GMCSF.IL18 chimeric cytokine receptor for solid tumors (SJ-19-0028)

St. Jude Reference #SJ-19-0028

Description

Researchers at St. Jude created a chimeric switch receptor, GM18, to improve immunotherapy treatment of solid tumors. The novel receptor is activated by GM-CSF and then works through its IL-18 receptor portion to activate MyD88. That leads to production of a variety of molecules that sustain T cell growth and enhance T cell antitumor response. Tumor-specific chimeric T cells expressing with the novel receptor were more than 10-fold more effective than standard CAR-T cells in preclinical models of pediatric solid tumors.

In murine models for osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, tumors shrank and disappeared in more than 90% of cases at which standard CAR-T cells were ineffective. The new receptor also allowed CAR-T cells to function after repeated re-exposure to tumor cells, which had previously limited the effectiveness of the immunotherapy in treatment of solid tumors.

Work is underway to streamline production of CAR.GM18-T cells. Additional preclinical testing is also planned to assess the safety and effectiveness of GM18 in preclinical pediatric solid tumor models.

Keywords

Immunotherapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), cancer, solid tumor, brain tumor, T cells, IL18, GM-CSF.

Granted patents or published applications

Pending international application published as WO 2021/141986 

Related scientific references

https://cancerdiscovery.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2021/02/07/2159-8290.CD-20-0896

Article on the journal publication, above: https://www.stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2021-medicine-science-news/novel-car-t-cell-receptor-shows-early-promise-for-treatment-of-solid-tumors.html

Licensing opportunities

We are seeking partners to develop and commercialize this chimeric switch receptor for the adoptive immunotherapy with CAR T cells, abTCR T cells, gdT cells, NKT cells, NK cells, and/or macrophages. Contact: chad.riggs@stjude.org

Contact the Office of Technology Licensing (Phone: 901-595-2342, Fax: 901-595-3148) for more information.