Central Memory CAR T Cells for Prolonged Anti-Tumor Persistence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tumor-specific T cell therapies, such as those employing engineered CAR T cells, often face challenges with prolonged activity and tumor specificity, leading to suboptimal anti-tumor efficacy in cancer treatment.

Innovation Solution

Development of central memory T cell populations comprising CD4+ and CD8+ T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) with a 4-1BB costimulatory domain, which are expanded and used in adoptive cell therapy to enhance tumor targeting and persistence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If conventional CAR T cells are used for tumor-specific therapy, then tumor targeting capability is achieved, but the duration of anti-tumor activity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of anti-tumor activityVSAvoidtumor-specificity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the functional state parameter of T cells by inducing central memory differentiation through specific culture conditions (IL-7 and IL-15 stimulation, anti-CD3/CD28 activation). This parameter change transforms conventional effector CAR T cells into central memory CAR T cells, which inherently possess longer persistence and duration of action while maintaining tumor-specificity through the CAR receptor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If T cells are engineered to express CAR with costimulatory domains, then tumor targeting efficiency is improved, but the complexity of cell engineering increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-tumor efficacyVSAvoidcomplexity of cell engineering
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-engineering the CAR transgene into T cells during the memory differentiation process, rather than engineering after differentiation. The T cells are transduced with CAR-expressing vectors during activation and differentiation culture, allowing simultaneous achievement of memory phenotype and CAR expression, thereby reducing overall process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal central memory CAR T cell platform that can be applied to multiple tumor types by simply changing the CAR target antigen. The core central memory differentiation protocol (IL-7/IL-15 culture, anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation) remains universal and reusable across different cancer indications, reducing engineering complexity for each new application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If central memory T cell differentiation is induced through culture conditions, then persistence and duration of action are improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersistence of T cellsVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple processes into a single integrated culture step: T cell activation (anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation), central memory differentiation (IL-7 and IL-15 addition), and CAR transduction all occur simultaneously in the same culture conditions over 5-10 days. This consolidation reduces manufacturing complexity compared to sequential processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3200591B2Central memory t cells for adoptive t cell therapy
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 CITY OF HOPE
  • EP3200591B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3200591B2 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3200591B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Chimeric transmembrane immunoreceptors (CAR) which include an extracellular domain that includes IL-13 or a variant thereof that binds interleukin-13Rα2 (IL13Rα2), a transmembrane region, a costimulatory domain and an intracellular signaling domain are described.