Disease Focus: Solid Tumors
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. […]
Human Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells: Developing a Novel Drug for Cancer Eradication
Research Objective We will use human pancreatic cancer (PC) stem cells to show 1 inhibits proliferation, self-renewal and cell viability. This paradigm is transformational for anti-cancer drug discovery for patients. Impact Pancreatic cancer (PC) kills >40,000/yr in the US. PC is a major unmet medical need. Use of PC stem cells in development of 1 […]
Identification of stem cell surface markers as potential therapeutic targets for advanced prostate cancer
Research Objective The goal of this proposal is to identify proteins found on the surface of both human prostate stem cells and cancer cells that could be used as potential targets for treating advanced prostate cancer. Impact There is no cure for advanced prostate cancer. This combined with the success of treating other cancers by […]
Purification of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) for Clinical Stem Cell Transplantation
Translational Candidate Two new monoclonal antibodies anti-CD34 and anti-CD90, and protocols to purify cancer-free and/or T cell free human HSC for clinical transplantation. Area of Impact The development of hematopoietic stem cell-based therapies, starting with rescue of metastatic breast cancer patients with their own cancer-free HSC Mechanism of Action The mechanism is using highly purified […]
A Rapid Clinical Digital Patient-derived Organoid to Guide Breast Cancer Treatment Decision
Translational Candidate The digital patient organoid (DPO) assay is a microfluidic miniature organoid technology that allows high-throughput drug testing. Area of Impact Our functional DPO assay will guide personalized therapy in patients with MBC and fulfill a gap of huge unmet need Mechanism of Action DPO is a microfluidic miniature organoid technology that enables breast […]
Targeting pancreatic cancer with Allogeneic Off-the-Shelf PSCA-CAR NK cells
Translational Candidate PSCA-CAR_sIL15 NK cells derived from CD34(+) umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells Area of Impact patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer or other cancers that also highly express PSCA Mechanism of Action PSCA-CAR_sIL15 NK cells are umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ HSCs that are engineered to target PSCA and express soluble IL-15, and then are […]
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 […]
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 […]
Novel T cell receptor-STEM T cell immunotherapy in lung cancer
Translational Candidate HLA-A*02 restricted CT83 antigen-specific T cell receptor-engineered T cell cells (CT83TCR-STEM T cells for short). Area of Impact Metastatic lung cancer patients who fail to respond to immune checkpoint therapy or prior treatment Mechanism of Action Despite the impressive clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, the majority of lung cancer patients fail to […]
Specific Targeting Hypoxia Metastatic Breast Tumor with Allogeneic Off-the-Shelf Anti-EGFR CAR NK Cells Expressing an ODD domain of HIF-1α
Translational Candidate EGFR-CAR_sIL15 NK cells derived from CD34(+) umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells Area of Impact patients with metastatic breast cancer, especially HER2-low breast cancer Mechanism of Action EGFR-CAR_sIL15 NK cells are umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+ HSCs that are engineered to target EGFR and express soluble IL-15, and then are differentiated into NK cells. […]