Articles tagged with Cell Therapies
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.
The SQZ Biotechnologies platform has been shown to preserve key biological functions essential for cell therapies, unlike electroporation technology. This study highlights the superiority of SQZ in delivering target-specific immune responses and enabling scalable cell therapy development.
Researchers developed a microfluidic technique to monitor specific biomolecules, indicating the health of living cell cultures. The technique uses electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and can detect low concentrations of biomolecules, guiding process control and improving quality control in cell manufacturing.
A new screening process, called Fast Indication of Nanoparticle Discovery (FIND), allows researchers to identify nanoparticles suitable for delivering therapeutic RNA into living cells. The technique inserts unique DNA snippets and a red-glowing Cre protein to verify nanoparticle entry into specific organs and cells.
A new HIV immunotherapy study has demonstrated the safety and tolerability of a cell therapy approach involving ex vivo expansion of T cells. The study found that the treatment was well-tolerated with few adverse events, although no significant enhancement of the magnitude of the HIV-specific immune response was observed.
A team of researchers has identified a new type of pulmonary ionocyte, which is the site of cystic fibrosis-causing CFTR gene activity. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic approaches by increasing CFTR activity in affected cells.
Senescent cells, also known as 'zombie cells,' interfere with tissue function and contribute to aging diseases. Researchers have designed a nano-carrier that selectively targets these cells, releasing drugs to kill them and improving therapeutic outcomes in pulmonary fibrosis and cancer models.
The NSU research team aims to improve therapeutic cell efficiency through manipulation of autophagy, a self-digestion pathway affecting exosome content. Understanding this process can lead to faster wound healing and improved organ regeneration.
Researchers have developed a new way to introduce molecules and therapeutic genes into human cells using ultrafast compression, which can improve cell transfection efficiency. The technique involves compressing cells in microfluidic devices, causing them to take up surrounding fluid and macromolecules.
Researchers identified a subset of healthier T cells, marked by CD8 and CD27 expression, that correlate with clinical responses in CLL patients. The findings suggest a new patient-selection tool for CAR T cell therapy and potential improvements through emerging cell manufacturing techniques.
Dr. S. Thomas Carmichael, a UCLA neuroscientist, received the 2018 Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair from ASNTR for his career-long work in stroke recovery mechanisms. His research has shown that the adult brain can form new connections after stroke and may be critical for plasticity in the recovering brain.
A novel process produces cell-sized lipid vesicles that can be functionalized to interact with cells, inducing specific cellular responses. The technology has high therapeutic potential for treating Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have discovered how CAR-T cell therapy kills cancer cells, revealing a key mechanism that can inform the design of safer and more efficient treatments. The study could pave the way for the adaptation of CAR-T therapy to treat solid cancers, including notoriously hard-to-treat brain tumors.
PanTHERA CryoSolutions has discovered a small molecule inhibitor that prevents ice recrystallization, a process causing cell death and damage when freezing cells and tissues. This technology results in faster engraftment and increased incidence of engraftment for clinical settings.
Scientists at Newcastle University have developed a coating that allows individual stromal cells to detach from the surface, enabling continuous cell growth. This innovation can produce up to a billion cells per week, making it ideal for cell-based therapies requiring large numbers of cells.
A new chemical compound has been found to significantly improve the survival of cells during transplantation, a process used in cell-based therapies for various conditions. The antioxidant, Proxison, was tested on lab-grown cells and shown to be 10 times more effective than natural antioxidants in protecting cells from damage.
Researchers identified a 'killer peptide' released by therapy-sensitive cancer cells, which can kill therapy-resistant cells and inhibit metastasis. The peptide enters only cancer cells, preserving healthy tissue.
A new trial combining ibrutinib with personalized cellular therapy CTL119 achieved complete remission in nine out of ten high-risk CLL patients. The treatment showed limited toxicity and improved disease outcomes compared to existing therapies.
A new cell separator developed by University of Surrey Biomedical Engineers uses dielectrophoresis to sort cells electrostatically, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. This innovation has significant promise for stem-cell therapy and cancer research, offering a more affordable and effective solution.
A new study identifies Gamma Delta T cells as adaptable immune cells with immunological memory against previous infections and cancerous targets. This finding challenges traditional views of these cells as 'natural born killers' and presents opportunities for developing new cell therapies and vaccines.
Researchers at CNIC discovered that miR-28 regulates the terminal differentiation of B lymphocytes, blocking the growth of B cell lymphomas. This finding highlights the potential of synthetic miR-28 analogs to inhibit tumor growth in Burkitt lymphoma and diffuse large cell lymphoma.
A new therapeutic agent, ST266, has been shown to prevent loss of cells in the optic nerve and reduce inflammation in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Early treatment with ST266 improved visual function and prevented damage to the optic nerve.
Researchers characterized dendritic cells across different human organs, revealing constant surface profiles and tissue-specific signals. The study sheds light on the development of new immune therapies and cancer treatments.