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Breakthrough in Mesothelioma Treatment: Cellectis’ Promising CAR-T Therapy

ByHolly Zink
Breakthrough in Mesothelioma Treatment: Cellectis' Promising CAR-T Therapy

Mesothelioma is a challenging cancer with limited treatment options. Yet, recent advancements in CAR-T therapy are bringing new hope to the table. There is a breakthrough that holds the potential for improving mesothelioma treatment outcomes. Data comes from Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.

CAR-T Therapy: A New Frontier for Mesothelioma

CART T-cell therapy for mesothelioma is a type of immunotherapy. It starts with T-cells from the patient’s blood. Scientists alter the cells to recognize certain antigens on the surface of cancer cells. Then they give them back to the patient.

In the case of mesothelioma, the main targeted antigen is mesothelin. Mesothelioma patients tend to produce extra mesothelin. This protein helps drive the growth and spread of their cancer. People with high levels of mesothelin stand to benefit the most from CAR T-cell immunotherapy.

Mesothelioma, caused by asbestos exposure, poses a significant health risk. This is due to its aggressive nature and resistance to traditional treatments. CAR-T therapy involves engineering the patient’s immune cells to target cancer cells. It is gaining attention as a potential game-changer.

Researchers at the forefront of this movement are aiming to revolutionize mesothelioma treatment. The latest innovation is an off-the-shelf CAR-T therapy. UCARTMeso focuses on a protein called mesothelin that’s found on the surface of mesothelioma cells. This precision targeting allows it to carefully attack cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues.

Promising Early Results and Future Prospects

Early preclinical data at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer reveal encouraging outcomes. UCARTMeso demonstrated anti-tumor activity in mouse models of mesothelioma and other solid tumors. These results highlight the potential of UCARTMeso as a transformative option for patients battling this aggressive cancer.

Researchers face many challenges that have affected the wider CAR-T therapy field. Despite setbacks, they remain steadfast in their commitment. They are advancing off-the-shelf CAR-T treatments for mesothelioma patients. It could hold the key to providing a more accessible and effective treatment option for mesothelioma patients.

These developments signify a potential turning point in the battle against this challenging cancer. UCARTMeso brings newfound optimism to patients and their families.  As research and clinical trials progress, the potential for a more effective and accessible mesothelioma treatment becomes more tangible.

Source

Schiffer-Mannioui, C., Leduc, S., Chion-Sotinel, I., Clerre, D. le, Guyot, V., Rotondi, M., Galetto, R., & Gouble, A. (2021). 143 Mesothelin (MSLN) targeting allogeneic CAR T cells engineered to overcome tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 9(Suppl 2). https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2021-SITC2021.143

 

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