Disease Focus: Brain Cancer
Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to reverse radiation-induced brain injury
Research Objective These preclinical studies will discover the efficacy of stem cell-derived, nanoscale, extracellular vesicles (candidate) to treat adverse effects of cancer therapy on brain function and cognition. Impact Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles will address the confounders of stem cells (tumors, immunorejection, immunosuppression) & mitigate debilitating side-effects of cancer therapy on the brain. Major Proposed […]
Non-viral reprogramming of the endogenous TCRα locus to direct stem memory T cells against shared neoantigens in malignant gliomas
Research Objective We will develop a non-viral gene editing technology to replace the endogenous TCRα locus of stem memory T cells with transgene TCRs that are specific to brain cancer neoantigens. Impact Gliomas are lethal tumors often affecting children and young adults. Therapy using Tscm directed to attack truncal neoantigens in these tumors may provide […]
Development of an AAV gene therapy immunotherapy for the treatment of glioblastoma
Translational Candidate SRN-101, an experimental AAV gene therapy for treating glioblastoma Area of Impact Cancer – solid tumors Mechanism of Action Following delivery with an AAV, engineered cytokines are expressed from within the tumor to kill the tumor from the inside out, they are then further secreted to stimulate local immune cells to kill remaining […]
Development of novel synNotch CART cell therapy in patients with recurrent EGFRvIII+ glioblastoma
Translational Candidate Human T cells transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding anti-EGFRvIII synNotch-primed anti-EphA2/IL-13Rα2 chimeric antigen receptor. Area of Impact Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor, affecting approximately 3 out of 100,000 people/year in the USA with extremely poor prognosis. Mechanism of Action In our proposed system, the first antigen EGFRvIII, which is […]
Development of novel synNotch CART cell therapy in patients with recurrent EGFRvIII+ glioblastoma
Translational Candidate Human T cells transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding anti-EGFRvIII synNotch-primed anti-EphA2/IL-13Rα2 chimeric antigen receptor. Area of Impact Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor, affecting approximately 3 out of 100,000 people/year in the USA with extremely poor prognosis. Mechanism of Action In our proposed system, the first antigen EGFRvIII, which is […]
2nd Generation Vaccine for the Treatment of Glioblastoma
Translational Candidate It is the peptide LEEKKYNYVVVTDHC conjugated to KLH and used as an anti-cancer vaccine. Area of Impact This is a better optimized, more robust vaccine that aspires to greatly improve glioblastoma patient survival over the current vaccine. Mechanism of Action The vaccine stimulates B cell and T cells. We have found this may […]
Phase 1 Study of Autologous E-SYNC T Cells in Adult Participants with EGFRvIII+ Glioblastoma
Therapeutic Candidate or Device Human T cells transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding anti-EGFRvIII synNotch-primed anti-EphA2/IL-13Rα2 chimeric antigen receptor. Indication Patients with MGMT unmethylated newly diagnosed GBM (Cohort 1), and patients for whom re-resection of recurrent GBM (Cohort 2). Therapeutic Mechanism In our proposed system, the first antigen EGFRvIII, which is expressed exclusively but heterogeneously […]
A Phase I/IIa Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Toca 511/Toca FC with Standard of Care Therapy in Newly Diagnosed High Grade Glioma
Therapeutic Candidate or Device DB107 (Toca 511), a retroviral replicating vector expressing yeast cytosine deaminase, which converts an antifungal prodrug to an anticancer drug Indication Newly diagnosed high-grade glioma Therapeutic Mechanism Retroviral replicating vector DB107 (Toca 511) spreads through tumors and delivers yeast cytosine deaminase (CD), which converts the antifungal prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to the […]
Phase I Trial of Locoregionally Delivered Autologous B7-H3 CAR T Cells (B7-H3CART) in Adults with Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme
Therapeutic Candidate or Device Autologous T cells genetically engineered to express a Chimeric Antigen Receptor targeting B7-H3 (B7-H3CART) Indication Brain tumors in adults: Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Therapeutic Mechanism Progenitor B7-H3CART cells will recognize GBM cancer cells expressing B7-H3, become activated, divide, and kill the cancer cells Unmet Medical Need Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most […]
A Phase I Study of Multiple doses of NSC-Based Oncolytic Virotherapy Administered Intracerebrally to Patients with Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas
Therapeutic Candidate or Device Neural stem cells that are genetically engineered to express a cancer-killing virus that specifically targets brain tumor cells Indication Recurrent brain tumors in adults: high grade gliomas (HGG), such as glioblastoma (GBM) Therapeutic Mechanism The neural stem cells will act as carriers to deliver a cancer-killing virus to brain tumors (at […]