| Description |
Title: "Universal Chimeric Antigen Receptors for Multiplexed and Logic Control of T Cell Responses"
Committee:
Wilson W. Wong, PhD (Chair, Co-Advisor)
James J. Collins, PhD (Co-Advisor)
Ahmad S. Khalil, PhD
John T. Ngo, PhD
Abstract:
Adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressing T cells is promising cancer therapeutic agents. However, it needs to be further optimized to improve specificity and efficacy. Because current CAR designs use fixed CAR architecture, it lacks flexibility in the antigens that it can target, tunability to finely tune T cell activation, and controllability to regulate different signaling pathways and cell types. To address these limitations, we developed a split, universal, and programmable (SUPRA) CAR system composes of universal receptor expressed on T cells and tumor targeting antibody. With SUPRA systems, we can switch the CAR ON or OFF, tune T cell activation, and sense and respond to multiple antigens. Moreover, orthogonal SUPRA system allows regulation of multiple signaling pathways independently, or control of immune responses from different cell types. We envision that the SUPRA CAR system will improve the safety and efficacy of cellular cancer immunotherapy. |
