Can We Improve the Potency and Persistence of a Child’s T-Cells to Recognize and Kill Neuroblastoma Cells?
Solving Kids’ Cancer supported this work to develop a new and improved type of GD2-CAR T cells, and this work has advanced to a Phase I clinical trial also supported by Solving Kids’ Cancer.
Project Title: Improving GD2 T-cell Immunotherapy for Patients with Neuroblastoma
Researcher: Chrystal Louis, MD
Institution: Baylor College of Medicine
Study Type: Preclinical
Status: Completed
In order to find new treatment strategies for children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma, scientists have created artificial T-cell receptors, called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), for the GD2 antigen, which is expressed by neuroblastoma tumor cells. When these receptors were placed into T-cells and given to patients, they experienced complete remission. However, the results were short-lived as the T-cell levels decreased around six weeks after the infusion. Researchers believe that the antitumor effects of these cells could be improved by making the T-cells perform and persist better. Solving Kids’ Cancer supported Dr. Louis’ work to develop a new and improved type of GD2-CAR T-cells, and this preclinical work advanced to a Phase I clinical trial, which was also supported by Solving Kids’ Cancer.