Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40930746›Full record

ArticleJournal for immunotherapy of cancer2025

Tandem CAR-T cells targeting mesothelin and MUC16 overcome tumor heterogeneity by targeting one antigen at a time.

Diego Salas-Benito, Filippo Birocchi, Sangwoo Park, Cassidy E Ho, Alexander Armstrong, Aiyana L Parker, Amanda A Bouffard, Jessica A Frank, Eugene Kim, Tamina Kienka and 8 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 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing 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

15 citing papers in PubMed.

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  8. Distinct O-Linked Glycosylation Systems in Signaling and Immune Regulation.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
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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

18 authors.

Diego Salas-BenitoCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8995-1499
Filippo BirocchiCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5214-233X
Sangwoo ParkCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2701-3114
Cassidy E HoCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-7122-5310
Alexander ArmstrongCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-6957-9903
Aiyana L ParkerCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-9037-641X
Amanda A BouffardCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-1501-4384
Jessica A FrankCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5334-3240
Eugene KimVincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4815-5680
Tamina KienkaCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Kiana GrahamCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Christopher KellyCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-6220-4588
Sadie GoncalvesCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Mark B LeickCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3111-0221
Giulia EscobarCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9177-0251
Bo RuedaVincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9489-8699
Trisha R BergerCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3439-3239
Marcela V MausCellular Immunotherapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA mvmaus@mgh.harvard.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7578-0393

Funding

Medical Scientist Training ProgramT32GM144273 · NIGMS · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · PI David Shumway Jones, Jacqueline A. Lees · 2022 to 2026
$14.7M
NIGMS NIH HHS T32 GM144273
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTumor heterogeneity and antigen escape are mechanisms of resistance to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, especially in solid tumors. Targeting multiple antigens with a unique CAR construct could be a strategy for a better tumor control than monospecific CAR-T cells on heterogeneous models. To overcome tumor heterogeneity, we targeted mesothelin (meso) and Mucin 16 (MUC16), two antigens commonly expressed in solid tumors, using a tandem CAR design.

methodsWe designed a series of tandem CAR constructs based on various anti-meso (SS1) and anti-MUC16 ectodomain (MUC16ecto) (4H11) single-chain variable fragment (scFv) arrangements and G4S linker lengths. Then we determined the best tandem CAR design based on binding of soluble antigens, steric hindrance, avidity and functionality against cell lines expressing one or both antigens in vitro. Finally, we compared the tandem CAR to monospecific CAR-T cells in mixed tumor models in vitro (two-dimensional and three-dimensional models) and in vivo.

resultsWe show that the scFv arrangement and linker length impacted antigen binding and CAR expression in T cells. Tandem CAR configuration (TanCAR1) (with SS1 scFv located distally and one G4S repeat as the linker between scFvs) had the best binding and activation profile in vitro and outperformed SS1 and 4H11 monospecific CAR-T cells in mixed tumor models in vitro and in vivo, showing an antigen-driven killing of tumor cells based on antigen density. Moreover, acoustic force microscopy, using tumor cells with different levels of antigen expression, revealed that TanCAR1-T cells likely bind to one antigen at a time rather than simultaneously.

conclusionsThis is the first time using a tandem CAR design targeting meso and MUC16, and demonstrating a benefit on tumor control over monospecific CAR-T cells. Tandem CAR-T cells targeting meso and MUC16ecto could be employed as a strategy to overcome tumor cell heterogeneity in ovarian and pancreatic tumors, and may help to design therapeutic approaches relying on its one-antigen-at-a-time binding properties and on its antigen-driven killing of tumor cells based on antigen density.

Indexed as

CA-125 AntigenMembrane ProteinsMesothelinReceptors, Chimeric AntigenT-LymphocytesAnimalsAntigensCell Line, TumorFemaleHumansImmunotherapy, AdoptiveMiceNeoplasmsT-Lymphocytes, CytotoxicAntigensCA-125 AntigenMembrane ProteinsMesothelinMSLN protein, humanMsln protein, mouseMUC16 protein, humanReceptors, Chimeric AntigenChimeric antigen receptor - CARGastrointestinal CancerOvarian Cancer

Identifiers

PMID40930746
PMCPMC12421626

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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.