[HTML][HTML] An efficient single-cell RNA-seq approach to identify neoantigen-specific T cell receptors

YC Lu, Z Zheng, PF Robbins, E Tran, TD Prickett… - Molecular Therapy, 2018 - cell.com
YC Lu, Z Zheng, PF Robbins, E Tran, TD Prickett, JJ Gartner, YF Li, S Ray, Z Franco…
Molecular Therapy, 2018cell.com
The adoptive transfer of neoantigen-reactive tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can result
in tumor regression in patients with metastatic cancer. To improve the efficacy of adoptive T
cell therapy targeting these tumor-specific mutations, we have proposed a new therapeutic
strategy, which involves the genetic modification of autologous T cells with neoantigen-
specific T cell receptors (TCRs) and the transfer of these modified T cells back to cancer
patients. However, the current techniques to isolate neoantigen-specific TCRs are labor …
The adoptive transfer of neoantigen-reactive tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can result in tumor regression in patients with metastatic cancer. To improve the efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy targeting these tumor-specific mutations, we have proposed a new therapeutic strategy, which involves the genetic modification of autologous T cells with neoantigen-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) and the transfer of these modified T cells back to cancer patients. However, the current techniques to isolate neoantigen-specific TCRs are labor intensive, time consuming, and technically challenging, not suitable for clinical applications. To facilitate this process, a new approach was developed, which included the co-culture of TILs with tandem minigene (TMG)-transfected or peptide-pulsed autologous antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and the single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of T cells to identify paired TCR sequences associated with cells expressing high levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). Following this new approach, multiple TCRs were identified, synthesized, cloned into a retroviral vector, and then transduced into donor T cells. These transduced T cells were shown to specifically recognize the neoantigens presented by autologous APCs. In conclusion, this approach provides an efficient procedure to isolate neoantigen-specific TCRs for clinical applications, as well as for basic and translational research.
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