Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39915004›Full record

ArticleJournal for immunotherapy of cancer2025

Single-chain variable fragment affinity tuning can optimize anti-AML CAR-NK cell functionality.

Ruyan Rahnama, Monika Kizerwetter, Huilin Yang, Ilias Christodoulou, Christian Guaraca, Natalie Jordan Holl, Jun Choe, Stamatia C Vorri, Megan Zinsky, Danielle G Jones and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal for immunotherapy of cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Ruyan Rahnama *Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Monika Kizerwetter *Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Huilin YangDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Ilias ChristodoulouOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Christian GuaracaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Natalie Jordan HollOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8503-0839
Jun ChoeOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3389-5969
Stamatia C VorriOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6100-1985
Megan ZinskyOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Danielle G JonesOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Nikol Garcia EspinozaDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Yun-Huai KuoDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Marianna ZahurakOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Ravi VaradhanOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Jamie B SpanglerOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA cbonifa2@jhmi.edu jamie.spangler@jhu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8187-3732
Challice L BonifantOncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA cbonifa2@jhmi.edu jamie.spangler@jhu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9028-1683

Funding

LAB RESEARCH TRAINING IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY-HEMATOLOGYT32CA060441 · NCI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI ALAN D FRIEDMAN · 1993 to 2026
$14.9M
Immunoengineered nanotechnology for targeted expansion of regulatory T cellsR01EB029455 · NIBIB · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI SPANGLER, JAMIE BERTA · 2020 to 2023
$1.7M
Spinning disk confocal for a core facilityS10OD034393 · OD · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI KUO, SCOT CHARLES · 2023 to 2023
$600k
NCI NIH HHS T32 CA060441NIBIB NIH HHS R01 EB029455NIH HHS S10 OD034393
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNatural Killer (NK) cells have intrinsic anticancer activity that can be redirected toward acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineering. Here, we study the functional consequences of CAR binding affinity and targeted epitope on CAR-NK cell activation, cytolytic synapse formation, and antitumor activity.

methodsWe characterized NK-92 and primary NK cell populations expressing variant affinity AML-specific CARs containing single-chain variable fragments (scFvs, 26292 or 7G3) targeting two epitopes on CD123. 26292 affinity variants were discovered through directed evolution of an error-prone mutagenic library, while 7G3 affinity variants were previously reported. The resulting CAR-NK cell panel was studied with in vitro binding, activation, and cytotoxicity studies and in mouse xenograft models.

results26292 and 7G3 CARs of variable CD123 binding affinities were highly expressed in NK cells and conferred antigen-specific activation in vitro. High-resolution imaging demonstrated greater clustering of high-affinity 7G3 CAR-NK cells and consequent AML target cell death in a short-term time lapse. Low-affinity 7G3 CAR-NK cells exhibited enhanced antigen density discrimination with greater membrane-proximal signaling, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity. In longer-term assays, low-affinity 7G3 CAR-NK cells demonstrated more sustained killing of AML cells. In vivo testing highlighted greater expansion of low-affinity 7G3 CAR-NK cells in two xenograft models.

conclusionsExpression of 26292 and 7G3 CARs with a range of CD123 binding affinities in NK cells leads to antigen-specific activation and cytotoxicity against AML. Affinity-based differences in functional activation and antitumor activity are dependent on time course and are scFv/epitope specific.

Indexed as

Immunotherapy, AdoptiveKiller Cells, NaturalLeukemia, Myeloid, AcuteReceptors, Chimeric AntigenSingle-Chain AntibodiesAnimalsAntibody AffinityCell Line, TumorCytotoxicity, ImmunologicHumansMiceXenograft Model Antitumor AssaysReceptors, Chimeric AntigenSingle-Chain AntibodiesCell EngineeringChimeric antigen receptor - CARImmunotherapyNatural killer - NK

Identifiers

PMID39915004
PMCPMC11804205

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.