Cellectis develops "smart" CAR T-cells for enhanced cancer therapy
Cellectis has engineered a new generation of CAR T-cells that can sense the tumor microenvironment and locally secrete therapeutic proteins. This approach aims to improve treatment efficacy and safety.
Biopharmaceutical company Cellectis has published research detailing a novel CAR T-cell technology. These "smart" T-cells have been genetically engineered to recognize the tumor microenvironment and selectively secrete therapeutic proteins directly into the affected area.
The localized protein secretion is designed to enhance the T-cells' cancer-fighting capabilities while potentially reducing the risk of systemic side effects. The study utilized gene editing to rewire the TCRα, CD25, and PD1 genes. This modification enables the CAR T-cells to secrete the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-12, in a time- and tumor-dependent manner.
Cellectis Chief Scientific Officer, Philippe Duchateau, described the engineered cells as "precise and powerful micro-robots" capable of targeting IL-12 directly to cancer cells. This aims to avoid the toxicity associated with systemic IL-12 injections while boosting CAR-T cell activity. This technology could pave the way for safer and more effective CAR T-cell treatments.
The company states this proof-of-concept, based on their TALEN® gene editing technology, represents a significant step towards next-generation CAR T-cells. The engineered T-cells can sense and remodel their microenvironment in a tailored and regulated manner, offering greater control over potent therapies and minimizing off-target effects on healthy tissues. The findings were published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.