Pioneering a new era in disease treatment
The development of CAR T cell therapy marked a pivotal moment in medical history, changing the way doctors approach treating cancer. The success of CAR T cell therapy in blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma has paved the way for researchers to explore its potential in treating solid tumors and non-cancerous conditions such as autoimmune diseases. By targeting specific harmful cells, CAR T cell therapy could revolutionize treatments for diseases such as lupus, where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. As research progresses, CAR T cell therapy and other immunotherapies have the potential to transform how we treat all diseases, offering hope to millions of patients worldwide.
The next generation of CAR T therapy at Penn Medicine
Penn Medicine has a history of pioneering new treatments, including the first FDA-approved CAR T cell therapy for cancer. Today, we are continuing our efforts to advance cancer care through research. Our team of dedicated researchers is leading multiple clinical trials to improve immunotherapies and introduce new approaches for various types of cancer, including rare conditions like medullary thyroid cancer. Our third-generation clinical trials are enhancing the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy against lymphomas and leukemias. As a result of our efforts, our patients are often the first to receive access to more effective and personalized treatments, leading to better outcomes.
Solid tumors are responsible for 90 percent of all adult cancers, and they are notoriously difficult to treat. To tackle this issue, we’ve expanded our research efforts to focus on solid tumors with CAR T cell therapy clinical trials that are specifically targeting glioblastoma, one of the deadliest types of brain cancer. Glioblastoma tumors are composed of diverse cell types with different genetic and molecular characteristics, making it challenging to effectively target the cancerous cells. Previous CAR T therapies have only targeted one protein or antigen in cancer cells. However, our researchers are using CAR T cell technology to simultaneously target two different antigens on the surface of glioblastoma tumor cells, providing new hope to patients who are living with this disease.
We’re also taking innovative approaches to treat solid tumors in breast cancer. Recognizing the potential of targeting the surface protein mesothelin in triple negative breast cancer tumors, Penn Medicine researchers created a unique solution. We’ve developed a gel infused with CAR T cells that can be delicately applied to the surgical site to target any residual cancer cells once the tumor has been removed. In preclinical studies, this approach showed outstanding effectiveness in eliminating cancer without compromising normal tissue healing. Our researchers are now leading a clinical trial targeting patients with locally advanced or metastatic triple negative breast cancer. Rather than applying the gel, they’re administering CAR T cells directly into tumors and monitoring any changes through detailed biopsy comparisons. The success of this new treatment would be a breakthrough for breast cancer patients and the use of immunotherapy in solid tumors.
Our commitment to advancing CAR T therapy extends to many medical conditions, including lupus nephritis and disorders that involve inflammation of the bones, joints, muscles or internal organs. We’re leveraging the versatility of CD19-directed CAR T therapy to treat these conditions. Penn Medicine researchers have developed an innovative technique that combines CAR T cell and mRNA technology to address cardiac damage. By reprogramming T cells with mRNA, our researchers have enabled them to target and treat heart fibroblast cells that are associated with heart failure. In early trials, the reprogrammed T cells effectively reduced cardiac fibroblasts in experiments conducted in mouse models of heart failure, which led to a significant reversal of fibrosis. This innovative approach holds great promise for developing new therapies to address heart failure and improve cardiac function.
Learn how you can be part of groundbreaking CAR T cell therapy clinical trials.
Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.