lymphocytes with the agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of mature dendritic cells is added in step 6 concurrently with or after mixing the cancer/testis antigen expressing lymphocytes with second portion of the fraction enriched for lymphocytes.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of mature dendritic cells is added 13-17 days after commencement of step 2, preferably 15-17 days after commencement of step 2.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the fraction enriched for lymphocytes is kept frozen between steps 1 and 2, and wherein the second portion of the fraction enriched for lymphocytes is kept frozen between steps 1 and 6.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the mature dendritic cells is kept frozen between step 2 and its addition in step 5 or 6.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein step 2 includes addition, during the course of culture, of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as well as Interleukin 4 (IL-4) and/or Interleukin 12 (IL-13), and optionally Interleukin 1b (IL-Ib), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumour Necrosis Factor a (TNF-a), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).

9. The method according to claim 14, comprising, prior to step 1) the steps of a) contacting a first composition of human cells comprising proliferating CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes with an agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens followed by a culturing period that results in said expression of cancer/testis antigens by cells in the first composition; and wherein steps i) and ii) comprise b) adding a second composition of human cells comprising unstimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes to the first composition of cells and culturing the combined compositions of cells to stimulate proliferation of CD8.sup.+ and NK lymphocytes; wherein a third composition of human cells comprising mature dendritic cells is added in step a or b and at the latest 6 days after initiation of step b, and wherein the first, second and third compositions of human cells are isogeneic.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first composition is enriched for CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes relative to CD8.sup.+ lymphocytes.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens is a DNA de-methylating agent or a histone acetylating agent.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the DNA de-methylating agent is selected from 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5 Aza-CdR), 5-azacytidine, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxycytidine, guadecitabine, and zebularine, and wherein the histone acetylating agent is Trichostatin A or a depsipeptide.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens is 5-Aza-CdR.

14. A method for preparation of a composition comprising activated human CD8.sup.+ and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes, comprising the steps of i) mixing a first composition of human cells comprising cancer/testis antigen expressing CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes with a second composition of human cells comprising unstimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes and ii) culturing the combined compositions of cells to stimulate proliferation of CD8.sup.+ and NK lymphocytes; wherein a third composition of human cells comprising mature dendritic cells is added to the combined compositions at the latest 6 days after mixing the first and second composition and wherein the first, second and third compositions of cells are isogeneic.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the mature dendritic cells are unloaded with antigen and non-irradiated.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein IL-2 is added during the course of culture of lymphocytes.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the time limit of at the latest 6 days is selected from at the latest 5 days, at the latest 4 days, at the latest 3 days, and at the latest 2 days.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the at the latest 6 days is selected from 0, 1 and 2 days.

19. The method according to claim 14, which is followed by isolation/recovery of the activated CD8.sup.+ and NK lymphocytes.

20. A method for treatment of cancer in a patient, comprising administering a composition of cells prepared according to the method of claim 14.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the cells are the patient's autologous cells.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the patient received at least or exactly 2, at least or exactly 3, or at least of exactly 4 administrations.

23. The method according to any one of claim 20, wherein the administration is via the parenteral route, such as the intraveneous, intraarterial route, intratumoral route, and intralymphatic route.

24. The method according to any one of claim 20, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sarcoma (including liposarcoma, fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma), glioma (in particular glioblastoma), neuroblastoma, medullablastoma, malignant melanoma, neurofibrosarcoma, choriocarcinoma, myeloma, and leukemia.

25-28. (canceled)

29. The method according to claim 9, wherein the agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens is a DNA de-methylating agent or a histone acetylating agent.

30. The method according to claim 9 wherein the agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens is 5-Aza-CdR.

31. The method according to claim 9, wherein the mature dendritic cells are unloaded with antigen and non-irradiated.

32. The method according to claim 9, wherein IL-2 is added during the course of culture of lymphocytes.

33. The method according to claim 9, wherein the time limit of at the latest 6 days is selected from at the latest 5 days, at the latest 4 days, at the latest 3 days, and at the latest 2 days.

34. The method according to claim 9, which is followed by isolation/recovery of the activated CD8.sup.+ and NK lymphocytes.

35. The method according to claim 14, wherein the mature dendritic cells are unloaded with antigen and non-irradiated.

36. The method according to claim 14, wherein IL-2 is added during the course of culture of lymphocytes.

37. The method according to claim 14, wherein the time limit of at the latest 6 days is selected from at the latest 5 days, at the latest 4 days, at the latest 3 days, and at the latest 2 days.

38. The method according to claim 14, which is followed by isolation/recovery of the activated CD8.sup.+ and NK lymphocytes.

39. The method of claim 20, comprising administering a composition of cells prepared according to the method of claim 1.

40. The method of claim 20, comprising administering a composition of cells prepared according to the method of claim 9.

Description

LEGENDS TO THE FIGURE

[0038] FIG. 1: Overview of general production process.

[0039] Vertical lines separate phases I, II, III, and IV, where phase I (up to day 6) is the generation of mature dendritic cells, phase II (days 6-13) is the generation of CD4.sup.+-enriched lymphocytes, phase III (days 13-15) is induction of cancer/testis antigens (CTA) by the proliferating lymphocytes, and phase IV (days 15-26) is the immunization step, where CD8.sup.+ cells and NK cells are stimulated by the CD4.sup.+ CTA expressing cells. “Mon” denotes monocytes, “Lym” denotes lymphocytes.

