# Antibody-gamma/delta T cell receptors targeting GPC2 regress neuroblastoma with low antigen density

**Authors:** Alex Quan, Mingyu Huo, Dan Li, Laura E. Hutchins, Constanza Rodriguez, Jangsuk Oh, Hsi-En Tsao, Madeline Spetz, Elijah Edmondson, Dana Ashworth, Rui Zheng, Jing Zhou, Jinyun Chen, Jingbao Liu, Guangyan Xiong, Hongbing Zhang, Cheng Liu, Rosa Nguyen, Nan Li, Mitchell Ho

PMC · DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102378 · 2025-09-29

## TL;DR

Engineered T cells using antibody-T cell receptors targeting GPC2 show better results than CAR T cells in treating neuroblastoma, even when the tumor has low antigen levels.

## Contribution

Engineering T cells with antibody-T cell receptors (AbTCRs) targeting GPC2 improves efficacy in neuroblastoma therapy compared to CAR T cells.

## Key findings

- hCT3 AbTCR T cells induce regression in neuroblastoma with low GPC2 antigen density.
- Enhanced efficacy is linked to stronger TCR signaling and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration.
- AbTCR T cells show superior antitumor efficacy compared to CAR T cells in neuroblastoma.

## Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown promise in hematological cancers but face challenges in solid tumors, partly due to heterogeneous antigen density. Glypican-2 (GPC2) is an oncofetal antigen highly expressed in neuroblastoma and under evaluation in phase 1 clinical trials. Here, we engineer T cells with antibody-T cell receptors (AbTCRs) targeting GPC2. We generate autologous AbTCR T cells using CT3 or humanized CT3 (hCT3) antigen-binding fragments (Fab) linked to γ/δ T cell receptors (TCRs), along with a CD30 co-stimulatory domain. Both CT3 and hCT3 AbTCR T cells show superior antitumor efficacy compared to CT3 CAR T cells, with hCT3 AbTCR T cells inducing significant regression in neuroblastoma with low GPC2 antigen density. Enhanced efficacy is associated with stronger TCR signaling, expansion of stem cell-like memory T cells, and improved CD8+ T cell infiltration. These results highlight the potential of hCT3 AbTCR T cells for neuroblastoma and indicate broad application of AbTCR T cells in solid tumors.

•T cells are engineered with AbTCRs by fusing antibody Fab fragments to γ/δ TCRs•hCT3 AbTCR T cells targeting GPC2 regress neuroblastoma with low antigen density•AbTCR efficacy is linked to improved CD8+ T cell infiltration and TCR signaling•hCT3 AbTCR T cells show promising potential for neuroblastoma therapy

T cells are engineered with AbTCRs by fusing antibody Fab fragments to γ/δ TCRs

hCT3 AbTCR T cells targeting GPC2 regress neuroblastoma with low antigen density

AbTCR efficacy is linked to improved CD8+ T cell infiltration and TCR signaling

hCT3 AbTCR T cells show promising potential for neuroblastoma therapy

Quan et al. demonstrate that T cells engineered with antibody-T cell receptors (AbTCRs) targeting GPC2 outperform CAR T cells in neuroblastoma, showing improved efficacy due to stronger TCR signaling, greater memory T cell expansion, and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration, offering promising potential for neuroblastoma therapy.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** GPC2 (glypican 2), TNFRSF8 (TNF receptor superfamily member 8), CD8A (CD8 subunit alpha)
- **Diseases:** neuroblastoma (MONDO:0005072)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CD8A (CD8 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 925] {aka CD8, CD8alpha, IMD116, Leu2, p32}, TNFRSF8 (TNF receptor superfamily member 8) [NCBI Gene 943] {aka CD30, D1S166E, Ki-1}, GPC2 (glypican 2) [NCBI Gene 221914], TRBV20OR9-2 (T cell receptor beta variable 20/OR9-2 (non-functional)) [NCBI Gene 6962] {aka CDR3, TCRBV20S2, TCRBV2O, TCRBV2S2O}
- **Diseases:** neuroblastoma (MESH:D009447), hematological cancers (MESH:D009369)
- **Cell lines:** CT3 — Homo sapiens (Human), Embryonic stem cell (CVCL_B848)

## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12629815/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12629815