CAR-TCR 2021 – VJRegenMed

Mechanisms of resistance to CAR T-cell therapies

admin_vjr_user — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 11:12:17 +0000

John Rossi, MS, CERo Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, discusses mechanisms of resistance and relapse in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. T cells of patients with leukemia, lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma who have previously received multiple lines of treatment will have a lower proliferative capability and consequently have worse outcomes. Patient response to lymphodepletion therapy, as well as the tumor microenvironment can additionally determine efficacy of CAR T-cell therapies, and tumors can exhibit an immune desert phenotype during relapse, making treatment more difficult. This interview took place at the 2021 CAR-TCR Summit 2021.

Chimeric engulfment receptor (CER) T-cell therapy

admin_vjr_user — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 11:12:16 +0000

John Rossi, MS, CERo Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, provides an overview of novel chimeric engulfment receptor (CER) T cells which consist of an autologous T cell engineered to express a CER derived from myeloid lineage cells, which can remove diseased or dying cells. CER T-cells behave like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells but can enhance antigen presentation of T cells, mediating tumor clearance and inducing a secondary immune response. The technology has the potential to be used in multiple indications including leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumors. This interview took place at the 2021 CAR-TCR Summit 2021.

Challenges to address in the CAR-T field

admin_vjr_user — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 11:12:14 +0000

John Rossi, MS, CERo Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, describes key challenges facing the field of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. A small number of patients respond poorly to CAR T-cell therapies due to poor T cell quality, however, by using allogeneic T cells or introducing cell therapies as second line therapies, T cell fitness can improve. Novel immunotherapies including bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTE), natural killer (NK) cells, CAR macrophages (CAR-M), and natural killer T (NKT) cells can also reduce relapse in patients. Solid tumors also represent an unmet need due to shared antigens between healthy tissues and tumors. This interview took place at the 2021 CAR-TCR Summit 2021.