[0040] FIG. 2: Bar graph showing numbers of cells from 6 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 15 or 17 or not added.

[0041] Cell counts at day 26 are shown for 6 donors (termed 38/17, AK-19, 42/17, 43/17, 44/17, and 48/17) where cells are treated according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor), the inventive method with addition of dendritic cells at day 15 (middle bar for each donor), and with addition of dendritic cells at day 17 (right bar for each donor).

[0042] FIG. 3: Bar graph showing lytic activity of T lymphocytes from 6 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 15.

[0043] Activity data at day 26 is shown for 6 donors (termed 38/17, AK-19, 42/17, 43/17, 44/17, and 48/17) where cells are treated according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor), the inventive method with addition of dendritic cells at day 15 (middle bar for each donor), and with addition of dendritic cells at day 17 (right bar for each donor).

[0044] FIG. 4: Bar graph showing numbers of cells from 14 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 15.

[0045] Cell counts at day 26 from 14 donors (38/17, AK-19, 42/17, 43/17, 44/17, 48/17, DO, LI, 52/17d7, 54/17d7, 55/17d7, and AK-18) after culture according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor) and the method of the invention in the embodiment where dendritic cells are added at day 17. Numbers show the ratio between cell numbers obtained with the 2 methods, with an average increase of cell numbers of 6.9±3.6 times.

[0046] FIG. 5: Bar graph showing percentage of CD3.sup.+ cells from 14 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 17.

[0047] Proportion of CD3.sup.+ cells at day 26 in the cell preparations obtained after culture of blood from the same donors as in FIG. 4 according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor) and the method of the invention in the embodiment where dendritic cells are added at day 17.

[0048] FIG. 6: Bar graph showing percentage of NK cells (CD56.sup.+/CD3.sup.−) from 14 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 17.

[0049] Proportion of NK cells at day 26 in the cell preparations obtained after culture of blood from the same donors as in FIG. 4 according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor) and the method of the invention in the embodiment where dendritic cells are added at day 17.

[0050] FIG. 7: Bar graph showing percentage of CD62L expressing T cells from 14 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 17.

[0051] Proportion of CD62L.sup.+ T cells at day 26 in the cell preparations obtained after culture of blood from the same donors as in FIG. 4 according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor) and the method of the invention in the embodiment where dendritic cells are added at day 17.

[0052] FIG. 8: Bar graph showing percentage of CD62L expressing NK cells from 14 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 15.

[0053] Proportion of CD62L.sup.+ NK cells at day 26 in the cell preparations obtained after culture of blood from the same donors as in FIG. 4 according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor) and the method of the invention in the embodiment where dendritic cells are added at day 17.

[0054] FIG. 9: Bar graph showing final number of cells from 4 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 13.

[0055] Cell counts at day 26 are shown for 4 donors (termed 116/17, 117/17, 118/17, and 119/17) where cells are treated according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor) and the inventive method with addition of dendritic cells at day 13 (right bar for each donor).

[0056] FIG. 10: Bar graphs showing relative cytotoxic activity of cells from 4 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 13.

[0057] Exemplary cell counts at day 26 are shown for 4 donors (termed 116/17, 117/17, 118/17, and 119/17) where cells are treated according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor) and the inventive method with addition of dendritic cells at day 13 (right bar for each donor).

[0058] FIG. 11: Bar graph showing final number of cells from 12 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 13.

[0059] Cell counts at day 26 are shown for 12 donors (termed 40/18, 41/18, 43/18, 44/18, 45/18, 46/18, 47/18, 48/18, 49/18, 50/18, 55/18, and 56/18) where cells are treated according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor) and the inventive method with addition of dendritic cells at day 13 (right bar for each donor).

[0060] FIG. 12: Bar graph showing proliferative activity of cells from 8 donors after culture with dendritic cells added at day 13.

[0061] Final concentrations of cells harvested on day 26 and subsequently cultured for 3-4 days in the presence of IL-2. Data is shown for cells from 8 donors (termed 40/18, 41/18, 43/18, 44/18, 45/18, 46/18, 47/18, and 48/18), where cells are treated according to the prior art method (left bar for each donor) and the inventive method with addition of dendritic cells at day 13 (right bar for each donor).

[0062] FIG. 13: Bar graph showing final number of cells from 5 patients with glioblastoma multiforme after culture with dendritic cells added at day 13.

[0063] Cell counts at day 26 are shown for 5 patients (pt01007, pt01014, pt01011, pt03007, and two cultures of patient pt04006: pt04006-1, and pt04006-9), where cells are treated according to the prior art method (left, almost invisible, bar for each patient) and the inventive method with addition of dendritic cells at day 13 (right bar for each patient). Numbers of cells (×10.sup.6) are also indicated in the table below the graph.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

[0064] “Cancer/testis antigens” (CTAs) is a group of antigens, which are expressed by a broad spectrum of cancers. The group includes such antigens as MAGE (including MAGE-1, MAGE-2, and MAGE-3), BAGE, GAGE, NY-ESO-1 and BORIS, which are all cancer-associated antigens that can be safely targeted, since they are not normally expressed in healthy cells in vital tissues. Previously it has been demonstrated that the expression by cancer cells of CTAs is a consequence of genome-wide de-methylation (including promoter de-methylation at CpG regions), which occurs in many cancers.

