UCLA Scientists Develop Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment Using Genetically Engineered T Cells and Stem Cells

Scientists at UCLA have demonstrated a novel approach to treating cancer by combining genetically engineered T cells with stem cells, resulting in the production of cancer-fighting immune cells in humans. This groundbreaking study, published in Nature Communications, represents a new way to deliver immunotherapy, with the potential to offer longer-lasting protection against cancer.

Key Takeaways:

• The study, led by Dr. Theodore Scott Nowicki and Dr. Antoni Ribas, used a first-of-its-kind clinical trial to combine genetically engineered T cells with stem cells to produce cancer-fighting immune cells in humans.
• The approach, which involves reprogramming a patient's blood-forming stem cells to generate a continuous supply of functional T cells, has the potential to offer longer-lasting protection against cancer.
• The study targeted a specific cancer marker called NY-ESO-1, which is found in a range of cancers, including melanoma and sarcoma.
• The results showed that engineered stem cells could successfully engraft in patients and begin producing cancer-targeting T cells, with one patient showing signs of tumor regression.
• The study highlights the potential of using engineered stem cells to generate long-lasting immune responses, not only for cancer but also for diseases such as HIV and autoimmune diseases.

Statistics:

• 80% of synovial sarcomas express the NY-ESO-1 tumor marker, making it an ideal target for this therapy.
• The study used a team of over 30 dedicated academic investigators and was funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, the Tower Cancer Research Foundation, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and the Ressler Family Fund.
• The study demonstrated the feasibility of testing this approach in patients with cancer, with a goal of creating a renewable immune defense against cancer that could potentially prevent the disease from coming back.

Sources:

• UCLA Health System
• Nowicki, T. S., Ribas, A., et al. (2023). Genetically programming human blood stem cells to become cancer-targeting immune cells. Nature Communications.
• Ribas, A., Yang, L., et al. (2023). Human immunotherapy using genetically engineered stem cells. UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• National Institutes of Health
• California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
• Hyundai Hope on Wheels
• Tower Cancer Research Foundation
• Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy
• Ressler Family Fund