Novel CAR-NK cell therapies that are safe, effective and can be used by anyone at any time

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07213
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50020:Tumor diagnostics and therapeutics-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Masaru Imamura 新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 准教授 (80464006)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 今井 千速 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 准教授 (90419284)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: CAR / CAR-NK / 細胞療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Before creating a novel HER2-CAR gene with adjusted target-binding capacity, a novel HER2-CAR gene with normal target-binding capacity was transfected into T cells with the novel gene, which showed an excellent anti-tumour effect against synovial sarcoma cell lines. Next, the newly created novel gene was gene-transfected into KHYG-1 cells, an NK cell line. After gene transfer, the synovial sarcoma cell lines SYO-1 (4 days) and Yamato-SS (2 days) were co-cultured to investigate the anti-tumour effect. The newly created gene-transfected KHYG-1 cells showed tumour effects against both SYO-1 and Yamato-SS. However, no superiority in terms of anti-tumour effect compared with control could be demonstrated.

Free Research Field

小児血液腫瘍

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

HER2に対する新規CAR-NK細胞を作成し、その抗腫瘍効果を示すことができたが、コントロールに比べ優れた抗腫瘍効果を示すことはできなかった。理由としてNK細胞として用いたKHYG-1自体が持つ抗腫瘍効果が強力であったためと思われる。今後はその他のNK腫瘍細胞株であるNK92, YT, SNT-8に新規HER2-CAR-NKを遺伝子導入し、抗腫瘍効果を検討する必要がある。また、HER2に対する結合力を調整した新規遺伝子作成や凍結保存された臍帯血からのCAR-NK作成は今後の課題である。