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Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor as a Target in the Redirected T-cell Therapy for Cancer

Katarzyna Urbanska1, Caitlin Stashwick1, Mathilde Poussin1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ovarian Cancer Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Cancer Immunology Research
|June 27, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Researchers developed a new T-cell immunotherapy targeting the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) for ovarian cancer. This approach effectively eliminated FSHR-expressing cancer cells and inhibited tumor growth in preclinical models.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Adoptive T-cell therapy is effective for hematologic cancers but faces challenges in solid tumors like ovarian cancer due to the lack of identified targets.
  • Identifying a safe and effective immunotherapeutic target is crucial for advancing T-cell therapy in solid malignancies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To construct and evaluate a novel T-cell-based immunotherapy targeting the human follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) for ovarian cancer treatment.
  • To assess the specificity and efficacy of FSHR-redirected T cells against ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Engineered T cells to express anti-FSHR immunoreceptors using ligand-binding fragments of FSH.
  • Tested the reactivity and cytotoxic activity of engineered T cells against FSHR-expressing ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro.
  • Evaluated the therapeutic effect of FSHR-redirected T cells on human ovarian cancer xenografts in immunodeficient mice.

Main Results:

  • Engineered T cells demonstrated specific immunoreactivity and MHC-nonrestricted lysis of FSHR-expressing ovarian cancer cells in vitro.
  • Adoptive transfer of FSHR-redirected T cells significantly inhibited the growth of human ovarian cancer xenografts in mice.
  • FSHR-targeted T cells showed specific targeting of FSHR-expressing tumor cells, sparing FSHR-deficient cells.

Conclusions:

  • The human follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is a promising immunotherapeutic target for ovarian cancer.
  • FSHR-targeted T-cell immunotherapy shows potential for treating ovarian cancer and warrants further clinical investigation.

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