Optimizing Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells in Glioblastoma Patients

The aim of this study is to optimize the expansion and manufacturing protocol of CIK cells obtained from patients with glioblastoma (GBM) and to assess their interaction with clinical variables, including the use of concomitant steroid therapy and alkylating chemotherapy. The study addresses multiple hypotheses, each corresponding to a specific aim of the project.

For the manufacturing process optimization, the primary hypothesis is that adding hemoderivatives (such as commercial human serum or platelet-derived lysate) can enhance the efficiency of Cytokine-Induced Killer (CIK) cell production (primary endpoint: higher fold expansion) and improve the quality of the final cell product (secondary endpoint: higher CIK viability and anticancer activity). This hypothesis is supported by published data but has not been tested on CIK cells expanded from GBM patients.

The second aim of the study is to evaluate the potential adverse effects of commonly used neuro-oncology therapies on CIK cells. Specifically, the investigators hypothesize that steroids, like dexamethasone, may have a detrimental effect by exerting cytotoxicity and reducing the anticancer activity of CIK cells. Although this hypothesis has been demonstrated for other lymphocyte types, it has not been explored for CIK cells. Establishing potential thresholds for toxicity (median toxic dose) could provide valuable information beyond neuro-oncology applications, considering the broad use of CIK cells in treating hematologic and solid tumors.

Additionally, the study will examine the potential negative impact of temozolomide on CIK therapy. Temozolomide, an alkylating agent, has shown differential cytotoxicity for lymphocytes, with T cells being more sensitive than Natural Killer (NK) cells. The hypothesis here is that CIK cells may inherit the sensitivity to temozolomide from their CD3+ T cell origins. This is particularly relevant, as a recent multicenter Phase III clinical trial evaluating CIK therapy in GBM scheduled CIK cell infusions to coincide with the adjuvant phase of the standard regimen, which involves a higher dosage of temozolomide.

The second part of the study will focus on exploring the immune escape mechanisms employed by GBM to evade Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-independent immunosurveillance, like that mediated by CIK cells.

To achieve these aims, GBM patients will be enrolled at San Raffaele Hospital prior to the start of radiochemotherapy, along with healthy donors (HDs) as controls. Each participant will provide a single peripheral blood sample (approximately 10 ml) in an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tube. The study is designed as a cross-sectional study with a single time point for biological sample collection. Approximately 40 participants (20 patients and 20 healthy volunteers) will be enrolled over a 24-month period, allowing us to target Aim 1 (5 patients and 5 HDs), Aim 2 (5 patients and 5 HDs), and the exploratory analysis (10 patients and 10 HDs). An additional non-recruitment period of 12 months is planned for data analysis and manuscript preparation.

Epidemiological data will be collected for all subjects, including age, sex, relevant comorbidities, and medication usage. For GBM patients, additional oncological history details will be recorded, including steroid use (yes/no, dosage, and timing) and surgical treatment timing.

Following blood collection, Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) will be isolated by Ficoll gradient centrifugation and expanded in vitro for 21 days, with sequential treatments of IFN-γ, OKT3, and Interleukin-2 (IL-2). Cells will be manually counted using trypan blue dye, and their phenotype will be characterized by flow cytometry. The anticancer activity of CIK cells will be assessed by co-culturing them with glioma cells and evaluating their degranulation ability (CD107a assay) and cytotoxic activity against target cells, as detected by flow cytometry.