Projektbeschreibung
Gentechnisch veränderte natürliche Killerzellen gegen Krebs
Tumore haben im Laufe der Zeit Mechanismen entwickelt, um den Antworten des Immunsystems, wie der T-Zell-Erschöpfung, auszuweichen. Im Bemühen um einen Lösungsansatz haben Forschende immuntherapeutische Strategien erarbeitet, um das Immunsystem gegen Krebs zu wecken bzw. neu zu schulen. Natürliche Killerzellen (NK-Zellen) mit chimärem Antigenrezeptor (CAR) werden dabei gentechnisch so verändert, dass sie ein spezifisches Zielantigen erkennen können. Doch trotz ihres vielversprechenden Potenzials sind CAR-NK-Zellen in der Produktion noch sehr aufwendig und kostenintensiv. Das vom Europäischen Forschungsrat finanzierte Projekt CHEMCELL plant, diese Hürde mit einem innovativen Markierungs- und Gentechnik-Ansatz zu überwinden. Die Forschenden werden Antikörper-modifizierte NK-Zellen produzieren und gegen konventionelle CAR-NK-Zellen auf ihre antikarzinogene Wirksamkeit testen.
Ziel
Our immune system evolved to protect our bodies from different invaders and to fight against infections and diseases. Immune cells use sophisticated ways to detect and destroy abnormal cells, while sparing our own cells. Unluckily, cancer cells often develop sneaky tricks enabling them to evade this protecting machinery and to survive and proliferate. Immunotherapy, an emerging concept of treatment, aims to employ the power of immune system to fight cancer by boosting or reeducation of immune cells. One of the approaches, the adoptive cell transfer therapy, especially in the form of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cells, has shown an unprecedented success in the treatment of certain types of cancer. CAR cells are genetically modified immune cells engineered to recognize and kill cells with specific cancer antigen. Unfortunately, production of genetically modified CARs is problematic, inefficient, time consuming and therefore, associated with high costs. New approaches enabling production of modified immune cells more effectively, faster and cheaper could therefore change the way the therapy is used. Within this proposal, we will explore the potential of an innovative approach for production of chemically engineered immune cells and their application in immunotherapy. In particular, we will employ our technology based on combination of metabolic engineering and subsequent biocompatible chemical labeling to produce an antibody modified natural killer (NK) cells that we will investigate in cancer killing experiments. We will perform a side-by-side comparison of our technology with the ‘traditional’ CAR-NK cells both, in vitro and in vivo, to evaluate the pros and cons of both approaches. Finally, in collaboration with our Tech Transfer Office, we will present the technology to potential stakeholders to bring it to the next step in the form of patent licensing or eventually, develop the technology further within spin-out company.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
Programm/Programme
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Thema/Themen
Finanzierungsplan
HORIZON-AG-LS - HORIZON Lump Sum GrantGastgebende Einrichtung
16610 Praha 6
Tschechien