Reference #: 1728
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for Using a Patient's Modified T Cells in Cancer Treatment.
Background:
Despite the revolutionary impact of immunotherapy on cancer treatment, most patients with solid tumors do not respond effectively. This resistance is largely due to the presence of immune-suppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME), including regulatory T cells, macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells.
Invention Description:
We propose a potential cancer treatment strategy involving the modification or deletion of a key immune regulatory gene in patients' bone marrow cells that directly increases the presence of an immune-suppressive TME, followed by reimplantation. Without the regulatory gene, these modified cells are expected to become inflammatory macrophages, boosting the immune system's ability to fight tumors. Preliminary experiments in mice have shown promising results, and future experiments will use advanced gene-editing techniques to further test this approach, with the goal of applying it to human patients.
Potential Applications:
This innovation involves developing a novel immunotherapy using patient-derived myeloid cells for cancer treatment. This therapy can be an effective alternative to treat cancers that do not respond to current immunotherapy techniques.
Advantages and Benefits:
While the transplantation of modified T cells and bone marrow in treating cancers is already available, transplantation of gene modified bone marrow cells from the same patient is not. No similar treatment is currently on the market. This treatment strategy could be beneficial for all cancer patients and allow patients who need transplants to receive a transplant when they may otherwise have been unable to.