Biology subjects

Birsen, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Birsen, R..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Integration of clinical and T-cell immune profiling to predict early response to CD3xBCMA bispecific antibody immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma

The emergence of bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) targeting T cells (CD3+) and tumor plasma B cells (BCMA+) has provided a new therapeutic option for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma cancer. However, responses to CD3xBCMA BsAb therapy remain heterogeneous, and treatment is associated with frequent immune-related adverse events. Although baseline immune characteristics have been associated with clinical outcomes, little is known about the early immune dynamics induced by this therapy. Here, we investigated whether longitudinal clinical monitoring and high-dimensional profiling of blood circulating T cells could identify early biomarkers of response or toxicity during treatment. Our results indicate that all treated patients exhibit an early depletion of circulating T cells associated with T-cell activation within the first two weeks. Integration of clinical and immunological parameters using Factorial Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD) identified immune features associated with treatment outcome. Responders had lower plasma soluble BCMA concentrations, fewer bone lesions, higher circulating lymphocyte counts at baseline. During the first days of treatment, responders exhibited a more pronounced increase in plasma CXCL10 levels, associated with a greater decrease in T lymphocyte counts. Overall, our findings suggest that integrating clinical and immune parameters measured during the first days of treatment may enable early patient stratification and support the development of a predictive score to identify patients with multiple myeloma who are most likely to benefit from CD3xBCMA BsAb therapy. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=94 SRC="FIGDIR/small/743749v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (34K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1cb079org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1860106org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ad36d3org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1ea5c1e_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG HighlightsO_LIIntegrated clinical and blood T-cell immune profiling using FAMD enables patient stratification following CD3xBCMA BsAb therapy. C_LIO_LIT-cell immune activation occurs predominantly within the first two weeks of therapy. C_LIO_LIFirst-week clinical and immune parameters identify patients most likely to benefit from therapy. C_LIO_LIHigh CXCL10 levels, a profound early decline in circulating T cells, low sBCMA levels, and fewer bone lesions are candidate predictive markers of treatment response. C_LI

immunology↗

bioRxiv2025

Pro-inflammatory role of granzyme K producing bystander CD8+ T cells in acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of blood malignancies with a 5-year survival rate below 30%, highlighting the urgent need for more effective therapeutic strategies. T cell-based immunotherapies have demonstrated remarkable success in solid tumors, yet the role of CD8+ T cells in AML remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the composition, antigenic specificity, and function of CD8+ T cells in paired blood and bone marrow samples from AML patients. While we did not identify exhausted CD8+ T cells as seen in solid tumors, we observed a distinct population of functional CD69+ CD8+ T cells specifically enriched in the bone marrow. These cells primarily recognized non-tumor antigens, including epitopes derived from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Notably, this bystander CD8+ T cell population showed high expression of Granzyme K, a cytokine found in the bone marrow of AML patients. Granzyme K did not induce leukemic cell death but instead promoted the secretion of IL-8, a pro-inflammatory cytokine known to play a detrimental role in AML pathology. Rather than mounting an anti-tumor response, these CD8+ T cells contribute to a pro-inflammatory environment that may exacerbate AML progression and severity. These findings provide a rationale for exploring therapeutic strategies aimed at inhibiting pro-inflammatory CD8+ T cells and targeting Granzyme K activity in association with actual therapies. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=137 SRC="FIGDIR/small/669682v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (32K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1fc9798org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4491b1org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b8feadorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@58515d_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Ferritinophagy is a Druggable Vulnerability of Quiescent Leukemic Stem Cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a challenging hematological malignancy with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) contributes to therapeutic failure, post-therapy relapse and adverse outcome. Here, we investigated the role of quiescence and its associated molecular mechanisms in AML pathogenesis and LSCs functions, and identified potential vulnerabilities for therapeutic intervention. We found that LSC-enriched quiescent cell population exhibited a distinct gene set of prognostic significance in AML patients. Furthermore, this quiescent cells subset displayed heightened autophagic activity with a reliance on ferritinophagy, a selective form of autophagy mediated by Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 4 (NCOA4) regulating iron bioavailability. Inhibition of NCOA4 genetically or chemically showed potent anti-leukemic effects, particularly targeting the LSC compartment. These findings uncover that ferritinophagy inhibition may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with AML. One Sentence SummaryTargeting quiescent leukemic stem cells via NCOA4-dependent ferritinophagy inhibition may improve therapeutic outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2022

C/EBPα confers dependence to fatty acid anabolic pathways and vulnerability to lipid oxidative stress in FLT3-mutant leukemia

While transcription factor C/AAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) is critical for normal and leukemic differentiation, its role on cell and metabolic homeostasis is largely unknown in cancer. Here, multi-omics analyses uncovered a coordinated activation of C/EBP and Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) that increased lipid anabolism in vivo and in patients with FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Mechanistically, C/EBP regulated FASN-SCD axis to promote fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis and desaturation. We further demonstrated that FLT3 or C/EBP inactivation decreased mono-unsaturated FAs incorporation to membrane phospholipids through SCD downregulation. Consequently, SCD inhibition enhanced susceptibility to lipid redox stress. Moreover, this C/EBP-dependent adaptation of FA homeostasis was exploited by combining FLT3 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) inhibition to trigger lipid oxidative stress, enhancing ferroptotic death of FLT3-mutant AML cells. Altogether, our study reveals a C/EBP function in lipid homeostasis and adaptation to redox stress, and a previously unreported vulnerability of FLT3-mutant AML with promising therapeutic application. SIGNIFICANCEThe transcription factor C/EBP is as a master regulator of normal and leukemic myeloid differentiation. Here, we discovered that C/EBP regulates fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolic adaptation to redox imbalance in leukemic cells. This confers a vulnerability to lipid oxidative stress to FLT3-mutant cells and supports novel therapeutic opportunities for patients.

cancer biology↗