A new study published in the journal Science found that a new engineered class of “supercharged T cells” are “stronger, long-lasting, and more precise at killing prostate cancer cells.”
The team, collaborating within the Parker Institute of Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) network, introduced a so-called “’catch bond,’ a fishhook-like interaction that strengthens when cells pull against each other. This allows T cells to latch onto cancer cells more effectively at the moment they attack, helping them recognize the tumor, stay engaged longer, and deliver a more powerful and targeted immune response without damaging healthy tissue.”
T cells will sometimes attack otherwise healthy tissue in the body when deployed against tumors. The research team identified a naturally weak T cell receptor (TCR) that was able to detect but not effectively kill cancer cells. They altered one or two amino acids in the TCR, strengthening the “catch bonds” that help them recognize targets while preserving their “natural ability to recognize their specific target.”
A single amino acid change was found to significantly enhance T cell function. The engineered T cells “delayed or completely halted tumor growth” in mice, “while those receiving unmodified T cells showed little effect.” This outcome shows that T cells can be made stronger in a way that could avoid attacks on healthy tissue and other risks of traditional T cell receptor engineering.
