Technology Description
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a genetic method to produce chimeric antigen receptor dendritic cells (CAR-DCs) for the treatment of solid tumors. The team generated a CAR that drives differentiation of cDC1s and mediates tumor-specific uptake by the DCs, leading to cross-presentation of tumor antigens and initiation of a systemic anti-tumor immune response.
While CAR-T cells and CAR-macrophages are effective at directly destroying tumor cells, CAR-DCs are able to cross-present antigen and prime T-cells to respond against new antigens. The cDC1 subset is particularly effective at initiating de novo T-cell responses, potentially overcoming the problem of antigen escape seen in other CAR therapies.
