In the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, ACGT Young Investigators Meenakshi Hegde, MD and Nabil Ahmed, MD, MPH, MSC reported progress targeting specific surface molecules to destroy glioblastoma, one of the most deadly brain cancers. Both investigators in pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, their team is studying differing cell populations in solid tumors in order to target treatment directly to cancer cells. In laboratory research, most cancer cells in a mouse model were eliminated and the study confirmed that aiming at only one type of surface molecule on a tumor kills only the cells of the antigen that inhibits treatment. A broader approach must be found.
Drs. Hegde and Ahmed created a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that targeted the 2 identified antigens called TanCAR-T cells. The authors wrote in the study that “TanCAR-T cells mitigated antigen escape, displayed enhanced antitumor efficacy, and improved animal survival,” thus giving oncologists better control over brain tumors.
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