UCLA researchers have developed a new “off-the-shelf” cell therapy that shows promise for treating renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common type of kidney cancer. The therapy uses stem cell–derived, allogeneic CD70-directed CAR-engineered natural killer T (AlloCAR70-NKT) cells. Unlike conventional CAR-T therapies, which must be customized for each patient, this approach can be ready for use without patient-specific engineering.
In preclinical studies with RCC cell lines and mouse models, AlloCAR70-NKT cells mounted a multi-pronged attack:
- Directly killing tumor cells via both their CAR and NKT receptors, even in tumors with low CD70 expression.
- Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment by disrupting immune-suppressive cells that normally protect the tumor.
- Eliminating CD70-positive host T cells that would reject donor cells, allowing the therapy to persist longer.
The therapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile, avoiding long-term risks like graft-versus-host disease. Researchers say this strategy could overcome key challenges of solid tumor immunotherapy, including poor durability, tumor penetration, and immune suppression.
Given that up to 40% of RCC patients develop metastatic disease and survival rates remain low despite existing targeted and immunotherapies, AlloCAR70-NKT cells may represent a safer, more accessible, and more effective option for patients with limited treatment choices.
Credit: GEN