Safety and Efficacy of Adoptive Transfer of Stem Cell Memory Enriched Virus Specific T Cells against CMV and EBV

TL;DR

This study shows that T memory stem cells enriched with virus-specific T cells are more effective and safer for treating CMV and EBV infections.

Contribution

The study introduces TSCM-enriched virus-specific T cells as a novel, scalable immunotherapy with superior antiviral efficacy.

Findings

TSCM-VSTs show reduced exhaustion, enhanced expansion, and stronger antiviral activity compared to TCM or TEM VSTs.

TSCM-VSTs provide better protection against Raji-pp65 tumors in a murine model.

A phase I trial showed 100% overall response rate with no severe adverse events in patients treated with TSCM-enriched VSTs.

Abstract

Adoptive immunotherapy with third‐party virus‐specific T lymphocytes (VSTs) is effective against refractory viral infections. However, its long‐term efficacy and persistence must be enhanced. T memory stem cells (TSCMs) with superior self‐renewal and multilineage differentiation potential may enhance VSTs durability, although their antiviral capacity is underexplored. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐specific T cells are enriched with CD8⁺ TSCM through cytokine and peptide stimulation. Comprehensive preclinical evaluations show that purified TSCM‐VSTs exhibit reduced exhaustion, enhanced expansion, and stronger antiviral activity than central or effector memory VSTs (TCM or TEM). Transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses show significant enrichment of the MAPK and Wnt signaling pathways, consistent with stem‐like characteristics. In a murine model, CD8⁺ TSCM VSTs provide more effective protection against Raji‐pp65 tumors than TCM or TEM VSTs. In a phase I clinical trial, 10 patients with refractory CMV or EBV infections post‐transplant who received third‐party, off‐the‐shelf TSCM‐enriched VSTs show a 100% overall response rate and 70% complete response, with persistence up to 12 weeks and no severe adverse events. These findings support TSCM‐enriched VSTs as a potent, scalable antiviral immunotherapy and highlight TSCM proportion as a critical determinant of VSTs efficacy.

This study finds that CD8⁺ TSCM cells exhibit superior self‐renewal, differentiation, and antiviral activity. Transcriptome and epigenome analyses highlight MAPK cascade regulation in TSCM cells. In vivo, virus‐specific TSCM cells show enhanced persistence and tumor protection. Clinically, phase I trial data indicate a 100% overall response rate, supporting the therapeutic potential of third‐party, allogeneic CMV‐ and EBV‐specific TSCMs.

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