[0065] “Mononuclear cells” (also term “peripheral blood mononuclear cells”, abbreviated PBMC) denotes any cells of peripheral blood that have a rounded nucleus. The two main types of mononuclear cells are lymphocytes and monocytes, of which the latter have the ability to differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells.

[0066] “Mature dendritic cells” (mature DCs) are in the present context dendritic cells that are obtainable by culturing monocytes under conditions described herein and which in contrast to immature dendritic cells a high potential for T-cell activation. These mature dendritic cells, which are obtained by plating and culturing adhering monocytes, subsequently treating with IL-4 (and/or IL-13) and GM-CSF to differentiate the monocytes into immature DCs and thereafter treating the immature DCs with TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2, are not loaded with antigen as would be the case for mature DCs isolated from lymphoid tissue.

[0067] “CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes” or “CD4.sup.+ cells” (the terms are used interchangeably herein) refer to lymphocytes of the T-helper subset. Among their functions are stimulation of B-cells and they also play an important role in the activation of CD8.sup.+ lymphocytes.

[0068] “CD8.sup.+ lymphocytes” or “CD8.sup.+ cells” or “cytotoxic T cells” (the terms are used interchangeably herein) refer to antigen specific lymphocytes that are capable of recognizing and killing cells that display MCH class I restricted T-cell epitopes.

[0069] “Natural killer cells” or “NK cells” or “NK lymphocytes” are antigen unspecific lymphocytes, which form part of the fast-reacting innate immune system, and which, as is the case of cytotoxic T cells, have the ability to kill cells. This occurs as part of recognition of stress-induced proteins characteristic for cancer cells. NK cells have a preferential ability to target cells that do not express MHC class I molecules.

[0070] The expression “increasing the CD4+/CD8+ ratio” is in the present context meant to indicate that a lymphocyte population that has been co-cultured with mature DCs as taught herein provides for a preferential expansion of the CD4.sup.+ subset of lymphocytes. It has been demonstrated that such co-culture, which forms part of the technology disclosed in WO 2008/081035, provides for a significant increase in CD4.sup.+ cells compared to CD8.sup.+ cells.

[0071] “An agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens” denotes a substance or composition, which is able to produce in a treated cell an effect corresponding to what has been observed in many cancers, namely that CTAs are expressed due to genome-wide changes. Typically, substances that can cause DNA to de-methylate are useful; good examples are 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, 5-azacytldine, 5-fluoro-2′-deoxycytidine, guadecitabine, and zebularine. Of these, the preferred de-methylation agent is 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (also termed 5-Aza-CdR or simply AzaC herein), which is a cytidine analogue that acts as a nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor. This substance under the name decitabine (marketed under the tradename DACOGEN®) acts via inhibition of DNA methyltransferase. As a viable alternative to use of de-methylating agent can be mentioned use of agents that induce the CTAs by means of histone acetylation an example of such an agent is the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A.

Specific Embodiments of the Invention

[0072] 1.sup.st Aspect of the Invention

[0073] The 1.sup.st aspect of the invention relates as indicated above—to a method for preparation of a composition comprising activated human CD8.sup.+ and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes, comprising [0074] 1) isolating mononuclear cells from a blood sample from a human donor and separating the PBMCs into a fraction enriched for monocytes and a fraction enriched for lymphocytes; [0075] 2) culturing a portion of the monocyte-enriched fraction under conditions that facilitate maturation of dendritic cells;

[0076] 3) subsequently mixing a first portion of the mature dendritic cells obtained in step 2 with a first portion of the lymphocyte fraction obtained in step 1; [0077] 4) co-culturing the mixed cells obtained in step 3 to stimulate proliferation of CD4+ lymphocytes, thereby increasing the CD4.sup.+/CD8.sup.+ ratio compared to the lymphocytes obtained from step 1; [0078] 5) isolating proliferating lymphocytes from the co-cultured cells of step 4, and subsequently contacting them with an agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens followed by a period of culture that results in said expression of cancer/testis antigens; [0079] 6) mixing the cancer/testis antigen expressing lymphocytes obtained in step 5 with a second portion of the fraction enriched for lymphocytes in step 1; and [0080] 7) subsequently culturing the lymphocyte mixture from step 6 to stimulate proliferation of CD8+ and NK lymphocytes,

[0081] wherein a second portion of mature dendritic cells obtained from step 2 are added to the proliferating lymphocytes in any of steps 5-7 and at the latest 6 days after step 6.

[0082] It will hence be clear that all cells (including lymphocytes and monocytes/dendritic cells) are derived from the same donor and hence are isogeneic of origin. The method is particularly useful for preparation of cells for use in personalised adoptive immunotherapy, where a patient's own lymphocytes are activated so as to be powerful effector cells with the ability to target/kill tumour cells that express cancer/testis antigens.

