Targeting overexpressed antigens in glioblastoma via CAR T cells with computationally designed high-affinity protein binders

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting receptors on tumour cells have had limited success in patients with glioblastoma. Here we report the development and therapeutic performance of CAR constructs leveraging protein binders computationally designed de novo to have high affinity for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or the tumour-associated antigen CD276, which are overexpressed in glioblastoma. With respect to T cells with a CAR using an antibody-derived single-chain variable fragment as antigen-binding domain, the designed binders on CAR T cells promoted the proliferation of the cells, the secretion of cytotoxic cytokines and their resistance to cell exhaustion, and improved antitumour performance in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, CARs with the binders exhibited higher surface expression and greater resistance to degradation, as indicated by bulk and single-cell transcriptional profiling of the cells. The de novo design of binding domains for specific tumour antigens may potentiate the antitumour efficacy of CAR T cell therapies for other solid cancers.