Method for selecting and modifying CD7 Cells (SJ-20-0012)

St. Jude Reference #SJ-20-0012

Description

CD7 has emerged as a promising target for the adoptive immunotherapy with T-cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR T-cells) of CD7+ T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, expressing CD7 CARs in T-cells results in fratricide.

Researchers at St. Jude explored the feasibility of selecting and genetically modifying naturally occurring CD7 negative (CD7-) T cells for the adoptive immunotherapy of CD7+ leukemia, and developed a method to select naturally occurring CD7 negative cells and genetically modify them to express CARs, including but not limited to CD7 CARs, which will be useful in cell therapy for surface antigen + cancer (pediatrics and adult cancers).

This process builds on selecting a naturally occurring population of CD7 negative cells and subsequently genetically modifying these cells to express CARs. They have shown that CD7 negative T cells expressing CD7 CAR or CD19 CAR constructs are predominantly CD4+ effector memory phenotype, and potent anti-leukemia activity in vitro and in vivo.

Keywords

Chimeric Antigen Receptor, CAR, adoptive immunotherapy, gene therapy, cell therapy, CD7, T-cells, lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), CD4+ effector memory phenotype, cancer

Granted patents or published applications

International application published as WO 2021/118873 A1 Jun 17, 2021

Related scientific references

Oral presentation Dec. 2019 at the ASH Annual Meeting

Upcoming oral presentation at ASGCT Annual Meeting, May 2022

Pending print publication

Licensing opportunities

We are seeking partners to develop methods to select naturally occurring CD7 negative cells and genetically modify them to express CARs, including but not limited to CD7 CARs, which will be useful in cell therapy for surface antigen + cancer (pediatrics and adult cancers).             

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