Optimizing NK Cell Therapy for Cancer
Abstract
Topic and Focus Areas: Our project is based upon the development of a new cancer treatment for colon cancer and blood cancers. This work fits the Topic Areas of colon cancer, blood cancers, and immunotherapy. The focus area of this work is developing new therapies to meet a major gap in treatment options for relapsed/refractory cancer patients. While these gaps are present in the general population, military members have particularly high incidences and poor outcomes with both blood cancers and colon cancer. Scientific Objective and Rationale: We have developed a new therapeutic strategy based upon a cellular immunotherapy that exhibits high potential for cancer. While harnessing of a specific type of blood cells called NK cells for cellular therapy against malignancies has been a topic of interest for several decades, our approach overcomes several major hurdles that have limited the field including: (1) A universal donor approach enabling a cost effective and widely accessible immunotherapy; (2) A novel robust NK cell expansion system to generate sufficient cell numbers; (3) Generation of highly active NK cells; and (4) Maintenance of activity and proliferation of NK cells in cancer patients. The basis for this platform is the development of a feeder cell line that can support the massive expansion and activation of NK cells. In this proposal we will perform a phase 1 clinical trial to test the safety of the combination of our universal donor NK cells in combination with a drug that will help to support the proliferation of the NK cells (termed ALT- 803). In addition, we will perform a wide range of studies on blood and tissue samples derived from the patients enrolled in the trial to help assess its potential and guide future trials. Finally, we will utilize the information from these studies as well as our previous work to develop an optimized NK cell product that is better able to survive and function after infusion into patients. It is hoped that this optimized NK cell product will be the focus of a new clinical study after the conclusion of the grant period. Ultimate Applicability of Research: The research project has the potential to lead to improved therapies for patients with a variety of cancers, including colon cancer and blood cancers. It is hoped that this work will benefit service members, Veterans, other military beneficiaries as well as the general population.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 10, 2021
- Source ID
- W81XWH2010438
Entities
People
- Donald Anthony
Organizations
- Case Western Reserve University
- United States Army