Alison Felipe Bordini Biggi

Alison Felipe Bordini Biggi

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 September 2026 in Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SESima Ebrahimabadi
Sima Ebrahimabadi
DSDayane Schmidt
Dayane Schmidt
MTMariane Cariati Tirapelle
Mariane Cariati Tirapelle
MSMatheus Henrique Dos Santos
Matheus Henrique Dos Santos
LLLuis Roberto Fonseca Lima
Luis Roberto Fonseca Lima
VPVirginia Picanço-Castro
Virginia Picanço-Castro
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-cell-based therapies have demonstrated remarkable clinical success in hematologic malignancies; however, their application in solid tumors remains limited, largely due to the scarcity of suitable surface antigens. TCR-like CARs offer a promising strategy to overcome this barrier by targeting peptide-HLA complexes derived from intracellular tumor-associated antigens. In this study, we investigated NK cells expressing a TCR-like CAR directed against the MAGE-A4 peptide presented by HLA-A*02:01 on tumor cells. The CAR construct incorporated CD3ζ and GITR intracellular signaling domains and was assessed in both NK-92 cells and primary peripheral blood NK cells. Our results demonstrated that MAGE-A4 CAR expression enhanced the metabolic fitness of NK-92 cells, as evidenced by increased glycolysis, basal respiration, and ATP production. Functionally, CAR-engineered NK cells exhibited significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against MAGE-A4⁺ tumor cell lines (A375, U2OS, and U266), but not against MAGE-A4⁻ targets (HCT116), confirming antigen specificity. Enhanced tumor cell killing was associated with increased CD107a degranulation, elevated granzyme B and perforin expression, and augmented TNF-α and IFN-γ production. In vivo, MAGE-A4 CAR NK-92 cells demonstrated potent antitumor activity in an A375 xenograft model. Consistent with these findings, primary NK cells expressing the MAGE-A4 CAR also displayed enhanced antitumor activity and cytokine secretion in vitro. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that TCR-like targeting of the intracellular tumor antigen MAGE-A4 using CAR-engineered NK cells enhances metabolic fitness, effector function, and antitumor activity, highlighting the potential of this approach as a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for MAGE-A4⁺ solid tumors.