Determining CAR T cell effectiveness (SJ-19-0040)

St. Jude Reference #SJ-19-0040

Description

Researchers at St. Jude developed a gene expression signature to predict whether a patient’s T cells will result in a clinical response to CAR therapy, regardless of the type of CAR used or the specific disease targeted by the therapy. This prediction is derived from a panel of genes identified as targets of DNMT3A methylation in CAR T cells.  Tracking expression of a subset of these genes in stimulated CAR T cells provides an assay for the effectiveness of those cells before infusion into the patient.

Our researchers believe the gene expression signature may also be used to predict the effectiveness of CAR treatment before expenses associated with transduction are incurred, as the presence of the transduced CAR should not fundamentally change the underlying T cell functions. Such a diagnostic predicting success of CAR therapy has great value. In cases where it is determined CAR therapy is likely to fail, one could develop ways to boost the patient’s T cells or attempt CAR therapy using haploidentical T cells, which carries more risks.

Keywords

Gene expression signature, predict T cell clinical response to CAR, DNMT3A methylation, cell expansion

Granted patents or published applications

A patent application has been filed and additional information is available under confidentiality.

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