Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a new mechanism of resistance in advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients to CAR T cell therapy. They found that inhibiting the BET protein with the small molecule inhibitor JQ1 can reinvigorate exhausted T cells and increase their production.
Researchers at UC San Diego developed a cancer immunotherapy that pairs ultrasound with CAR T-cell therapy to destroy malignant tumors while sparing normal tissue. The therapy significantly slowed down tumor growth in mice and showed minimal on-target, off-tumor side effects.
A new process for making RNA has been developed by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, yielding purer and more abundant RNA at a fraction of the cost. This breakthrough removes the largest stumbling block on the path to next-generation RNA therapeutic drugs.
A comprehensive molecular map of lung squamous cell carcinoma has identified potential new drug targets, including the gene NSD3, and highlighted immune regulation pathways that could help cancer evade immunotherapies. The study's findings have also revealed metabolic dysregulation and crosstalk between different cellular processes.
Researchers identified molecular markers to purify unstable regulatory T cells, which can switch from protective to damaging function. Exposing these cells to a destabilizing environment also removes the unstable cells, leaving behind stable regulatory T cells for therapeutic use.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center are studying a potential new chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy (CAR-T cell therapy) treatment for multiple myeloma. The overall response rate to the treatment was 97%, while the complete response rate and progression-free survival rates were 67% and 77%, respectively.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin and ONK Therapeutics are collaborating to optimize the metabolism of natural killer cells for enhanced anti-tumor functions. The project aims to address the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that impairs NK cell efficacy.
Researchers developed RADICA, a molecular rapid testing methodology for detecting viral nucleic acids in 40-60 minutes. The method has been tested on SARS-CoV-2 synthetic DNA/RNA and Epstein-Barr virus and shows high sensitivity and specificity.
Researchers designed cpLOV2 using circular permutation to simplify optogenetic device design. The new photoswitch maintained structural integrity and function, providing more choices for optogenetic application developments. It was successfully used to gate ORAI1 Ca2+ channel and control cell activities in a mouse model.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in immunotherapy design, using specifically designed receptors to completely clear brain cancer tumors in preclinical models. The approach has shown promise and could pave the way for new treatments for people with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Researchers discovered two subsets of tumor cells that can be targeted using different methods, one inducing ferroptosis and the other inhibiting antioxidant production. The study found that combining these approaches could improve treatment outcomes for small cell lung cancer patients.
Researchers have developed a new CAR T cell engineering technique that allows for the targeting of solid tumors without harming healthy cells. The technique uses ultrasensitive identification of HER2 protein on tumor cells and has shown promise in treating ovarian cancer.
Researchers found that tumor cells increase SLC6A14 expression levels in response to methionine deprivation, leading to increased AMPK activation. Targeting both SLC6A14 and AMPK may drive unbalanced metabolism in starved tumor cells, promoting apoptosis.
A significant number of NHL patients achieved complete remission and progression-free survival with Kymriah, a personalized cellular therapy. The study demonstrated the durability of this approach, with most patients remaining in remission five years after treatment.
The study found that cell turnover and cost of resistance are important factors impacting adaptive therapy success, with higher cell density and smaller pre-existing resistance levels doing better under adaptive conditions. Researchers developed a mathematical model to visualize the dynamics of cell populations and competition between ...
Researchers developed a CD45-directed antibody radioconjugate to target and deplete specific immune cells. The treatment safely depleted T cells, B cells, NK cells, and Tregs in mice while sparing red blood cells and platelets.
Australian researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which prostate cancer cells can adapt and evolve into more aggressive forms, making them resistant to treatment. The study highlights the importance of targeting microRNA-194 to slow down and inhibit the growth of prostate cancer models with neuroendocrine features.
Researchers at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center discovered NIK protein essential for T cell metabolic shift during activation, regulating anti-tumor immunity. Elevated NIK activity in T cells may improve adoptive therapy efficacy.
A new consortium, Accelerating Research and Innovation for Advanced Therapies (ARDAT), aims to develop standardized models for predicting ATMP immunogenicity in humans. The €25.5 million project will also build understanding of ATMP drug metabolism within a host.
Researchers developed a novel photodynamic therapy to target insulin-producing lesions, showing promise in slowing tumor growth and inducing cell death. The treatment could provide a minimally invasive option for hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, improving patient management.
A new gelatin-based microcarrier offers significantly higher harvest rates of cells grown with over 90% compared to traditional standards. The microcarrier facilitates expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells used to treat various ailments, including heart attacks and immune system rejection.
