Disease Focus: Ovarian Cancer

Combating Ovarian Cancer Using Stem Cell-Engineered Off-The-Shelf CAR-iNKT Cells

Research Objective HSC-engineered allogeneic mesothelin-targeting CAR-iNKT (AlloMCAR-iNKT) cells Impact treatment of ovarian cancer Major Proposed Activities Milestone 1. Production of the AlloMCAR-iNKT cells Milestone 2. Characterization of the AlloMCAR-iNKT cells Milestone 3. Delivery of the new therapeutic candidate Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death among women with gynecological malignancies. In the USA, […]

Human iPSC-derived chimeric antigen receptor expressing macrophages for improved cancer treatment.

Research Objective These studies will produce a new CAR-targeted iPSC-derived macrophage-based cell therapy product for treatment of refractory malignancies such as ovarian cancer. Impact These studies eliminate a bottleneck in macrophage production and enable these cells to be engineered and manufactured in a standardized, off-the-shelf manner, rather than on a patient-specific basis. Major Proposed Activities […]

Human iPSC-derived chimeric antigen receptor-expressing macrophages for cancer treatment

Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Engineered Stem/Memory T Cells for the Treatment of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Research Objective We are developing a tumor-associated glycan-targeting CAR T cell with inducible cytokine production that drives T cell stem/memory phenotype and persistence for effective treatment of ovarian cancer. Impact 25% of ovarian cancer patients recur within 6 months. Targeting cancer stem cells with a persistent progenitor CAR T cell product offers a potent strategy […]

Targeted off-the-shelf immunotherapy to treat refractory cancers

Research Objective This project will use human pluripotent stem cells to produce a standardized, off-the-shelf immunotherapy using novel immune cells that are specifically targeted to cure otherwise lethal cancers. Impact Unlike current immunotherapies produced on a patient-specific basis, iPSC-derived immune cells are targeted to tumors with high specificity, no off-target effects and without need for […]

Targeting cancer stem cells with nanoparticle RNAi delivery to prevent recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer

Research Objective Our objective is to develop novel treatments for women with ovarian cancer, specifically treatments that target stem cells to reverse drug resistance. These will treat recurrent metastatic disease. Impact We aim to use nanoparticles to make ovarian cancer stem cells more drug sensitive, less invasive, and less likely to regrow tumors and metastasize. […]

Combating Ovarian Cancer with Stem Cell-Engineered Off-The-Shelf CAR-NKT Cell Therapy

Translational Candidate stem cell-based off-the-shelf CAR-NKT cells Area of Impact ovarian cancer (OC) Mechanism of Action The proposed cell therapy candidate, AlloMCAR-NKT cells, can directly kill OC tumor cells through CAR/NKR dual-targeting mechanisms, and can also modulate OC tumor microenvironment (TME) by depleting immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) via iNKT TCR-mediated […]

Neural Stem cell-mediated oncolytic immunotherapy for ovarian cancer

Translational Candidate A clinically tested tumor-tropic neural stem cell (NSC) platform for effective distribution of oncolytic virotherapy to ovarian cancer metastases Area of Impact This NSC-delivered virotherapy approach will lead to a more efficacious, less toxic treatment for metastatic ovarian cancer and chemoresistent cells. Mechanism of Action CRAd-S-pk7 is a tumor specific replication-competent adenovirus driven […]

Neural stem cell delivered CRAd-S-pk7 oncolytic viro-immunotherapy for ovarian cancer

Therapeutic Candidate or Device A clinically tested tumor-tropic neural stem cell (NSC) platform for effective distribution of oncolytic virotherapy to ovarian cancer metastases. Indication Chemo-resistant, metastatic ovarian cancer. Therapeutic Mechanism CRAd-S-pk7 is a tumor specific replication-competent adenovirus driven by survivin, which is highly expressed in ovarian cancer cells. We will use our tumor-tropic NSC platform […]