Transforming CAR T treatment: ‘Leukemia-on-a-chip’ The actual chip of human leukemia bone marrow where chambers and channels were filled with food dyes.(Image: NYU Tandon Applied Micro-Bioengineering Laboratory/Courtesy of Weiqiang Chen) Transforming CAR T treatment: ‘Leukemia-on-a-chip’ In a collaborative effort with NYU, Penn researchers have helped pioneer a novel 3D platform that mimics the human bone marrow and immune environment, enabling more predictive testing of cancer immunotherapy success in patients, including CAR T cell therapies. 3 min. read
Dual-target CAR T-cell therapy slows growth of aggressive brain cancer Image: Naeblys via Getty Images Dual-target CAR T-cell therapy slows growth of aggressive brain cancer Researchers from Penn Medicine have demonstrated encouraging tumor reductions rarely seen in recurrent glioblastoma following phase I clinical trials. 3 min. read
Enhanced CAR T cell therapy offers new strategy for lymphoma Image: iStock/Naeblys Enhanced CAR T cell therapy offers new strategy for lymphoma A new study from Penn Medicine marks a significant development in the ongoing evolution of CAR T cell therapy, as a novel cytokine-enhanced CAR T that has been tested in patients with blood cancer shows robust response rates. 2 min. read
Armoring CAR T cells to take on cancer Wei Guo of the School of Arts & Sciences and colleagues from the Perelman School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, and School of Engineering and Applied Science have teamed up to uncover how solid tumors’ complicated microenvironments can manipulate cancer-fighting CAR T cells through extracellular vesicles, causing the engineered CAR T cells to commit fratricide—essentially turning against each other instead of attacking the cancer.(Image: iStock / Marcin Klapczynski) Armoring CAR T cells to take on cancer Wei Guo of the School of Arts & Sciences and colleagues from the Perelman School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, and School of Engineering and Applied Science have uncovered how solid tumors manipulate cancer-fighting CAR T cells through extracellular vesicles, causing the engineered CAR T cells to commit fratricide—essentially turning against each other instead of attacking the cancer. 3 min. read
No evidence that CAR T cell therapy causes secondary cancers Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine No evidence that CAR T cell therapy causes secondary cancers In a new study, researchers at Penn Medicine looked for—and did not find—examples where the process of generating CAR T cells caused malignancy.
The compassionate team behind CAR T cancer breakthroughs (From left) Research coordinator Nicolas Sarmiento, project manager Reenie Martins, research coordinator Lee Dengel, and trial sample coordinator Rutendo Manyeka document and prepare paperwork required for T-cell infusion.(Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine News) The compassionate team behind CAR T cancer breakthroughs The clinical trial support staff at Penn Medicine and the Abramson Cancer Center have helped execute the team science that brings research discoveries from the lab bench to the bedside.
New ‘armored’ CAR therapy produces significant responses in cancer patients Image: iStock/tiratus phaesuwan New ‘armored’ CAR therapy produces significant responses in cancer patients For patients whose cancers don't respond to current CAR T cell therapies, a new, modified CAR T cell therapy by Penn’s Carl June shows promise in a phase 1 clinical trial.
Honoring a life scientist’s lifesaving science nocred Honoring a life scientist’s lifesaving science Carl June accepted the 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences at a Los Angeles ceremony, making him the sixth recipient from Penn.
What makes a breakthrough? ‘Eight steps back’ before making it to the finish line (From left to right) Breakthrough Prize recipients Drew Weissman, Virginia M-Y Lee, Katalin Karikó, and Carl June at a reception on Feb. 13. (Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine News) What makes a breakthrough? ‘Eight steps back’ before making it to the finish line Four of Penn’s Breakthrough Prize recipients, Carl June, Katalin Karikó, Virginia M-Y Lee, and Drew Weissman, were honored at a reception on Feb. 13.
Penn Medicine’s Carl June to receive 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Image: Courtesy of Penn Medicine Penn Medicine’s Carl June to receive 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences The Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in the Perelman School of Medicine is honored for pioneering the development of CAR T cell therapy, which programs patients’ own immune cells to fight their cancer.