Membrane-Tethered SLP-76 Boosts CAR T Cell Efficacy Against Low-Antigen Tumors
Scientists have engineered a membrane-tethered version of the signaling molecule SLP-76 that significantly improves CAR T cell recognition of tumor cells with low antigen expression. The breakthrough addresses a major limitation in current CAR T therapies where cancer cells escape detection by downregulating target antigens. Early studies show the approach works across multiple CAR targets including CD19, CD22, and BCMA.
Breakthrough in Overcoming CAR T Cell Resistance
Researchers have developed a novel engineering approach that reportedly enables CAR T cells to recognize and eliminate tumor cells with low antigen expression, according to a recent study published in Nature Cancer. The method involves creating a membrane-tethered version of the signaling molecule SLP-76, which sources indicate could represent a significant advancement in addressing one of the major limitations of current CAR T cell therapies.