[0083] The early addition of the mature dendritic cells after induction of the expression of cancer/testis antigens is a hallmark of the present invention. In the prior art, the addition of such isogeneic feeder cells has taken place at a much later phase, i.e. after the co-culture of the cancer/testis antigen expressing cells and the lymphocytes isolated in step 1, but as evidenced herein, the application of the isogeneic feeder cells as early as in step 5 (i.e. typically 13 days from the 1.sup.st step) provides for significant increases in yields of effector cells at the end of step 7. It will hence be understood that the mature DCs can be added at any time-point in the procedure from the time of start of induction of the CTAs until at most 6 days after step 6.

[0084] This means that the mature DCs may be added on any of days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 after step 6, but also prior to that, i.e. 1, 2, or more days prior to step 6, but not prior to step 5; in the first case, the second portion of mature dendritic cells may be added in step 6 concurrently with or after mixing the cancer/testis antigen expressing lymphocytes with second portion of the fraction enriched for lymphocytes and in the latter case, the second portion of mature dendritic cells may be added in step 5 prior to, concurrently with or after contacting the proliferating lymphocytes with the agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens.

[0085] According to a preferred embodiment, steps 1-2 together last about 6 days, steps 3-4 together last about 7 days, step 5 lasts 2 days, and steps 6-8 together last about 11 days.

[0086] Therefore, it is in accordance with the above preferred that the second portion of mature dendritic cells is added 13-17 days after commencement of step 2, preferably 15-17 days after commencement of step 2.

[0087] Step 1 consists of a step of separation of monocytes from lymphocytes after provision of a sample of PBMCs. After this separation, both the lymphocyte fraction and the monocyte fractions are divided into at least 2 portions each. Since cells from the lymphocyte fraction are not entering the process described above until after step 2, and since further cells from the lymphocyte fraction are not entering the process until after step 5, the at least 2 portions of the fraction enriched for lymphocytes is frozen, one between steps 1 and 2, and another between steps 1 and 6. Likewise, the second portion of the mature dendritic cells is kept frozen between step 2 and the addition of this portion in step 5 or step 6. Under normal circumstances, the first portion of the mature DCs is used directly after step 1, i.e. without being frozen.

[0088] Step 2 is essentially carried out according to known methods for preparing mature DCs from monocytes in culture; these known methods include addition, during the course of culture, of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and Interleukin 4 (IL-4) (and/or Interleukin 13) to obtain immature DCs, followed by addition of TNFα to obtain the mature DCs. Additionally, Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can advantageously be added in the phase of preparing the mature DCs.

[0089] Steps 4-7 are generally carried out as disclosed in WO 2008/081035 with the exception of the early addition of mature DC feeder cells in steps 5-7, which is disclosed herein. Hence, any generic disclosure relating to these steps also apply to the present process, and the processes described below for the 2.sup.nd and 3.sup.rd aspect of the invention.

[0090] 2.sup.nd Aspect of the Invention

[0091] This aspect of the invention relates as does the 1.sup.st (and 3.sup.rd) aspect of the invention—to the same overall goal of preparing a composition comprising activated human CD8.sup.+ and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes. The method in this aspect comprises the subsequent steps of [0092] a) contacting a first composition of human cells comprising proliferating CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes with an agent that induces expression of cancer/testis antigens followed by a culturing period that results in said expression of cancer/testis antigens by cells in the first composition; and [0093] b) adding a second composition of human cells comprising unstimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes to the first composition of cells and culturing the combined compositions of cells to stimulate proliferation of CD8.sup.+ and NK lymphocytes;

[0094] wherein a third composition of human cells comprising mature dendritic cells is added in step a or b and at the latest 6 days after initiation of step b, and wherein the first, second and third compositions of human cells are isogeneic.

[0095] Thus, this method sets out at the point where a culture of proliferating lymphocytes (the first composition) has been established. Preferably the first composition is enriched for CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes relative to CD8.sup.+ lymphocytes, meaning that the ratio CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes/CD8.sup.+ lymphocytes is significantly increased compared to that found in normal blood (where the ratio is about 2).

[0096] The remaining steps correspond to steps 5-7 in the first aspect of the invention, and any disclosure in relation to these steps in relation to the 1.sup.st aspect of the invention relates mutatis mutandis to the 2.sup.nd aspect. This is for instance the case with any disclosure that relates to the characteristics of the agent that induces expression of CTAs.

[0097] As indicated, the 3 compositions of cells used in the method of the 2.sup.nd aspect of the invention are isogeneic, i.e. the cells are derived from cells of the same person or are for other reasons cells having the same genome.

[0098] 3.sup.rd Aspect of the Invention

[0099] Again, this aspect has the same overall goal as the methods of the 2 first aspects of the invention, but in this aspect the process sets out after a composition comprising CTA expressing CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes has been provided. The method thus comprises mixing [0100] a first composition of human cells comprising cancer/testis antigen expressing CD4+ lymphocytes with [0101] a second composition of human cells comprising unstimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes and culturing the combined compositions of cells to stimulate proliferation of CD8+ and NK lymphocytes;

[0102] wherein a third composition of human cells comprising mature dendritic cells is added to the combined compositions at the latest 6 days after mixing the first and second composition and wherein the first, second and third compositions of cells are isogeneic.

