T-Cell Therapy

 

T-Cell Therapy

 Used for...

 T-cell therapies are a form of immunotherapy that use a patient's own T cells to target and eliminate cancer cells. T cells are a type of immune cell that can recognize and destroy cancer cells, but sometimes they are not able to do so effectively on their own. T cell therapies aim to enhance the ability of T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells. There are two main types of T cell therapies: chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy and T cell receptor (TCR) therapy. CAR T cell therapy involves genetically modifying a patient's T cells to express a CAR that targets a specific antigen in cancer cells. These modified T cells are then infused back into the patient, where they can recognize and destroy cancer cells expressing the targeted antigen. TCR therapy involves modifying T cells to express a TCR that targets a specific antigen in cancer cells. These modified T cells are then expanded and infused back into the patient.

T-Cell therapy

T-cell therapies have shown promising results in the treatment of certain types of cancer, including leukemia and lymphoma. However, they can also cause severe side effects, including cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Ongoing research is focused on optimizing these therapies to increase their efficacy and minimize their side effects, as well as expanding their use to other types of cancer.        

Source of T cell exhaustion?

 A recent discovery in the United States 

 A recent discovery in the United States has paved the way for the development of drugs that can potentially prevent T-cell therapies from losing their effectiveness over time. This breakthrough is expected to revolutionize the field of cancer treatment, as it would enable T cells to continue attacking cancer cells for longer periods without becoming exhausted. Such medications could help extend life and improve the quality of life for countless cancer patients worldwide.

Researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine have discovered that a specific group of proteins located in the nuclei of our cells, known as mSWI/SNF or BAF complexes, play a crucial role in activating T cells to fight against cancer as well as causing exhaustion. These findings provide a better understanding of the mechanisms behind T cell activation and exhaustion, which can lead to the development of more effective cancer treatments.

The advent of CAR T-cell therapies has ushered in a new era of cancer treatment, particularly for hematologic malignancies. While these therapies have shown great promise, they often suffer from a frustrating drawback inherited from the body's own immune system cells: exhaustion. Unfortunately, exhaustion isn't unique to T cells that fight cancer; it's also common during viral infections. Understanding the mechanisms behind exhaustion is crucial for improving the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapies and developing better treatments for various diseases.

According to a report published in Molecular Cell, researchers have found that targeting these complexes - mSWI/SNF or BAF complexes - through gene-cutting technologies like CRISPR or targeted drugs can potentially reduce exhaustion in T cells, including CAR T cells. By doing so, these cells can be empowered to better fight against cancer, providing new avenues for developing more effective cancer treatments.

Dr. Cigall Kadoch, from both Dana-Farber and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, explained that the issue with most engineered T cells, such as CAR T cells, is that they tend to exhaust quickly. Although they do get activated upon encountering infected or diseased cells, they stop multiplying and ultimately fail to fight off the disease. Dr. Kadoch and other researchers have been striving to understand why this happens and what factors contribute to T-cell exhaustion. By better understanding this process, they hope to develop more effective treatments for cancer and other diseases.

Numerous studies conducted over the years have indicated that exhaustion is not regulated by a single gene or a handful of genes. Instead, it is believed to be controlled by the combined activity of several genes that work together to generate an exhaustion "program" for the cell. Understanding this complex interplay of genes is essential for developing more effective treatments to combat T-cell exhaustion, which is a major obstacle in treating cancer and other diseases.

Years ago, researchers started looking at mSWI/SNF complexes as potential regulators of exhaustion programs. These complexes have the potential to act as master switches that could control exhaustion programs. To investigate their role further, the research team decided to study the patterns of these complexes over the entire course of T cell activation and exhaustion. They wanted to determine where these complexes are located on the genome of activated T cells and how their positions change as exhaustion sets in. This study could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms behind T-cell exhaustion and pave the way for the development of more effective treatments.

T-Cell

Dr. Kadoch described their research as the most extensive profiling ever conducted on the occupancy of mSWI/SNF complexes in T cells over time, in both human and mouse contexts. They discovered that these complexes move around in a state-specific manner, which raises important questions about their role in the process. Specifically, the researchers want to understand how these complexes know where to go in each state and what drives their movement. By uncovering the answers to these questions, they hope to develop new treatments for T-cell exhaustion and improve cancer therapies.

