Precise DNA cleavage using CRISPR-SpRYgests | Nature Biotechnology
A team led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital has overcome a major constraint to cutting and editing DNA with CRISPR-Cas enzymes and other technologies. Although CRISPR-Cas tools can be programmed to target and cut virtually any DNA sequence, a major constraint in their targeting is the need to first recognize a short sequence flanking […]
CAR T-Cell Therapy Proves Effective in First Trial in Patients with Resistant Multiple Myeloma
A CAR-T cell therapy designed to target a cellular protein called the GPRC5D antigen has produced impressive results in its first clinical trial in patients with multiple myeloma. The 17 patients in the Phase 1 trial had undergone a median of six prior treatments for myeloma, many of whom had received CAR T-cell therapy targeting […]
Researchers take new approach to studying the development of the human brain
A group of researchers has taken a new approach to studying human brain development: they are growing and using organoids, three-dimensional millimeter-sized tissues that can be grown from what are called pluripotent stem cells. Research on organoids made of human cellular material has the advantage that the results are transferable to humans. In a new […]
Prime Editing Can Become the Future of Vision Loss Treatment
Inherited retinal diseases are characterized by dysfunction and degeneration of the photoreceptors and/or the retinal pigment epithelium, leading to progressive vision loss and blindness. After winning a grant of just over DKK 3 million (EUR 400,000) from the Velux Foundation, PhD student Silja Hansen MD aims to develop a new treatment based on prime editing […]
Radical lupus treatment uses CAR T-cell therapy developed for cancer
Lupus, also known as systemic lupus erythematosus, is caused by an erroneous reaction of the immune system against the DNA of people. It is driven by B cells producing antibodies against DNA released by dying cells. It is currently treated with drugs that suppress the immune system or, in more severe cases, with drugs that […]
RASA2 ablation in T cells boosts antigen sensitivity and long-term function – Nature
T cells used in immunotherapy treatments can become exhausted by the task of fighting cancer cells or shut down when they enter tumours. However, a set of CRISPR screens allowed researchers to deactivate each gene in the genome, one at a time, in a pool of human T cells and the team found a handful […]
RASA2 ablation in T cells boosts antigen sensitivity and long-term function – Nature
T cells used in immunotherapy treatments can become exhausted by the task of fighting cancer cells or shut down when they enter tumours. However, a set of CRISPR screens allowed researchers to deactivate each gene in the genome, one at a time, in a pool of human T cells and the team found a handful […]
BiTEs, CAR T-Cell Therapy, and ADCs Offer Variety of Lymphoma Treatment Options, But Questions Remain
Bispecific T-cells (BiTE), CAR T-cell therapies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have revolutionised the treatment of haematological malignancies. However, accessibility and unexplored clinical issues present challenges for patients and clinicians for optimal integration into treatment regimens. The lowest barrier to access is for ADCs, largely because the institutional set-up for administration would be minimal. However, for […]
MaxCyte signs strategic platform license with LG Chem to advance its allogeneic CAR-T programs
MaxCyte, Inc, a commercial cell engineering company specializing in the provision of platform technologies has a portfolio of instruments that are the next generation of advanced, clinically validated electroporation technology for complex and scalable cell engineering. Offering high transfection efficiency, seamless scalability and enhanced functionality, their ExPERT™ platform notably delivers the high-end performance essential to […]
Antibiotic use, certain gut bacteria affect CAR-T efficacy, toxicity
Researchers examined two cohorts of patients who received CD19-directed CAR-T cells for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The researchers used the first cohort to retrospectively examine the impact of prior antibiotic use on CAR-T clinical outcomes. The second cohort had prospective baseline fecal samples collected before CAR-T cell infusion for subsequent assessment of […]