[0103] Also for this method, all considerations provided above relating to process steps and process features apply mutatis mutandis to this aspect of the invention.

Common Features for Embodiments of all of Aspects 1-3 of the Invention

[0104] In all the above aspects of the invention, it is preferred that the mature dendritic cells are unloaded with antigen and that they are non-irradiated. Normally, irradiation of the feeder cells is employed in order to prevent them from proliferating, but the mature dendritic cells used in the present invention do not proliferate or at least they exhibit an acceptably low degree of proliferation. Further, use of peptide loaded dendritic cells has been used to stimulate CD8.sup.+ cells, but the present methods where the mature DCs are not antigen loaded, has been shown to stimulate proliferation of CD8.sup.+ cells as well.

[0105] In all culturing steps, it has been found that IL-2 advantageously can be applied, cf. the examples.

[0106] As already described above, the early addition of the mature DCs as feeder cells is at the latest 6 days after instigation of the co-culture of the CTA expressing CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes and the non-stimulated lymphocytes; typically this is at the latest 5 days, at the latest 4 days, at the latest 3 days, and at the latest 2 days. Cf. above under the 1.sup.st aspect of the invention for details concerning the timing for this early addition. However, it is preferred that the addition of the feeder cells is at the latest or exactly 0, 1 or 2 days after instigation of the co-culture of the CTA expressing CD4.sup.+ lymphocytes and the non-stimulated lymphocytes.

[0107] In all of aspects 1-3 of the invention, the last culture step is typically followed by isolation/recovery of the activated CD8+ and NK lymphocytes. These are then typically subsequently preserved for later use in therapy or they are used directly in the patient from which the cells are derived.

[0108] 4.sup.th Aspect of the Invention

[0109] As indicated above, the methods of the 3 first aspects of the invention provide an improved composition of effector cells that are useful in adoptive immune therapy, in particular of the patient from whom the effector cells are originally derived, i.e. where the effector cells are autologous. The 4.sup.th aspect hence relates to a method for treatment of cancer in a patient, comprising administering a composition of cells prepared as set forth above for any of aspects 1-3.

[0110] A typical treatment regimen provides the patient with at least or exactly 2, at least or exactly 3, or at least of exactly 4 administrations of the effector cells. It is preferred that the patient receives at least 3 treatments. A typical treatment regimen includes 3 administrations of the effector cells with four weeks between each administration.

[0111] The administration is normally via the parenteral route, such as the intraveneous, intraarterial route, intra-tumoral route, and intralymphatic route. The cells are conveniently suspended in an aqueous electrolyte-containing medium used for intravenous infusion supplemented with autologous plasma. Good results have been obtained with use of the isotonic infusion liquid Plasmalyte® (Baxter) supplemented with 5% (v/v) autologous serum.

[0112] As mentioned above, CTAs are expressed by a wide variety of cancers, so the treatment is against any cancer selected from the group consisting of carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sarcoma (including liposarcoma, fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma), mesothelioma, glioma (in particular glioblastoma), neuroblastoma, medullablastoma, malignant melanoma, neurofibrosarcoma, choriocarcinoma, myeloma, and leukemia. These cancers can be cancer of any tissue origin; of these cancers, the most important are lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, oesophagus cancer, oral cancer, pharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, bronchial cancer, bronchopulmonal cancer, testis cancer, ovarian cancer, cervix cancer, uterus cancer, brain cancer, head and neck cancer, bone cancer, cancer in the skeletal muscles, and cancer of connective tissue.

[0113] Related to the 4.sup.th aspect of the invention is the 5.sup.th aspect, i.e. a composition of cells prepared according to any one of claims 1-15 for use in therapy, in particular for use in a method of the 4.sup.th aspect.

[0114] 6.sup.th Aspect of the Invention

[0115] Use of mature dendritic cells as feeder cells in a culture of a mixed cell composition initially comprising cancer/testis antigen expressing CD4+ lymphocytes and unstimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, where the mature dendritic cells are added to the mixed cell composition no later than 6 days after establishment of the mixed cell composition, is considered an invention in its own right. Mature DCs have previously been used as feeder cells, but to the best of the inventors' knowledge not in a composition of CD8.sup.+ cells blood lymphocytes that are in the process of being activated by CD4.sup.+ cells.

[0116] Another way to put this is that the invention generally provides for the use of mature dendritic cells as feeder cells in a culture of antigen expressing CD4.sup.+ cells and mixed lymphocytes where the CD4.sup.+ cells are in the process of activating CD8.sup.+ cells.

[0117] In these uses, it is preferred that the mature dendritic cells and the cells in the mixed cell composition are isogeneic.

Example 1

[0118] Description of the Standard Protocol.

[0119] Generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes was achieved according to a variation of the protocol described previously in WO 2008/081035. The entire protocol is outlined in FIG. 1 and set forth in the following:

[0120] Day 0

[0121] Buffy coats were obtained from the local Blood Bank. Upon arrival, blood (about 60 ml) was diluted with 60 ml of Ca and Mg free Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline (DPBS, Product No. BE17-512F, Cambrex, Belgium), and approximately 30 ml were layered on 15 ml of Lymphoprep® (Product No. 1053980, AXIS-SHIELD PoC AS, Norway) in four 50 ml tubes.

