Previously, Chinese researchers used long-read RNA sequencing to identify a unique alternative splicing variant of CD44 transmembrane protein, named CD44E, which is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors compared to adjacent nontumoral liver tissues. In a new study, the team analyzed the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database and confirmed that CD44E expression is limited in essential normal organs, while CD44S standard isoform is broadly expressed on most cell types.

CAR T-cell therapy can be applied to treat some chronic infectious diseases, particularly to provide a functional cure for HIV-1 in people living with HIV. However, the effectiveness of CAR T cells for persistent suppression of HIV still faces many constraints, including the high mutation rate of reverse transcriptase, which enables the emergence of immune escape viral variants.

Overt Bio Inc. is advancing lead asset OVT-101 toward the clinic. The allogeneic, potential first-in-class, off-the-shelf γδ CAR T therapy targets claudin-6, which is present in the majority of ovarian cancers and several other solid tumors.

Researchers from the Sino-American Cancer Foundation and Taipei Medical University have developed a novel nanobody-based CAR T-cell platform directed against C-type lectin-like molecule-1 (CLL-1) for the possible treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

University of Pennsylvania researchers investigated death receptor 5 (DR5 or CD262) as a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) target for solid tumors.

CAR T cells have been groundbreaking for the treatment of B-cell cancers. But 8 years after Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel, Novartis AG) became the first CAR T-cell therapy to be approved, there are no CAR Ts approved for solid tumors.

To overcome the challenges of current CAR T-cell strategies and enhance their efficacy and specificity for acute myeloid leukemia, researchers at the Sino-American Cancer Foundation and collaborating institutions have developed a nanobody-based CAR T-cell platform directed against C-type lectin-like molecule-1 (CLL-1).

Researchers from Tr1x Inc. presented the development of TRX-319, a novel allogeneic regulatory T-cell therapy designed for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

Tempest Therapeutics Inc. has outlined plans to advance its newly acquired CAR T assets. While prioritizing development of its clinical-stage dual-targeting CD19/BCMA CAR-T program, TPST-2003 (ERI-2003), the company will also expand its portfolio into next-generation modalities.

Liver fibrosis in the course of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis could be significantly reduced using CAR T-cells generated in vivo. Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed an experimental cell therapy that eliminates only one type of liver cell, the stellate cells that express fibroblast activation protein alpha. This strategy not only reduced fibrosis but also reversed liver damage.