Researchers have developed a computational approach called EpiMogrify that can predict the molecules needed to keep cells healthy in laboratory cultures. The model successfully identified molecules to maintain healthy nerve cells and heart cells, and predicted molecules that trigger stem cells to turn into specific cell types.
SMART researchers have discovered a new way to manufacture human red blood cells that cuts the culture time by half compared to existing methods. The new protocol stores cultured cells in liquid nitrogen for 11 days and produces RBCs within 11 days.
Researchers propose using nanomaterials to elevate oxygen levels in tumor tissues, reducing resistance to therapies. Additionally, therapeutic gas-generating and radical-generating nanomaterials can control oxygen delivery and induce cell death, offering new avenues for hypoxic tumor treatment.
Scientists create genetically engineered, off-the-shelf therapeutic T cells that can recognize and kill specific cancer cells without requiring personalized training. The 'off-the-shelf' approach solves limitations of original cell immunotherapy methods by avoiding time-consuming processes and resulting in more potent cells.
A clinical trial led by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center found CAR-T cell therapy to be highly active and safe in patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. The treatment resulted in a complete disappearance of tumor in the majority of patients and had an overall survival rate of 94% one year after treatment.
Researchers found that high levels of pre-treatment interleukin 6 indicate a high risk for neurotoxicity and cytokine release syndrome from CAR T therapy. The study also suggests that targeting the tumor microenvironment prior to therapy may help reduce inflammation and toxicities.
A new study by the University of Tokyo reveals that cell-laden hydrogel fibers with a diameter of 1.0 mm provide long-term immunoprotection and functionality for pancreatic cells in diabetic mice, outperforming thinner fibers.
A new cell therapy approach has been shown to reduce the need for immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients, thereby minimizing the risk of side effects. The study found that regulatory cells were just as safe as standard treatment and did not result in higher rejection rates.
A study published in Oncotarget reports that adoptive cell therapy in combination with checkpoint inhibitors improves T cell fold expansion and increases CD8 T cell tumor reactivity in patients with late-stage metastatic ovarian cancer. The authors suggest that combination immunotherapy may be a way forward for this purpose.
Four critically ill COVID-19 patients improved significantly after receiving the experimental therapeutic CAP-1002, which contains cardiosphere-derived cells. The treatment helped reduce inflammation and showed no adverse effects, with all patients discharged from the hospital.
Researchers at Lipo-ImmunoTech, a joint venture between Medical University of South Carolina researchers, are developing a novel adoptive cell therapy technology that factors in the role of lipids in suppressing the immune system. The grant aims to enhance the viability and functionality of expanded T cells.
A recent correspondence letter warns against premature use of novel therapies in COVID-19 patients, advocating for traditional critical care principles instead. The authors emphasize the importance of evidence-based practice and caution against abandoning reason during the pandemic.
A study published in eLife has identified two strategies used by cancer to survive treatment with immunotherapies, including one that disables energy production in cancer-killing T-cells. Researchers found that some human cancer cells release molecules that inhibit the activity of energy-producing mitochondria in T-cells.
Calibr's novel cell therapy leverages a patient's own immune cells, directing them to engage cancer targets with a control switch. Clinical trials will test the approach in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies.
Scientists at Tokyo Tech and Kyoto University create a PVA-BPA complex that allows boron to remain in cancer cells for longer periods, reducing the need for continuous infusion. This method enhances anti-cancer activities of BNCT and offers a simple solution for drug delivery
City of Hope researchers have created a modified CRISPR gene editing tool that improves the accuracy and efficiency of cutting out undesirable genetic information. The new design has shown promise in treating HIV and sickle cell disease by increasing desirable mutations and improving activity at specific target sites.
Researchers genetically engineered CAR T cells with molecular tags, allowing them to be monitored in animal models using PET imaging. This technology enables clinicians to track the number and location of CAR T cells over time, providing a more accurate measure of therapy durability and potential efficacy.
A new cell therapy approach has been developed by Dr Christopher E Rudd, boosting the immune response of T lymphocytes to malignant tumours.
A Yale-developed drug stimulates immune cells to shrink or kill tumors in mice, with lasting effects and broad immune response. The therapy is effective alone or in combination with existing cancer immunotherapies, and has shown synergistic effects when combined.