[0122] After the first centrifugation at 200 G, 20 min, 20° C., 15-20 ml of the upper layer of plasma (so-called platelet rich plasma, PRP) were collected to a separate tube, and used for the preparation of serum. For this, CaCl.sub.2 was added to a concentration of 25 mM, and after mixing, the plasma was transferred to a T225 flask (Nunc, Denmark), and placed in a CO.sub.2.sup.− incubator. The flask was left in the CO.sub.2-incubator until the next day. Centrifugation of tubes with Lymphoprep® was continued at 460 G, 20 min, 20° C. After termination of centrifugation, mononuclear cells were collected from the interface between Lymphoprep® and plasma to tubes with 25 ml of cold DPBS-EDTA (Cambrex) and washed three times with cold DPBS-EDTA by centrifugation, first at 300 G, then two times at 250 G, each time for 12 min at 4° C. After the last wash, cells were re-suspended in 30 ml of cold Ca and Mg free DPBS, and counted using a Moxi counter. The concentration of monocytes was determined by gating the corresponding peaks of cells. Generation of dendritic cells (DCs) was performed in T225 tissue culture flasks pre-treated with 30 ml of 5% human AB serum in RPMI 1640. After removal of pre-treatment medium, 30 ml of a cell suspension containing 4-5×10.sup.7 monocytes in AIM-V medium were added. After 30 min of incubation at 37° C., non-adherent lymphocytes were collected, adherent monocytes rinsed twice with pre-warmed RPMI 1640 medium and further cultured in 30 ml of AIM-V medium. The collected lymphocytes were frozen in several aliquots of 25-30×10.sup.6 cells.

[0123] Day 1

[0124] GM-CSF and IL-4 (both from Gentaur, Belgium, or CellGenix, Germany) were added to the flask with monocytes to final concentrations of 100 ng/ml and 25 ng/ml, respectively.

[0125] The T225 flask with the clotted plasma was transferred to a refrigerator and placed in an inclined position, with the clotted plasma down, and after 15-30 minutes, serum transferred to a 50 ml tube, and transferred to a −20° C. freezer.

[0126] Day 2

[0127] A tube with the frozen serum was transferred to the refrigerator (4° C.).

[0128] Day 3 GM-CSF and IL-4 (both from Gentaur, Belgium, or CellGenix, Germany) were added to the flask with monocytes to final concentrations of 100 ng/ml and 25 ng/ml, respectively.

[0129] Tubes with the thawed serum were centrifuged at 2000 G, 15 min, 20° C., and the supernatant was transferred to a new 50 ml tube. This serum (termed “later plasma-derived serum”) was stored at 4° C.

[0130] Day 4

[0131] IL-18, IL-6, TNF-α (all from Gentaur), and PGE2 (Sigma) were added to final concentrations of 10 ng/ml, 1000 IU/ml, 10 ng/ml and 0.2 μg/ml, respectively, in 10 ml of AIM-V medium.

[0132] Day 6

[0133] Non-adherent cells were harvested, counted and used for the experiment. For this, the frozen lymphocytes were thawed, counted, and 10.sup.7 cells were mixed with 10.sup.6 dendritic cells. After centrifugation, the mixture was re-suspended in 20 ml of lymphocyte medium consisting of AIM-V medium (Gibco, Invitrogen) and 2% autologous plasma derived serum, and placed in a T75 flask. The flask was placed to the side position.

[0134] Day 8

[0135] IL-2 (Gentaur) was added in 1 ml of AIM-V medium at final concentration of 25 IU/ml.

[0136] Day 10

[0137] 20 ml of fresh lymphocyte medium supplemented with IL-2 (50 U/ml) were added to the flask, and the flask was placed to standard (flat) position.

[0138] Day 12 The cell suspension was transferred to a T175 flask, and 40 ml of fresh lymphocyte medium supplemented with IL-2 (50 U/ml) were added to the flask.

[0139] Day 13

[0140] Cells were harvested, counted, washed, re-suspended in 80 ml of fresh lymphocytes medium to a concentration of 0.5×10.sup.6/ml, and placed to T175 flask. IL-2 (150 IU/ml) and 10 μM 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (obtained from Sigma) were added to the flask.

[0141] Day 15

[0142] 5-Aza-CdR-treated cultures were harvested and counted. 5×10.sup.6 cells were mixed with 5×10.sup.6 thawed lymphocytes, and after centrifugation, resuspended in 20 ml of lymphocyte medium, and placed to T75 flask, side position.

[0143] Day 17

[0144] IL-2 (Gentaur) was added in 1 ml of AIM-V medium to a final concentration of 25 IU/ml.

[0145] Day 20

[0146] 20 ml of fresh lymphocyte medium supplemented with IL-2 (50 U/ml) were added to the flask, and the flask was placed to standard (flat) position.

[0147] Day 22

[0148] Cell suspension was transferred to T175 flask, and 20 ml of fresh lymphocyte medium supplemented with IL-2 (75 U/ml) were added to the flask.

