The fully human CAR targets mesothelin, a surface protein overexpressed in several cancer types. P4, a human antibody fragment that binds human mesothelin with high specificity, is fused to T cell signaling domains such as 28z. The T cells engineered to express this CAR are shown to shrink tumors in a mouse model bearing human ovarian tumors overexpressing mesothelin.
Problem:
Though engineered anti-mesothelin chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells show encouraging pre-clinical results against certain cancer types, their clinical efficiency is stunted by their poor long-term persistence in infused human patients. Indeed, anti-mesothelin CARs are generally designed using mouse antibody fragments, which can trigger a detrimental immune response against the CAR T cells and destroy them (Maus et al, 2014), thus limiting their cancer destroying potential to a narrow time-frame.
Solution:
Instead of using a mouse antibody fragment for engineering CARs, Dr. Powell and his team have produced a fully human anti-mesothelin CAR that shows high cancer killing potential, yet very low immunogenicity.
Human ovarian tumor regression in an immunodeficient mouse model. Top panels: Mice infused with fully human anti-mesothelin (P4-28z) CAR T cells show significant regression of ovarian tumor (in color) between day 12 (day of infusion) and day 29. Bottom panels: Mice infused with negative control CD19-28z CAR T cells show ovarian tumor progression (Lanitis et al, 2012).
Application:
Therapy efficient against mesothelin-expressing tumor cells.
Advantages:
Stage of Development:
Intellectual Property:
US20140301993
Reference Media:
Lanitis et al, Mol Ther. 2012 Mar; 20(3): 633–643.
Desired Partnerships:
Docket # Y6105