Off-the-shelf dual CAR-iNKT cell immunotherapy eradicates medullary and leptomeningeal high-risk <i>KMT2A</i> -rearranged leukemia

Abstract

Abstract Current therapies, including autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy, fail to cure half of infants with KMT2A-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia (KMT2Ar-ALL), a disease characterized by frequent central nervous system involvement, poor treatment response, early relapse, and lineage switching. More effective treatment strategies, including the availability of off-the-shelf immunotherapies, is particularly relevant in infants. PROM1/CD133 is a direct target of KMT2A-fusion oncoproteins and is expressed on leukemic cells. Allogeneic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, “innately” more powerful effectors than T cells, can be deployed off-the-shelf without risk of acute graft-versus-host disease. Here, we equip iNKT cells with CD19- and/or CD133-targeting CARs, and investigate their antileukemia activity against KMT2Ar-ALL in relevant in vitro and in vivo models. Compared with monospecific counterparts and dual, bispecific CAR T cells, bispecific CD19-CD133 CAR-iNKT cells have a more potent antileukemia activity, effectively targeting both CAR antigen–high and –low leukemia. Bispecific CAR-iNKT cells eradicate medullary and, notably, leptomeningeal leukemia, and induce sustained remissions without discernible hematologic toxicity. Mechanistically, the more potent antileukemia effect of CAR-iNKT cells over CAR T cells is mediated by a pronounced CAR-dependent and CAR antigen–dependent upregulation of the innate activating receptor NKG2D on CAR-iNKT cells, and its engagement by its corresponding ligands on KMT2Ar-ALL cells. This ensures effective leukemia targeting even with downregulation of CD133 or CD19. Thus, by engaging with 2 different types of leukemia-associated antigens, that is, CAR antigens and NKG2D ligands, CAR-iNKT cells provide a powerful platform for the treatment of KMT2Ar-ALL. This approach can be readily adapted for other high-risk malignancies, including those with otherwise difficult to target leptomeningeal involvement.