Armored CD7-CAR T Cells: A Fratricide-Resistant Solution for T-ALL Therapy
Reporter and Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.
This research reported in Nature Medicine addresses the challenge of treating T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) with CAR T-cell therapy, particularly focusing on CD7, a surface marker highly expressed on T-ALL cells. The authors develop a novel CAR T-cell therapy that targets CD7, but with a crucial innovation which is fratricide resistance.
Fratricide, a phenomenon where CAR T cells kill each other (killing sister cells) due to shared CD7 expression, has been a significant problem in using CD7-directed therapies. To overcome this, the researchers made CD7-negative CAR T cells (CD7-CAR T cells) by knocking out CD7 from the CAR T cells themselves, preventing them from attacking one another.
Their preclinical results show that these CD7-CAR T cells exhibit strong anti-leukemic activity in T-ALL models, both in vitro and in vivo.
- The fratricide-resistant T cells not only maintain their potency but also display enhanced proliferation and persistence, crucial for sustained therapeutic effects. Additionally,
- the study highlights the feasibility and safety of this approach by demonstrating no adverse off-target effects or side effects, making it a potentially promising treatment for T-ALL patients who have limited options.
The research presents a significant advancement in CAR T-cell therapy by addressing the challenge of fratricide, offering a new, effective, and safe therapeutic option for T-ALL patients. The development of fratricide-resistant CD7-CAR T cells could lead to more successful outcomes in clinical applications, revolutionizing the treatment for T-ALL patients.
References:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03228-8
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39227445
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36086817
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35435984
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28539325
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29296885
Other articles on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) published in this Open Access Journal include the following:
Inotuzumab Ozogamicin: Success in relapsed/refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Other articles on CAR-T cell Therapies published in this Open Access Journal include the following:
Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy to honor Dr. Crystal Mackall with Edward Netter Leadership Award
2012pharmaceutical
sjwilliamspa