TRBC1-targeting antibody–drug conjugates for the treatment of T cell cancers

Antibody and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell-mediated targeted therapies have improved survival in patients with solid and haematologic malignancies^1–9. Adults with T cell leukaemias and lymphomas, collectively called T cell cancers, have short survival^10,11 and lack such targeted therapies. Thus, T cell cancers particularly warrant the development of CAR T cells and antibodies to improve patient outcomes. Preclinical studies showed that targeting T cell receptor β-chain constant region 1 (TRBC1) can kill cancerous T cells while preserving sufficient healthy T cells to maintain immunity¹², making TRBC1 an attractive target to treat T cell cancers. However, the first-in-human clinical trial of anti-TRBC1 CAR T cells reported a low response rate and unexplained loss of anti-TRBC1 CAR T cells^13,14. Here we demonstrate that CAR T cells are lost due to killing by the patient’s normal T cells, reducing their efficacy. To circumvent this issue, we developed an antibody–drug conjugate that could kill TRBC1⁺ cancer cells in vitro and cure human T cell cancers in mouse models. The anti-TRBC1 antibody–drug conjugate may provide an optimal format for TRBC1 targeting and produce superior responses in patients with T cell cancers.