A study conducted by Stanford Medicine researchers has demonstrated the potential of generating CAR-T cells in laboratory mice using a method similar to mRNA-based vaccines. This approach could potentially make CAR-T cell therapy for humans more efficient and affordable.
CAR-T cell therapy, approved by the FDA in 2017 for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia, involves modifying a patient’s T cells to fight cancer. However, the process is costly and time-consuming. The new study suggests that CAR-T cells can be generated within the body, reducing costs and increasing accessibility.
Radiology Professor Katherine Ferrara noted that “we didn’t see any toxicity, even with a fairly large number of injections.” The study showed promising results in mice with B cell lymphoma, where tumors were eradicated in 75% of cases after multiple doses.
The research was published on June 10 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Postdoctoral scholar Nisi Zhang led the study, collaborating with Ronald Levy from Stanford Medicine. They used lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA molecules into T cells, enabling them to target cancer cells effectively.
Ronald Levy highlighted that this method “will make CAR-T cell therapy safer and available to a greater number of patients.” The technique allows for tracking CAR-T cells within the body using imaging tools, providing real-time insights into treatment effectiveness.
The study received funding from the NIH and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center also contributed to this work.
Krista Conger
Tel 650-725-5371
kristac@stanford.edu
