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Scientists at UCLA have developed a cell-based immunotherapy “based on cells that can track down and kill pancreatic cancer cells even after they have spread to other organs.
In a mouse study, the treatment slowed cancer growth, extended survival and remained effective even in a harsh environment.
“Even if the cancer is trying to avoid one way of attack by changing its molecular signature, our treatment is hitting it from multiple angles at the same time.
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To develop the treatment, researchers take human cells and react them with a special type of immune cell called a natural innate immune cell (or NKT cell).
Next, they genetically modified those cells by adding a chimeric antigen receptor, which enabled the cells to recognize and attack pancreatic cancer cells.
UCLA scientists developed an Off-The-Shelf Car-NKT Therapy for Cour-NKT therapy that killed pancreatic tumors in several preclinical models. (Stock)
NKT cells are naturally compatible with any immune system, meaning they can enter the body without causing a dangerous reaction, according to the researchers. They can be regenerated using other donated blood cells.
“A single donor can provide enough cells for thousands of treatments,” which is a cost-effective and accessible method, according to a press release.
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The team tested the treatment in several lab models. These include models where cancer is placed directly in the pancreas and others designed to simulate how the disease spreads to other organs, such as the liver and lungs.
Car-NKT cells are able to push their way into the host itself, rather than being stuck outside like most chemotherapy agents, the researchers found.
The investigators emphasized that a single dose would cost about $5,000, much lower than the Car-T treatment. (Stock)
Once inside the body, these engineered defenses could block cancer cells in several different ways and kill them using built-in attack mechanisms.
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Most importantly, they stay active. Most of the body’s cells that put on a solid tumor are quickly overwhelmed, but these engineered cells continue to work instead of burning, allowing them to continue fighting cancer for a long time.
The findings were published in the Pnas gene (proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).
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“Developing a treatment that targets both the primary tumor and its metastases in pre-clinical studies – one that can be tailored to use in this disease,” said senior author Dr. Microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics at UCLA, in a press release.
The researchers note that a single dose can cost about $5,000, much lower than a customized car-t treatment.
The treatment can be produced by weight in the donor stem cells, the cost can be reduced and the access. (Stock)
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat, according to researchers. Many patients are not diagnosed until the disease has spread, and the smology of the tumor creates many physical and chemical barriers that weaken the effect of traditional treatment.
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Since the treatment targets common proteins in the breast, ovaries and lungs, the same cell product can treat many types of cancer.
In separate studies, the group has already demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against unresectable breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Many patients are not diagnosed until the disease has spread, and the smology of the tumor creates many physical and chemical barriers that weaken the effect of traditional treatment. (Stock)
Based on the initial findings, UCLA investigators are preparing to submit applications in the administration and management of drugs to begin human trials.
“We have developed a powerful, safe, effective and cost-effective treatment,” Yang said in the release. “The next critical step is proving that we can deliver the same results to patients that we’ve seen in our real-world work.”
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All the experiments so far have been done in pigs, as the researchers note that the large intestine in humans is more complex. People’s bowels can appear and lose the goals that treatments are designed to recognize, increasing the risk of getting cancer and continuing to grow.
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Long-term safety and side effects in humans are not known before clinical trials.
The researchers also noted that making large batches of uniform, safe cells poses challenges for planning and control.
