New approach reinvigorates exhausted T cells to improve tumor control
With continued exposure to tumours, T lymphocytes progressively lose their effectiveness due to the expression of co-inhibitory receptors that act as brakes. Exhausted T lymphocytes, which still retain some anti-cancer function, can deteriorate further until they reach a state of terminal exhaustion. Researchers found that a solute transporter called MCT11, which imports lactic acid, was […]
New platform mimics immune interactions to boost cancer treatment
Current methods of activating T cells do not sufficiently mimic the natural environment in which they interact with another key population of immune cells, a crucial connection for activating T cells and enhancing their ability to fight cancer. In a recent study published in Nature Nanotechnology, researchers introduced a powerful tool to overcome this limitation. Their innovative […]
Innovative immunotherapy harnesses natural killer T cells to combat solid tumors
In the fight against cancer, CAR-T cells have achieved remarkable results in treating blood cancers. However, they have proven largely ineffective against solid tumors. CAR-NKT cells, on the other hand, possess innate properties that make them particularly well-equipped to combat solid tumors. Specifically, they express a T cell receptor that recognizes glycolipid antigens presented by […]
Innovative CAR-T cells effectively target glioblastoma with reduced toxicity
Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, with an average survival after diagnosis of less than two years, and against which current treatments remain ineffective. In recent years, immunotherapies have given patients hope, albeit with relatively modest success. One research team has succeeded in identifying a specific marker, PTPRZ1, on the surface […]
World-first therapy using donor cells sends autoimmune diseases into remission
The treatment’s success in three people raises hopes for mass production of cutting-edge CAR T therapies.
Cellular immunotherapy offers hope for solid tumors
To date, no effective cell therapy for solid cancers has been found. However, initial results from a small clinical trial show that a new cellular immunotherapy approach could effectively treat metastatic solid tumors. Researchers collected lymphocytes from each patient’s tumor as part of the trial. They then used sophisticated molecular characterization techniques to identify and […]
CD5 knockout using CRISPR boosts CAR T cell therapy efficacy
CAR T cells are T cells designed to attack specific targets on cancer cells. They have produced remarkable results in certain patients with blood cancers. However, they have not worked well against other cancers, particularly solid tumor cancers such as pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma. The researchers looked for techniques to increase the effectiveness […]
Prime Editing Corrects Cystic Fibrosis Mutation
Researchers have refined the primary editing (PE) method for correcting the F508del mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a significant cause of cystic fibrosis. They combined several efficiency improvements, including engineered PE guide RNAs and PEmax architecture. They achieved high correction efficiency in immortalized bronchial epithelial cells and substantial correction in patient-derived […]
Innovative CAR T cell therapy shows promise for relapsed CIDP patients
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare disease with sudden onset symptoms, including nerve damage affecting movement, sensation, speech, breathing, and heart rhythm. Treatments such as glucocorticoids, plasmapheresis, and intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG) can help manage symptoms but cannot completely eradicate the disease. However, a research team has reported using BCMA-CD19 bispecific CAR-T cells […]
Miniaturized CRISPR protein opens door for gene therapy with adeno-associated virus
The commonly used adeno-associated virus is small, and although some Cas9 proteins can enter it, Cas12a proteins are generally too large. However, researchers have identified a relatively small version of Cas12a, called EbCas12a, which occurs naturally in a species of the bacterial class Erysipelotrichia. They increased the gene-editing efficiency by deliberately replacing one of the […]