The research team found that the location of mSWI/SNF complexes was primarily influenced by specific transcription factors. These factors guided the complexes and directed them to specific sites on the genome with precision.

According to Dr. Kadoch, at each stage of T cell activation and exhaustion, a unique combination of transcription factors appeared to guide the complexes to particular locations on the DNA. This knowledge is crucial in understanding how mSWI/SNF complexes function and could pave the way for the development of targeted therapies that improve T cell function and combat T cell exhaustion in cancer and other diseases.

While the comprehensive profiling work on mSWI/SNF complexes was underway, a team at NYU Grossman School of Medicine was conducting a separate study. Their research involved systematically silencing genes in T cells to determine which ones slowed or stopped the process of exhaustion. This approach allowed them to identify key genes that regulate T cell exhaustion and may serve as targets for new therapies. The results of this study, when combined with the profiling work, could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying T-cell exhaustion and lead to the development of more effective treatments.

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The two research teams collaborated on a series of experiments, which showed that stifling genes responsible for specific components of mSWI/SNF complexes can prevent T cell exhaustion and even promote proliferation beyond the initial activation phase. According to co-senior author Iannis Aifantis, the team was able to reverse the exhaustion program using these gene inhibitors. The resulting cells had more memory-like and activated T-cell features. These findings are significant as they may offer new approaches for preventing and treating T cell exhaustion, leading to more effective cancer treatments in the future.>>> https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3730826819605595185/2243573599394412539

The timing of these findings is crucial as the first clinical trials for cancer are currently testing compounds that specifically target and inhibit the catalytic activity of mSWI/SNF complexes. These results suggest that these inhibitors could be promising candidates for preventing T cell exhaustion and improving CAR T cell therapies. It will be interesting to see how these trials progress and if they confirm the potential of targeting mSWI/SNF complexes in cancer treatment.

Dr. Cigall Kadoch expressed excitement about the findings, noting that they provide valuable insights into the diverse functions of mSWI/SNF complexes in human biology. Furthermore, the discovery presents a promising opportunity to enhance immunotherapeutic strategies for cancer and other illnesses by targeting these complexes. The results suggest a potential new avenue for improving treatment outcomes and advancing our understanding of these complex biological processes.

FAQ About T cell therapies

1. What are T-cell therapies?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            T-cell therapies are a form of immunotherapy that use a patient's own T cells to target and eliminate cancer cells.
2. How do T-cell therapies work?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                There are two main types of T cell therapies: chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy and T cell receptor (TCR) therapy. These therapies involve modifying a patient's T cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
3. What types of cancer can T-cell therapies treat?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          T-cell therapies have shown promising results in the treatment of certain types of cancer, including leukemia and lymphoma.
4. What are the potential side effects of T-cell therapies?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   T cell therapies can cause severe side effects, including cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity.
5. Are T-cell therapies widely available?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            T-cellT cell therapies are still considered experimental treatments and are not widely available. They are typically only offered at specialized cancer centers.
6. How effective are T-cell therapies?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The effectiveness of T-cell therapies can vary depending on the type of cancer being treated and other factors, but they have shown promising results in some patients.
7. Are there ongoing clinical trials for T-cell therapies?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Yes, many ongoing clinical trials are exploring the use of T cell therapies in different types of cancer and with various modifications to the T cells.
8. Can T-cell therapies be used in combination with other cancer treatments?                                                                                                                                                                                                Yes, T-cell therapies can be used in combination with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
9. How can I find out if T-cell therapy is right for me?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      If you or a loved one is interested in T-cell therapy, speak with a healthcare provider who specializes in cancer treatment to discuss if it could be a viable option.
10. What is T-Cell Therapy used for?

Have you heard of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy? It's a cutting-edge treatment that harnesses the power of our immune cells, called T cells, to fight cancer. This type of immunotherapy involves modifying T cells in a laboratory so they can effectively seek out and destroy cancer cells in the body. By altering these T cells to express a chimeric antigen receptor, they can specifically target cancer cells that express a particular antigen. This therapy has shown great promise in treating certain types of cancer, and researchers are continuing to explore its potential applications in other forms of the disease. So if you or a loved one is struggling with cancer, you may want to ask your healthcare provider about this innovative and potentially life-saving treatment option.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Read more Related articles>> https://zehratabu.com/index.php/2022/immune-system/