Researchers at City of Hope have developed a new CAR T cell therapy targeting the B cell-activating factor receptor (BAFF-R), which showed remarkable tumor regression and prolonged survival in animal models. The therapy may potentially be used as a first-line treatment for patients who relapsed after CD19 immunotherapy treatments.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) researchers found that aggregation of TDP-43 is not harmful but actually protects cells. This discovery challenges the assumption that alleviating protein aggregates is necessary to treat neurodegenerative diseases like ALS. The study opens doors to radically new therapeutic approaches if aggregation...
After a tragic death in 1999, gene therapy faced a setback, but James Wilson's rediscovery of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) paved the way for its resurgence. Today, AAVs are used in nearly 100 drug development programs and have been approved by the FDA for treating a fatal neurological disease.
The LIBRETTO-001 trial showed that selpercatinib achieved high response rates of up to 68% in patients with RET fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The median duration of response was also notable at 20.3 months, with an intracranial objective response rate of 91%.
Researchers have created a super-stable form of MHC tetramer reagent, enabling faster detection and manipulation of T cells in patients. This breakthrough opens new possibilities for personalized cancer treatment strategies.
Researchers used ultra-sensitive technology to characterize and identify neoantigens driving antitumor responses in a patient with metastatic melanoma. The study reveals new ways to guide the design of personalized adoptive T cell therapies, increasing the number of patients who will benefit from immunotherapy.
The August edition of SLAS Technology features a review on technologies for the directed evolution of cell therapies, which are moving beyond small molecules and proteins to using whole cells. Researchers can utilize emerging tools like image-activated cell sorters to accelerate high-throughput automation technologies.
Research conducted at the Irvine Lab at MIT's Koch Institute showed that activation of CAR-T cells in lymph nodes leads to massive CAR-T cell expansion and significant functional improvements. The AMP-CAR-T Platform combines CAR-T therapy with Amphiphile immunotherapies to amplify immune responses and combat solid tumors.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a system to study endothelial cells, which line blood vessel walls. This breakthrough could lead to therapies that promote new blood vessel growth and help treat conditions like heart disease.
A new study found that elderly patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received targeted therapies experienced improved overall survival rates compared to those treated with older, more toxic treatments. The study analyzed data from over 1,100 Medicare patients and showed a three-month survival advantage with targeted therapies.
A human enzyme named FANCM is essential for the survival of cancer cells using an alternative telomere lengthening pathway. ALT tumor cells require FANCM activity to prevent telomere instability and cell death.
Researchers at Seattle Children's have successfully engineered human B cells to produce therapeutic proteins, opening the door for a novel cell therapy. The B cells can survive indefinitely in models, offering a potential advantage over other treatments.
A team of scientists at the Gladstone Institutes has developed a reliable method to identify potential off-target effects in therapeutically relevant cell types. The DISCOVER-Seq technique uses DNA repair factors to pinpoint exact sites where CRISPR cuts occur, enabling more accurate genome editing.
The RESTORE Health initiative aims to develop advanced therapies for curative treatments, backed by an international and interdisciplinary community. The consortium plans to invest up to €1 billion in new research projects over the long term.
Charité is leading three new EU-funded projects: ReSHAPE, VirtualBrainCloud, and ENDOSCAPE. The ReSHAPE project aims to develop a treatment for transplant rejection using regulatory T cells, while VirtualBrainCloud creates personalized brain simulations for neurodegenerative diseases. ENDOSCOPE develops non-viral gene delivery technolo...
Researchers have discovered a new population of immune cells that respond to immunotherapy treatment, as well as a critical molecular factor required for the therapy's success. The study highlights the importance of early-stage T cells and the need for further understanding of how checkpoint blockade therapies work.
The Wyss Institute aims to develop 'Time-Tolerant Biostasis Therapeutics' that slow down critical processes in the human body, giving time to repair life-threatening injuries. The goal is to stabilize molecules, cells, organs, and metabolic state using temperature-independent mechanisms.
Researchers developed a strategy to block GM-CSF protein, reducing toxicities and improving CAR-T cell efficacy. A second strategy involves combining CAR-T cell therapy with a drug targeting AXL protein, potentially enhancing potency and lowering toxicity.
The phase-2 JULIET trial found that CAR-T cell therapy achieved a 52% favorable response rate in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, with 40% experiencing complete responses. Sixty-five percent of patients remained relapse-free after one year.
Researchers discovered small populations of T cells expressing functional SAP at normal levels in patients with XLP1, potentially modifying disease severity. This finding suggests gene therapy or adoptive cellular therapy could be effective treatments for the disease.