Figure 5. Human C4-27z and C4opt-27z RNA CAR T cells reduce the progression of pre-established tumors in vivo.

A. NSG mice bearing disseminated SKOV3 tumor were treated with intraperintoneal injections of 10⁷ CAR⁺ T cells on days 14, 17 and 20 and imaged weekly. B. Tumor growth was assessed by SKOV3 fLUC⁺ bioluminescence, which revealed reduced tumor progression in animals receiving FRα-specific C4-27z or C4opt-27z CAR T cell therapy (2-way ANOVA, p < .001). C. CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ C4-27z and C4opt-27z CAR T cells were largely absent from peripheral circulation in comparison to CD19-27z CAR T cells, suggesting FRα-specific migration to tumor sites (student t test, p < .01 – p < .001). D. Repeat administration of C4opt-27z CAR T cells resulted in significant expansion of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral blood, which correlated with therapeutic efficacy of the C4opt-27z CAR (p < .001). CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells were quantitated from blood using the TruCount method. Mean cell concentration (cells/μl) +/− SEM for all mice in each treatment group is shown.