A new study published in Cell on Feb. 21 suggests that cell therapies for cancer could be significantly improved using a CRISPR RNA-editing platform.
Victor Tieu, a Stanford graduate student and the lead author of the study, aimed to enhance chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, which involves engineering T cells with the CAR protein to better target cancer cells. While this therapy has been successful in treating blood cancers, it has not been as effective against solid tumors like pancreatic and lung cancers due to the challenges of penetrating their bulkier structure.
Tieu and his team sought to address this issue by developing a tool to improve the performance of CAR T cells. Their research showed promising results, with the tool performing 10 times better in reducing tumor growth and sustaining long-term T cell proliferation in lab cultures and mice with cancer.
“We were really interested in how we can make those cells better to improve clinical outcomes,” said Tieu. “A lot of the tools that we have right now just aren’t that good.”
The findings of this study offer hope for the future of cancer treatment, potentially paving the way for more effective therapies against solid tumors.
2024-02-21 18:00:05
Source from phys.org