[0149] Day 24

[0150] 20 ml of fresh lymphocyte medium supplemented with IL-2 (100 U/ml) were added to the flask.

[0151] Day 26

[0152] Cultures were harvested, counted and used for analysis of phenotype and cytolytic activity.

Example 2

[0153] Effect of Addition of Dendritic Cells in the Beginning of the Immunization Step

[0154] In the current invention, an increase in the obtained number of cytotoxic lymphocytes was surprisingly achieved by addition of dendritic cells in the beginning of the “immunization step” (FIG. 1). In the initial experiments, addition of dendritic cells at day 15 (start of the immunization step) was compared to addition at day 17 (two days after initiation of the immunization step, when IL-2 is added to the culture). For this, three cultures were started at day 15 (start of the immunization process, see FIG. 1):

[0155] #1 no addition of dendritic cells,

[0156] #2 addition of dendritic cells at day 15, and

[0157] #3 addition of dendritic cells at day 17.

[0158] 20 ml of the cultivation medium were dispensed to three T75 TC flasks, placed on the side. The frozen dendritic cells (frozen at day 6 of the whole procedure) were thawed and counted. The amount of 0.5×10.sup.6 cells was transferred to a new tube, and centrifuged at 300 G, 10 min, 20° C. The pellet was re-suspended with 5 ml of medium taken from the flask #2, and returned back to the flask. 5-Aza-CdR-treated cultures were harvested and counted. 5×10.sup.6 cells were mixed with 5×10.sup.6 thawed lymphocytes in each of three centrifuge tubes, and after centrifugation, each pellet was re-suspended in 5 ml of lymphocyte medium taken from one of three T75 flasks, and returned back. The flasks were placed in side position. At day 17, another portion of the frozen dendritic cells (frozen at day 6 of the whole procedure) were thawed and counted. The amount of 0.5×10.sup.6 cells was transferred to a new tube, and centrifuged at 300 G, 10 min, 20° C. The pellet was re-suspended with 5 ml of medium taken from the flask #3, and returned back to the flask. IL-2 (Gentaur) was added to all flasks in 1 ml of AIM-V medium to a final concentration of 25 IU/ml. All flasks were placed in the side position. Further cultivation was performed as described in Example 1, with exception of more frequent divisions of cultures, which exhibited intensive proliferation. After termination of the total procedure, determination of the total number of generated cells, lytic activity of cells depleted for CD56, and flow cytometric analysis of all cultures were performed.

[0159] FIG. 2 shows the results of six independent experiments on determination of the total number of cells in control (without addition of dendritic cells) and experimental (with addition of dendritic cells) cultures.

[0160] As can be seen, there is a significant increase in the total number of generated cells in all cultures with addition of dendritic cells, with higher effects in cultures with addition at day 15.

[0161] To determine the lytic activity of T lymphocytes alone, we performed depletion of CD56+NK cells for several cultures generated from HLA-A2-positive donors using a standard procedure of Miltenyi Biotec, Germany. The cells were washed twice by adding cold DPBS buffer (Cambrex, Denmark, BE02-017F) containing 0.5% Foetal Calf serum (Cambrex, DE14-801F) to the cell suspension. After removal of the buffer the cells were magnetically labelled with CD56 Microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec). The cell suspension was loaded on a LD-column, which was placed in the magnetic field of a MACS Separator. The magnetically labelled CD56-positive cells were retained on the column. The unlabelled cells ran through the column, were collected, and after washing, re-suspended in lymphocyte culture medium. Their lytic activity against the HLA-A2+ breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 was determined using real-time cytotoxicity assays with the iCELLigence system (ACEA Biosciences, San Diego, Calif., USA). Tumour cells were seeded at a density of 3×10.sup.4 cells per well in a total volume of 400 μL of RPMI 1640 medium with 10% FCS. After 2-4 h of initial incubation, 0.2×10.sup.6 lymphocytes were added in 200 μL of lymphocyte medium. Killing of tumour cells was associated with a decrease in cell impedance (measured as Normalized Cell Index), and was monitored every 15 min for 20-25 h.

[0162] The result of determination of the cytolytic activity of five HLA-A2-positive donors are presented in FIG. 3. As can be seen, addition of dendritic cells at day 17 either has no significant effect on the lytic activity (donors 42/17 and 44/17), or significantly increases the lytic activity (donors 38/17, AK-19 and 48/17). Addition of dendritic cells at day 15 has variable effects, with either increase in activity (donors 38/17 and AK-19), or decrease in activity (donors 42/17 and donors 48/17). Based on these results, we have performed further experiments with addition of dendritic cells at day 17. FIG. 4 summarizes the results of 14 independent experiments on addition of dendritic cells at day 17.

[0163] To compare the phenotypes of the generated cells in control and experimental cultures, we performed determination of expression of surface markers by flow cytometric analyses. This was done by staining of cells with the direct conjugated antibodies, CD56-phycoerythrin (PE), CD3-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and CD62L-phycoerythrin-cyanide 5 (PC5) (BD Biosciences, Denmark, 555516, Beckman Coulter, Sweden, IM1281, IM2655). The recommended isotypic controls were used for the phenotyping of the cells. The cell samples were analyzed using FC500 MPL Flow Cytometer (Beckman Coulter) and the CXP analytical software (Beckman Coulter).

