What's Happening?
Researchers at École Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne (EPFL) and UNIL-CHUV have developed a computational method to create synthetic receptors that improve the effectiveness of engineered T cells in responding
to tumors. Led by Patrick Barth, PhD, and Caroline Arber, PhD, the team designed T-SenSERs (tumor microenvironment-sensing switch receptors) to detect signals in tumors and convert them into signals that boost T cell activity. This innovation enhances the anti-tumor effects of conventional chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, particularly in models of lung cancer and multiple myeloma. The study, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, highlights the potential of these synthetic receptors to overcome the challenges posed by the tumor microenvironment, which often dampens immune responses.
Why It's Important?
This development is significant as it addresses a major limitation in cancer immunotherapy, particularly in treating solid tumors. While CAR T cell therapies have shown success in blood cancers, their effectiveness in solid tumors has been limited due to the inhibitory nature of the tumor microenvironment. By equipping T cells with T-SenSERs, researchers can enhance their ability to recognize and respond to tumor-specific signals, potentially leading to more effective treatments for solid tumors. This advancement could pave the way for improved cancer therapies, offering hope for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.
What's Next?
The researchers plan to further explore the applications of T-SenSER technology in other therapeutic T cell products, such as TCR-T cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. The goal is to enhance the anti-tumor response in various cancer types by fine-tuning the receptors' behavior. This could lead to broader and more efficient development of biosensors with novel input-output functions, ultimately improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies.
