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    During malignant progression cancer cells tend to lose cell surface expression of MHC and other immune antigens, making them invisible to cytotoxic T cells and therefore inaccessible to tumor antigen-directed immunotherapy. Moreover, cancer cell variants that have lost antigen expression frequently contribute to deadly tumor relapses that occur following treatments that had been initially effective. In an effort to destroy antigen-loss cancer cells in tumors, we created a strategy that combines a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected T-cell attack with an engineered local release of the cytokine interleukin 12 (IL-12), which recruits and reinforces macrophage function. Cytotoxic T cells were engineered to release inducible IL-12 upon CAR engagement in the tumor lesion, resulting in destruction of antigen-loss cancer cells that would normally escape. Importantly, elimination of the antigen-loss cancer cells was accompanied by an accumulation of activated macrophages that was critical to the antitumor response, because removing the macrophages abolished the response and restoring them reengaged it. Neutralizing TNF-? also abrogated the elimination of antigen-loss cancer cells, implying this proinflammatory factor in the process. Taken together, our results show how IL-12 supplementation by CAR T cells can target otherwise inaccessible tumor lesions, in a manner associated with reduced systemic toxicity, by recruiting and activating innate immune cells for a proinflammatory response. Cancer Res; 71(17); 5697–706. ©2011 AACR.
    cancerres.aacrjournals.org   ...Read On

    Researchers have identified the conditions that make memory T cells slip away during persistent infections. They have also shown that a molecule called 2B4 on memory cells causes them to slow down during chronic infections.
    feeds.sciencedaily.com   ...Read On

    In a cancer treatment breakthrough 20 years in the making, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center and Perelman School of Medicine have shown sustained remissions of up to a year among a small group of advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients treated with genetically engineered versions of their own T cells. Source: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine - Discipline: Cancer
    www.labspaces.net   ...Read On


    Globe and Mail
    Designer Immune Cells Made From Patients' Own Blood Spurs Cancer Remission
    Bloomberg
    June is testing the same technique in other cancers, targeting proteins in pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, and mesothelioma, he said. Other groups are testing in prostate cancer and brain cancer. The technique isn't yet commercial, June said.
    'Amazing' killer T-cells wipe out leukemia: US studyAFP
    Leukemia Breakthrough - Serial Killer T Cells Wipe Out Tumors In Small TrialMedical News Today
    Genetically modified 'serial killer' T cells obliterate tumors in leukemia EurekAlert (press release)
    Scientist
    all 494 news articles »
      ...Read On

    Three US cancer patients were brought back from the brink by a new therapy that turned their own immune cells into tumor killers, wiping out an advanced form of leukemia, researchers said Wednesday.
    www.physorg.com   ...Read On


    		   
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