Engineering CAR T cells for improved function against solid tumors

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K07176
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor therapeutics
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: SAKODA Yukimi 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 准教授 (30629754)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 玉田 耕治 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (00615841)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: キメラ抗原受容体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Chimeric antigen receptor regenerated T (CAR-T) cell therapy holds promise for the treatment of hematological malignancies; however, its clinical use against solid tumors has been limited by several problems, such as immune checkpoint molecules to benefit tumor growth. To overcome this problem, we developed novel CAR-T therapy, wherein the CAR T cells secrete the scFv to be able to block the immune checkpoint molecules. We demonstrated that this scFv-secreting CAR-T cells induced enhanced anti-tumor effect in vitro as well as in vivo.

Free Research Field

がん免疫

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

免疫チェックポイント阻害機能を有するCAR-T細胞を用いることで、固形がんにおけるCAR-T細胞療法の有効性を阻むがん局所の免疫抑制システムを打開しより効果的な抗腫瘍効果を誘導することができる。また、免疫チェックポイント阻害剤の全身投与が不要でがん局所においてのみ免疫チェックポイント阻害機能が発揮されることから副作用やコスト的にも有用である。