[0164] The proliferating cultures where dendritic cells were added at day 17 in general exhibited a higher proportion of T lymphocytes and a lower proportion of NK cells (FIGS. 5 and 6). What is important, expression levels of CD62L is either unchanged, or increased on both T and NK cells (FIGS. 7 and 8). The expression of CD62L is considered to be extremely important for the therapeutic potentials of the injected cells (Gattinoni et al., 2005, Klebanoff et al., 2005).

[0165] In summary, an addition of mature dendritic cells at the beginning of the immunisation process lead to a significant increase in total number of generated lymphocytes. Both NK cells and T lymphocytes have the same or higher levels of CD62L, and NK cell-depleted cultures have the same or higher cytolytic activity. All this indicates that this modification of the original procedure leads to generation of effector cells with significantly increased therapeutic potential.

Example 3

[0166] Effect of addition of dendritic cells at day 13 (start of treatment with DNA de-methylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine).

[0167] In a separate set of experiments we investigated the effect of addition of mature dendritic cells at the start of treatment of CD4-enriched cultures with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (day 13 of the total procedure, see FIG. 1). For this, the frozen dendritic cells (frozen at day 6 of the whole procedure) were thawed and counted. The amount of 2×10.sup.6 cells was transferred to a new tube, and centrifuged at 300 g, 10 min, 20° C. During centrifugation, 40 ml of lymphocyte medium was placed to each of two T75 flasks. After centrifugation, the pellet was re-suspended with 5 ml of medium taken from one of the flasks, and returned back to this flask.

[0168] Proliferating culture of lymphocytes at day 13 was harvested, counted, and 20×10.sup.6 cells were transferred to each of two centrifuge tubes. After centrifugation, each pellet was re-suspended in 5 ml of medium taken either from the control flask (without dendritic cells), or from the flask with dendritic cells. IL-2 (150 IU/ml) and 10 μM 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (Sigma) were added to each flask. Further cultivation of these two cultures was performed as described in Example 1 above.

[0169] FIG. 9 shows the result of addition of dendritic cells at day 13 on the total number of the generated cells. Here can also be observed the increase in total number of cells, as it was previously demonstrated for addition of dendritic cells at day 15 and 17. Comparison of the lytic activity is presented in FIG. 10. The lytic activities of both cultures are comparable, with exception of donor 117/17, where lower lytic activity was observed in culture with addition of dendritic cells. It is of note that this donor demonstrates a 4.4-fold increase in final number of the generated cells, indicating that the total number of the specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes is increased after addition of dendritic cells.

[0170] FIG. 11 shows reproducibility of the effect of addition of dendritic cells at day 13 on the final number of cells. The observed average increase is 4.8±2.6, which is slightly lower than what is observed in cultures after addition of dendritic cells at day 17 (6.9±3.6, see FIG. 4).

[0171] We also investigated the ability of cells in the final product to proliferate in culture in the presence of IL-2. Lymphocytes generated at day 26 were washed and re-suspended in the standard culture medium in the presence of 25 U/ml of interleukin-2 at a concentration of 1×10.sup.6/ml. 2 ml of cell suspension was placed to wells of 24-well plates. After incubation for 3-4 days, the concentration of cells was determined by cell counting (Moxi cell counter). FIG. 12 shows the results of independent experiments with 8 different donors. Cells from each donor were split in two groups and were cultured with or without addition of dendritic cells. It can be seen that the number of cells in cultures generated with addition of dendritic cells were higher compared to cultures generated in the absence of dendritic cells for all eight independent experiments. This demonstrates that addition of dendritic cells increases the proliferative ability of cells in the final product. Higher proliferative ability of cells prepared in the presence of dendritic cells is believed to reflect higher therapeutic potentials of cells after their injection into the patient.

[0172] We also investigated the effect of addition of dendritic cells on final numbers of cells for the selected blood samples taken from glioblastoma patients attending the clinical trial CV006 (randomized, phase II study in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (EudraCT number: 2015-004058-17, ClinTrials.gov identifier: NCT02799238)).

[0173] Results presented in FIG. 13 clearly demonstrate the stimulatory effect of addition of dendritic cells, albeit the extent of stimulation is highly variable between different patients. Nevertheless, in all 5 analyses of patient material there was a positive effect of addition of dendritic cells on the proliferation of the lymphocytes. In the bar graph, the cell proliferation observed for cells where no dendritic cells are added during the process is difficult to see but is indicated in tabular form below the bar graph.

[0174] In summary, addition of dendritic cells at day 13 also led to an increase in final number of lymphocytes, however with no observed significant increase in lytic activity of T lymphocytes, which has been observed for some cultures where addition of dendritic cells was made at day 17.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0175] Kirkin A F et al., Nat Commun 2018 Mar. 6; 9(1):785. [0176] Dudley M E et al., J Immunother 2003 July; 26(4):332-42. [0177] Gattinoni L et al., J Clin Invest 2005 June; 115(6):1616-26. [0178] Klebanoff C A et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2005 Jul. 5; 102(27): 9571-6.