9.18
Immunotherapy
Engineering CAR T cells to activate a bodily response to solid tumors
Engineering CAR T cells to activate a bodily response to solid tumors
A new Penn study shows that CAR T cells expressing RN7SL1, a naturally occurring RNA, can activate the body’s natural immune cells against difficult-to-treat cancers.
Clarifying T cell ‘exhaustion’
Clarifying T cell ‘exhaustion’
T cells, which are among the most powerful weapons in the immune systems of humans and other vertebrates, remain substantially programmed to stay exhausted even many weeks after exposure to a virus ended.
New cell therapy shows potential against solid tumors with KRAS mutations
New cell therapy shows potential against solid tumors with KRAS mutations
The new technology for cellular immunotherapy shows promising anti-tumor activity in the lab against hard-to-treat cancers driven the KRAS mutation.
Low on antibodies, blood cancer patients can fight off COVID-19 with T cells
Low on antibodies, blood cancer patients can fight off COVID-19 with T cells
T cells can step up to do the job when antibodies are depleted, suggests a new Penn Medicine study of blood cancer patients with COVID-19.
Cancer cell therapy pioneer Carl June receives the Sanford Lorraine Cross Award
Cancer cell therapy pioneer Carl June receives the Sanford Lorraine Cross Award
The Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in the department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine and director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center received the award for his work in developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy.
Immune response in some children may influence COVID treatments for adults
Immune response in some children may influence COVID treatments for adults
A joint study from researchers at Penn and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shows that T cell activation in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome is more similar to adults with severe COVID-19.
Microbial transplants require key T cells for success
Microbial transplants require key T cells for success
Findings that certain immune cells are needed for fecal microbiota transplant success against C. difficile infections may be a clue to making this promising treatment work more broadly.
Five years later: CAR T therapy shows long-lasting remissions in non-Hodgkin lymphomas
Five years later: CAR T therapy shows long-lasting remissions in non-Hodgkin lymphomas
Findings represent the longest follow-up data to date for a personalized cellular therapy approved by the FDA for the treatment of aggressive lymphomas.
Charting a path forward with unifying definition of cytokine storm
Charting a path forward with unifying definition of cytokine storm
Penn Medicine researchers have developed a unifying definition of “cytokine storm” to provide a framework to assess and treat patients whose immune systems have gone rogue.
Novel Dual CAR T cell immunotherapy promising for targeting the HIV reservoir
Novel Dual CAR T cell immunotherapy promising for targeting the HIV reservoir
A new alteration to the way T cells are engineered has significant implications for using engineered T cells to fight both HIV and cancer.
In the News
Technology Networks
CAR T cells engineered to deliver RNA to enhance immunotherapy response
Andy J. Minn of the Perelman School of Medicine explains how Chimeric antigen receptor T cells typically are like lone soldiers without backup.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn immunotherapy pioneer Carl June shares prize from Israeli foundation that also honors Fauci
Carl June of the Perelman School of Medicine was awarded a Dan David prize for his contributions to immunotherapy.
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The New York Times
A woman may have been cured of HIV without medical treatment
Una O’Doherty of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on a study that appeared to fully suppress HIV without using drugs. “It’s certainly encouraging but speculative,” she said. “I need to see more before I would say, ‘Oh, she’s cured.’”
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The New York Times
Decades-old Soviet studies hint at coronavirus strategy
Paul Offit of the Perelman School of Medicine said the benefits of a repurposed vaccines are limited. “We are much better off with a vaccine that induces specific immunity,” he said.
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