Disease Focus: Lung Cancer


A phase I trial of intratumoral administration of CCL21-gene modified dendritic cell (DC) combined with intravenous pembrolizumab for advanced NSCLC

The five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with the most advanced stage of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is between one and 10 percent. To address this devastating condition, UCLA researchers are genetically modifying a patient’s own dendritic cells – key cells of the immune system – to boost their ability to stimulate native T cells – a type […]

Novel Rejuvenated T Cell Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer

Research Objective Through this project, we would like to evaluate how this T-iPSC-based immunotherapy that we have developed can eliminate lung cancer cells effectively in vivo using xenografted SCID mice. Impact This novel T-iPSC-based immunotherapy will provide another effective treatment for lung cancer and possible other malignancies by supplying unlimited number of young and active […]

Novel T cell receptor-STEM T cell immunotherapy in lung cancer

Translational Candidate HLA-A*02 restricted CT83 antigen-specific T cell receptor-engineered T cell cells (CT83TCR-STEM T cells for short). Area of Impact Metastatic lung cancer patients who fail to respond to immune checkpoint therapy or prior treatment Mechanism of Action Despite the impressive clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, the majority of lung cancer patients fail to […]

A phase I trial of intratumoral administration of CCL21-gene modified dendritic cell (DC) combined with intravenous pembrolizumab for advanced NSCLC

Therapeutic Candidate or Device Combination therapy with adenoviral CCL21 gene-modified DC and pembrolizumab Indication Patients with confirmed and measurable stage IV NSCLC expressing PD-L1 in less than 50% of cells who are naïve to systemic treatment for NSCLC. Therapeutic Mechanism The central rationale this approach is to utilize in situ vaccination with intratumoral injection of […]

Stem Cells in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most deadly cancer worldwide and accounts for more deaths than prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer combined. Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. The current 5-year survival rate for all stages of NSCLC is only 15%. Although early stage lung cancer has […]

CURED: Stem Cell Clinical Trial Stories

Clinical trials are risky and rely on brave pioneers who are willing to put their bodies on the line to test something never before tried in people. At its December 2016 meeting, the governing Board of California’s Stem Cell Agency (CIRM) met four courageous heroes who have participated in CIRM-funded clinical trials and in two […]