Disease Focus: Cancer
Development of novel synNotch CART cell therapy in patients with recurrent EGFRvIII+ glioblastoma
Translational Candidate Human T cells transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding anti-EGFRvIII synNotch-primed anti-EphA2/IL-13Rα2 chimeric antigen receptor. Area of Impact Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor, affecting approximately 3 out of 100,000 people/year in the USA with extremely poor prognosis. Mechanism of Action In our proposed system, the first antigen EGFRvIII, which is […]
BCMA/CS1 Bispecific CAR-T Cell Therapy to Prevent Antigen Escape in Multiple Myeloma
Translational Candidate A single-chain bispecific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting BCMA and CS1 will be used to in autologous T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma. Area of Impact Translational candidate will enable treatment of patients with heterogeneous or BCMA– multiple myeloma and prevent cancer relapse due to antigen loss. Mechanism of Action BCMA and CS1 are […]
Neural Stem cell-mediated oncolytic immunotherapy for ovarian cancer
Translational Candidate A clinically tested tumor-tropic neural stem cell (NSC) platform for effective distribution of oncolytic virotherapy to ovarian cancer metastases Area of Impact This NSC-delivered virotherapy approach will lead to a more efficacious, less toxic treatment for metastatic ovarian cancer and chemoresistent cells. Mechanism of Action CRAd-S-pk7 is a tumor specific replication-competent adenovirus driven […]
Developing engineered autologous leukemia vaccines to target residual leukemic stem cells
Translational Candidate A universally applicable, patient-specific leukemia vaccine engineered to express a novel immune stimulatory combination for post-remission therapy Area of Impact There is a critical and unmet need for new and safe treatment for older acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients whose current prognosis is poor Mechanism of Action In older patients with AML, treatment […]
Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Natural Killer Cells for Cancer Treatment
Translational Candidate Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived natural killer (NK) cells to target relapsed/refractory Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Area of Impact hESC-derived NK cells provide a novel and potent approach to treat relapsed or refractory AML that is resistant to current chemotherapy options. Mechanism of Action hESC-derived NK cells provide a standardized, homogeneous, off-the-shelf cellular […]
A Splicing Modulator Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Translational Candidate 17S-FD-895 is a potent small molecule splicing modulator that inhibits aberrant splicing in CSCs that have deregulated SF3B1 expression. Area of Impact Development of 17S-FD-895 could address a major bottleneck to reducing AML mortality by targeting splicing deregulated-CSCs that fuel AML relapse. Mechanism of Action 17S-FD-895 will positively impact patients with AML by […]
Development of ROR1 CAR-T cells to target cancer stem cells in advanced malignancies
Translational Candidate Autologous ROR1 CAR-T cell transduced with a lentiviral vector containing scFv (cirmtuzumab) with CD28, CD137, CD3zeta signaling domains Area of Impact ROR1 expressing cancer stem cells in solid tumors and hematologic tumors Mechanism of Action ROR1 CAR is a 3rd generation chimeric construct with an internal endodomain that transmits a CD3 zeta signal […]
Placental Derived Natural Killer Cells to Target Solid Tumor Cancer Stem Cells (CSC)
Translational Candidate Placental-derived stem cells becoming a unique NK-like cell Area of Impact solid tissue cancers Mechanism of Action These expanded cells share many characteristics as NK cells but appear to represent a unique stage in differentiation and a cell-type with advantageous properties. These cells have been demonstrated to persist for much longer periods of […]
Stem Cell-Based iNKT Cell Therapy for Cancer
Translational Candidate Lenti/iNKT-sr39TK Modified Autologous Human CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) Area of Impact The targeted area of impact for the candidate is cancer therapy, in particular cancers that are lacking existing effective treatments. Mechanism of Action The proposed candidate will generate therapeutic levels of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in cancer patients, helping […]
2nd Generation Vaccine for the Treatment of Glioblastoma
Translational Candidate It is the peptide LEEKKYNYVVVTDHC conjugated to KLH and used as an anti-cancer vaccine. Area of Impact This is a better optimized, more robust vaccine that aspires to greatly improve glioblastoma patient survival over the current vaccine. Mechanism of Action The vaccine stimulates B cell and T cells. We have found this may […]