New Generation CAR T-Cells For Cancer Therapy

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Scientists at the University of Toronto have developed a new generation of CAR T-cells that multiply and remain active for longer periods, showing greater effectiveness against human-derived tumors in immune-deficient mice. The novel method, published in *Nature Medicine*, aims to improve the targeted cancer therapy approved in 2017 for certain leukemias and lymphomas. The researchers hope this technique will enhance therapeutic benefits and minimize side effects for patients.

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**Meta Title:** New Generation CAR T-Cells Show Promise for More Effective Cancer Therapy | U of T Study

**Meta Description:** University of Toronto scientists have developed a novel method for producing next-generation CAR T-cells that multiply longer and fight tumors more effectively in preclinical models, aiming to improve targeted cancer therapy outcomes.

With CAR T-cell therapy one of the promising technologies emerging in targeted cancer treatment, University of Toronto scientists have taken a step forward in improving the potential effectiveness of this therapeutic approach. In a paper published this week in Nature Medicine, U of T immunology professor Naoto Hirano – working with colleagues at University Health Network UHN and Takara Bio in Japan – outlines a novel method for production of these “living drugs”. The team’s new generation CAR T-cells multiply and remain viable as living cells over a longer period, and show greater effectiveness in fighting specific tumours in immune-deficient mice with human-derived cancer. “We are hopeful that this technique can move forward with further study to improve the beneficial effects of CAR T-cell therapy for patients,” said Prof. Hirano, a hematologist and oncologist, who is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Immunology at U of T, and Senior Scientist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, UHN. “The benefits of this targeted cancer therapy are very promising, if we can refine our laboratory constructs to optimize their therapeutic effect and minimize any unexpected consequences.” CAR T-cell therapy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2017 for the treatment of certain leukemias and lymphomas. The approach involves taking T cells a type of immune cell from a patient’s blood and changing them in the laboratory to target that patient’s specific cancer cells. The lab adds a gene for a special receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor CAR into the T cells, then grows millions of those CAR T cells, which are then given to the patient by infusion. While the treatment is very effective in killing specific cancer cells, some patients have experienced serious side effects, such as very high fevers and dangerously low blood pressure, especially as the CAR T-cells multiply in the body in the days after treatment. That’s why scientists are continuing to refine this powerful anti-tumour approach. Prof. Hirano’s new-generation CAR design can be used in any CAR T-cell, independent of the specific tumour it targets. UHN has filed a patent application related to this study on which Prof. Hirano is the lead inventor. Funding for this research was provided by a number of sources, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, BioCanRX Catalyst Program, the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and others. The study was partly sponsored by Takara Bio, Inc. Optimize this page for search engines by customizing the Meta Title and Meta Description fields. Use the Google Search Result Preview Tool to test different content ideas. Select a Meta Image to tell a social media platform what image to use when sharing. If blank, different social platforms like LinkedIn will randomly select an image on the page to appear on shared posts. Posts with images generally perform better on social media so it is worth selecting an engaging image. Linda Quattrin