Iranian Scientist Produces Engineered Cell as Solution for Cancer Treatment
Tahereh Soltan Touyeh, a Ph.D. student in Immunology at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, in this research entitled ‘evaluation of the effect of simultaneous reduction of the expression of A2aR adenosine receptor and Tim3 molecule on the activity of T cells, the creation of chimeric antigen receptors in in vitro and in vivo’ managed to produce engineered cells to increase the anti-tumor effect in cancer patients.
“This plan tried to increase the efficiency of the anti-mesothelin CART cells produced in the previous stages by simultaneously reducing the expression of two inhibitory receptors and to produce more efficient anti-mesothelin CAR T cells,” Soltan Touyeh said.
“This plan helps to increase the anti-tumor effects in cancers with high expression of mesothelin by producing more efficient engineered cells,” she added.
The engineered CAR T cells are made by collecting T cells from the patient and re-engineering them in the laboratory to produce proteins on their surface called chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs. The CARs recognize and bind to specific proteins, or antigens, on the surface of cancer cells.
After the revamped T cells are “expanded” into the millions in the laboratory, they’re then infused back into the patient. If all goes as planned, the CAR T cells will continue to multiply in the patient's body and, with guidance from their engineered receptor, recognize and kill any cancer cells that harbor the target antigen on their surfaces.
The CAR T-cell therapies approved by FDA to date target one of two antigens on B cells, CD19 or BCMA.
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