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Universal, off\u2011the\u2011shelf CAR\u2011T cell therapies using gene\u2011edited donor T cells are beginning to overcome key barriers of cost, delay and access in cell\u2011based cancer treatment.<\/p>\n
Valueinvestor on Freepik<\/p>\n
One of the most dramatic improvements in cancer therapy over the past several years has been the adoption of cell-based therapies. Many of these involve CAR T therapies\u2014treatments in which immune system cells are modified to attack cancer cells. To date, the great majority of these therapies have used the patient\u2019s own immune cells: the cells are extracted, modified, expanded and then reinfused. <\/p>\n
The good news is that some of these therapies have had remarkable results. Nonetheless, there are significant barriers to their widespread adoption. These include variability in patients\u2019 cells, the time required for extraction, modification, expansion, reinfusion and patient preparation. This results in substantial delays between diagnosis and effective treatment, as well as extremely high costs that can run into several hundred thousand dollars per patient.<\/p>\n
A major effort to overcome these difficulties is the development of universal donors: modified immune cells, particularly T cells, that can be used for almost all patients. These so\u2011called allogeneic cells\u2014from \u201callo,\u201d meaning \u201cother\u201d\u2014offer the prospect of off\u2011the\u2011shelf cell therapies that could be delivered more quickly and at lower overall cost. As described in CAR T: A New Cure for Cancer, Autoimmune and Inherited Disease<\/a>, universal CAR-T cell therapy could transform cancer treatment by making it faster, more affordable and accessible to many more patients.<\/p>\n A recent report<\/a> provides one of the first clear indications that such allogeneic therapies may be possible in practice, and marks an important next step in overcoming the barriers to cell\u2011based cancer therapy.<\/p>\n What Is CAR-T Therapy<\/p>\n CAR-T therapy<\/a> is a form of cell-based immunotherapy. It uses genetically modified immune cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells. Traditionally, the treatments rely on a patient\u2019s own cells, which are collected, modified in the lab to target cancer, and then infused back into the patient. Making a unique treatment for each patient creates manufacturing challenges, high costs, and long wait times.<\/p>\n Many patients cannot wait or do not have healthy enough cells for this approach. Also, strong immunosuppressants are required before treatment, which increases the risk, cost and side effects. This step also increases the likelihood of infection and hospitalization. These challenges have led to the search for alternative approaches.<\/p>\n Two main strategies<\/a> address these barriers. One approach uses gene therapy to deliver cancer-targeting instructions directly to a patient\u2019s immune cells<\/a>, potentially enabling treatment with a single injection, though further work is needed to improve safety and targeting. The other develops universal cell therapies from healthy donors. These donor cells are modified and stored in large quantities, enabling faster, more affordable care for many patients. The primary challenge is preventing donor cells from attacking the patient or being eliminated by the patient\u2019s immune system.<\/p>\n Universal Cell Therapies Mean More Accessible Cancer Treatments<\/p>\n