Award Details:
Award Type: Catalyst
Award #: C-097
Proposal Title: Mininode: Injectable Reactor for Programmable Release of CAR T Cells to Solid Tumor
PI(s): Ying Liu (UIC) and Bin Zhang (NU)
Award Amount: $250,000.00
Application Cycle: Round 28 (Fall 2019)
Award Start Date: May 1, 2020
Award End Date: April 30, 2022
Abstract:
The proposed research is to evaluate immuno-responsive activities in mice with mesothelin-overexpressed tumors (such as ovarian cancer or mesothelioma) using an injectable device for on-target release of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T cell) together with cytokines and immune checkpoint antibodies. CAR T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of several hematologic cancers. CD19- and BCMA-based CAR T constructs have shown high and durable complete response rate and manageable side effects in patients who have failed all current therapies. However effective deployment of CAR T cell immunotherapy for solid tumors has proven challenging to date due to barriers varied by CAR T cell fate within tumors. We propose to use an intelligent device as a mininode (similar to a lymph node) for (1) enhancing CAR T cell trafficking to the tumor, (2) augmenting the functional persistence of CAR T cells by codelivery of cells together with cytokines and immune checkpoint antibodies, and (3) releasing the cells at the tumor site with a programmable schedule.