SHORT DESCRIPTION
For cancer immunotherapy, MASS-CAR leverages universal CAR-T cells and modified therapeutic antibodies to target multiple tumor markers with reduced side effects.
NU Tech ID: NU 2023-021
IP STATUS
US Patent Pending WO2024206913A3
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
TRL-3, Experimental Proof-of-Concept: Laboratory studies validate the integration of universal CAR-T cells with labeled antibodies to achieve targeted tumor killing
BACKGROUND
CAR-T cell therapies have shown promise in treating B cell malignancies but face challenges in treating other hematological malignancies and solid cancers due to limited tumor markers and suppressive tumor microenvironments. Moreover, hyperactivity of CAR-T cells in patients can lead to adverse or even fatal side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Thus, there is a great need to optimize the design and application of current CAR-T cell-based therapeutics.
ABSTRACT
Northwestern researchers have developed Modified Antibody Specific Switchable CAR (MASS-CAR), a strategy which uses chemical labeling of antibodies to direct CAR-T cell activity to specific tumors while also leveraging the therapeutic benefits of antibody biologics, leading to more potent anti-tumor immune responses. This strategy enables on-and-off toggling of CAR-T cells, translating to fewer side-effects associated with CAR-T cell hyperactivity. Using a mouse model of melanoma, the inventors have demonstrated superior anti-tumor effects of MASS-CAR in comparison to conventional CD-19 CAR-T cells, accompanied by enhanced recruitment of endogenous immune cells. Altogether, MASS-CAR is a highly versatile and modular approach that can allow targeting of multiple tumor markers simultaneously.
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
PUBLICATIONS
KEYWORDS
Cancer Immunotherapy, CAR-T, Therapeutic Antibodies, Modified Antibody, Universal CAR-T, Tumor Targeting, Oncology, Immunotherapy Strategy