CD4-Targeted CAR-Double Negative T Cells as a Novel Immunotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia 2224687

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with poor prognosis. Current Immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell strategies, are limited by the scarcity of antigens that are present on AML cells but absent from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). To identify a potential therapeutic target, we analyzed two publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing datasets and found that CD4 is frequently expressed on AML blasts but absent from HSPCs, supporting its potential as a novel CAR target. We developed a CD4-targeted CAR using CD3+CD4⁻CD8⁻ double-negative T cells (CAR4-DNTs). DNTs offer a unique therapeutic platform: they naturally lack CD4, preventing fratricide, and elicit endogenous anti-leukemic activity. Their feasibility and safety as an allogeneic cell therapy platform was demonstrated in a Phase I trial. This work aims to establish CAR4-DNTs as a next-generation, off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapy for AML. Methods Donor-derived DNTs were engineered to express a CD4-CAR. Cytotoxicity, persistence, and cytokine secretion were evaluated against AML cell lines, CD4+ and CD4-knockout AML variants, and primary AML samples. NSG-SGM3 mice engrafted with luciferase+ MV4-11 cells received CAR4-DNTs, untransduced (UT) DNTs, or PBS. Disease progression was monitored by bioluminescence imaging and survival analysis. Results CAR4-DNTs were successfully manufactured without fratricide. They exhibited significantly enhanced and more durable cytotoxicity than UT-DNTs against AML cell lines and patient samples. Importantly, CAR4-DNTs retained endogenous cytotoxicity towards CD4-negative AML cells. In vivo, CAR4-DNT achieved durable leukemia clearance and prolonged survival, whereas PBS-treated mice rapidly progressed and UT-DNT recipients showed transient disease control before relapse. Conclusion These findings establish CAR4-DNTs as a promising immunotherapy candidate for AML, supporting their further preclinical and translational development. Funding Source Distinguished Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship, The C17 Council, Alberta Cancer Foundation, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute Topic Categories Tumor Immunology: Cellular Responses and Tumor Microevironment (TIME)