Fig. 6: Preconditioning the TME with anti-TAM CAR-T cells improves the efficacy of tumor-specific CAR-T cells.

a Schematic representation of the in vivo study. Groups treated with only one of the CARs received an equivalent dose of UTD T cells to equal the total dose. hMeso CAR-T cells were prepared from CD45.1 donor mice (n = 5 mice for hCD19, mFRβ, and mFRβ → hMeso groups, 6 for hMeso, and 7 for mFRβ + hMeso). b BLI images from representative mice at indicated time points are shown. c Quantification of BLI shown as mean radiance ± SEM. d Waterfall plot showing the percentage of change in tumor BLI on day 48 vs. baseline (day −1). Data from individual mice are represented. e Kaplan–Meier survival curves are represented. The endpoint was defined at animal body weight increase >10% due to ascites formation. Mean survival is indicated in the legend. The concentration of f hMeso CAR⁺ T cells (live, CD45.1⁺/CD8⁺/GFP⁺) and g endogenous T cells (live, CD45.2⁺) were quantified in the blood of mice 9 days after administration of hMeso CAR-T cells and represented as mean ± SD. Experiment represented in panels (a–e) was performed twice. c P values were calculated by a multiple two-tailed t test (mFRβ → hMeso as compared to (*) hCD19; (&) mFRβ; (ζ) hMeso; or (#) mFRβ + hMeso) and exact values are indicated as follow: D2 * = 0.007, =0.016; D5 * = 0.015, # = 0.036; D20 & = 0.046, # = 0.021; D27 # = 0.019; D34 & = 0.047, # = 0.040; D48 * = 0.020, ζ = 0.004, # = 0.024. P values by a e log-rank Mantel–Cox test or f, g a one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test are indicated. Source data are provided in the Source Data file.