IL-23 and PSMA-targeted duo-CAR T cells in Prostate Cancer Eradication in a preclinical model

Background Prostate cancer is one of the most common adult malignancies in men, and nearly all patients with metastatic prostate cancer can develop and receive resistance to primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a state known as metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Recent reports demonstrated the great breakthroughs made by the chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy, which is significantly different from traditional T cells therapies. In spite of the progress of CAR-T technology in the treatment of lymphoma, leukemia, and other blood system tumor, there are still many difficulties in the treatment of solid tumors by CAR-T technology. Methods In this report, we designed a panel of IL23mAb-PSMA-CARs, including PSMA-CAR, IL23mAb-T2A-PSMA-CAR, IL23mAb-PSMA-CAR, and PSMA-CAR (soluble IL23mAb). And we studied the function of these CARs in mice model. Results Co-culture experiments with different CAR T cells have normal lysis function in vitro. The duo-CAR T cells co-expressing the IL-23mAb and PSMA-mAb had a significant higher population than the rest three different CAR T cells in co-culturing experiments at day 28, 35 and 42. A panel of cytokines were differentially secreted at higher amounts in IL23mAb-T2A-PSMA-CAR T cells than CAR T cells in other groups. In NOD/SCID IL-2 gamma (NSG) mice model, IL23mAb-T2A-PSMA-CAR T cells functioned significantly better than CAR T cells from the other groups and eradicated the tumor from these mice starting at day 14 post T cells injection and regained the body weight immediately. In IL23mAb-T2A-PSMA-CAR mice, CD45RO+ CD8+ T cells and CD127+ CD4+ CAR T cells were significantly increased. RNA sequencing revealed a difference expression pattern of genes in IL23mAb-T2A-PSMA-CAR mice. A reverse infusion experiment under the same model further proved the tumor eradication function of IL23mAb-T2A-PSMA-CAR T cells. Conclusions We found that IL-23mAb combined PSMA CARs worked better than PSMA CAR only in Prostate Cancer Eradication, and we further discussed the mechanisms among different IL-23mAb combined PSMA CARs in Prostate Cancer Eradication.