We entered a new age of discovery in research. Now is not the time to defund these projects. The next step must go forward if Free World Countries want to find cures for disease. This one is about perfecting treatment for cancer and harnessing the natural immune system.
By Rachel Fieldhouse
Engineered T cells (pink) produce proteins called chimeric antigen receptors that target antigens in cancer cells (blue).
A new generation of engineered immune cell (click here) destroys cancer cells in mice1 as effectively as conventional CAR-T-cell therapies without suppressing the immune system, a serious side effect. The engineered cells could also be used to treat some people with autoimmune conditions, such as lupus.
CAR-T-cell therapy involves tweaking a person’s immune cells, known as T cells, to produce proteins called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These receptors target antigens on B cells, another type of immune cell, in tumours. Conventionally, this antigen of choice has been the CD19 molecule.
Researchers have developed a CAR-T-cell therapy called CART4-34 that targets B cell receptors carrying the gene IGHV4-34 — thought to be involved in immune responses — which is found in high levels in cancer cells. The scientists found that CART4-34 therapy was as effective as CD19 CAR-T therapy at destroying cancer cells in genetically modified mice with a cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The CART4-34 therapy did not target healthy, non-cancerous B cells. The IGHV4-34 gene is rarely found in healthy cells....
A new generation of engineered immune cell (click here) destroys cancer cells in mice1 as effectively as conventional CAR-T-cell therapies without suppressing the immune system, a serious side effect. The engineered cells could also be used to treat some people with autoimmune conditions, such as lupus.
CAR-T-cell therapy involves tweaking a person’s immune cells, known as T cells, to produce proteins called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These receptors target antigens on B cells, another type of immune cell, in tumours. Conventionally, this antigen of choice has been the CD19 molecule.
Researchers have developed a CAR-T-cell therapy called CART4-34 that targets B cell receptors carrying the gene IGHV4-34 — thought to be involved in immune responses — which is found in high levels in cancer cells. The scientists found that CART4-34 therapy was as effective as CD19 CAR-T therapy at destroying cancer cells in genetically modified mice with a cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The CART4-34 therapy did not target healthy, non-cancerous B cells. The IGHV4-34 gene is rarely found in healthy cells....
