CAR Therapy for T Cell Malignancies
Lead Participant:
AUTOLUS LIMITED
Abstract
T-cells are immune cells in our bodies whose function is to "seek and destroy" cells which are infected by
viruses. Since T-cells actively move around our bodies looking for infected cells, medical science has long tried
to make these T-cells attack cancer cells. Because cancer cells usually come from normal cells in our bodies
without virus infections, T-cells don't normally attack them. By taking T-cells from a blood sample and "re-
programming" them using genetic engineering, medical science has found a way of using T-cells to attack
cancer. These engineered T-cells are called "CAR T-cells" and they can be given back to the patient as a drip.
Once back in the patient, they "seek and destroy" cancer cells as if they were virus-infected cells. CAR T-cells
seem to be a very effective new form of cancer treatment. Cancers can come from any cells in our bodies. Even
T-cells can become cancer cells and some of these cancers are called T-cell lymphomas. This project deals with
the particular problem of CAR T-cells attacking T-cell lymphomas. Scientists working on this project have found
a way of making CAR T-cells that attack the cancerous T-cells but leave plenty of normal healthy T-cells alone.
viruses. Since T-cells actively move around our bodies looking for infected cells, medical science has long tried
to make these T-cells attack cancer cells. Because cancer cells usually come from normal cells in our bodies
without virus infections, T-cells don't normally attack them. By taking T-cells from a blood sample and "re-
programming" them using genetic engineering, medical science has found a way of using T-cells to attack
cancer. These engineered T-cells are called "CAR T-cells" and they can be given back to the patient as a drip.
Once back in the patient, they "seek and destroy" cancer cells as if they were virus-infected cells. CAR T-cells
seem to be a very effective new form of cancer treatment. Cancers can come from any cells in our bodies. Even
T-cells can become cancer cells and some of these cancers are called T-cell lymphomas. This project deals with
the particular problem of CAR T-cells attacking T-cell lymphomas. Scientists working on this project have found
a way of making CAR T-cells that attack the cancerous T-cells but leave plenty of normal healthy T-cells alone.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
---|---|---|
AUTOLUS LIMITED | £1,644,759 | £ 1,151,331 |
  | ||
Participant |
||
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON | ||
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON | £530,780 | £ 530,780 |
THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
People |
ORCID iD |