Enhancing graft-versus-leukemia responses by donor-derived CAR-modified CD8+ T memory stem cells (A07*)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology ; Immunology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 324392634

Barriers to effective and safe salvage therapy with donor-derived CAR T cells include poor expansion and persistence of transferred cells and potential life-threatening toxicities. The use of long-lived, self-renewing, minimally differentiated T memory stem cells (TSCM) has the potential to overcome these hurdles. Advanced immunomonitoring of two consecutive clinical trials employing donor-derived conventional and TSCM cell-enriched CD19-CAR T cells will be performed to determine whether the TSCM cell platform provides advantages in CAR T cell expansion, long-term persistence, and safety. The results will guide the development of next-generation adoptive CAR T-cell therapies in allo-HSCT.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 221: Modulation of graft-versus-host and graft-versus-leukemia immune responses after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
• Applicant Institution: Universität Regensburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Luca Gattinoni; Dr. Dennis Harrer