Assessment of CAR specific cytotoxicity of CAR NK cells with CAR T cells

Assessment of CAR specific cytotoxicity of CAR NK cells with CAR T cells

Te Arawa - Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Raukawa - Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Toa - Ngāti Kimihia

University of Otago | Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka

Māori Cancer Researcher Awards- PhD Scholarship

T cells are part of the immune system that can recognise and destroy infected cells. Our immune system can be reprogrammed to destroy cancer cells. One of the ways in which this can be done is to use a modify the T cell to a CAR T cell, which can detect and kill cancer cells. However, current CAR T cell therapies for blood cancers can fail when cancer cells avoid detection by the T cells or block T cell activity. Natural killer (NK) cells, another cell type from the immune system, also have powerful cancer-killing abilities and are safer for use in cancer patients. NK cells can guide and support T cells while reducing factors that shut down immune responses. By combining CAR T cells with CAR-modified NK cells, we aim to harness their complementary strengths.

We will create CAR T cells and CAR NK cells that will target blood cancer cells. Following this, the effectiveness of killing cancer cells will be measured in both cell and animal models. This could lead to a more robust, longer lasting immunotherapy for blood cancer with fewer relapses and side effects.