Hydroxycitrate T Cell Culture for Persistence and Antitumor Activity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using cancer-reactive T cells faces challenges such as decreased in vivo persistence, survival, and antitumor activity, as well as increased apoptosis, which hinder effective cancer treatment.

Innovation Solution

Culturing isolated T cells in vitro with hydroxycitric acid or its salts, such as potassium hydroxycitrate, to enhance T cell populations, increasing persistence, antitumor activity, and reducing apoptosis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If T cells are cultured using conventional methods, then T cell production is achieved, but in vivo persistence and survival decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvein vivo persistenceVSAvoidsurvival
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the culture medium by adding hydroxycitric acid and its salts, which modifies T cell metabolism and phenotype to improve in vivo persistence and survival characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary cultural conditioning of T cells with hydroxycitric acid before adoptive transfer, which pre-adapts the T cells to in vivo conditions and enhances their persistence and survival capabilities after transplantation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If T cells are cultured using conventional methods, then T cell expansion is achieved, but antitumor activity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveT cell expansionVSAvoidantitumor activity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the culture medium composition by incorporating hydroxycitric acid, which alters T cell metabolic pathways to maintain antitumor activity during expansion, producing T cells with both high proliferation capacity and sustained cytotoxic function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If T cells are cultured using conventional methods, then T cell proliferation is achieved, but apoptosis increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproliferationVSAvoidapoptosis
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the biochemical environment by adding hydroxycitric acid, which modulates apoptotic signaling pathways in T cells, allowing for robust proliferation while simultaneously reducing activation-induced cell death and improving overall cell survival

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3784774B1Methods of producing t cell populations using hydroxycitric acid and/or a salt thereof
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BYTHE SECRETARY DEPT OF HEALTH & HUMANSERVICES
  • EP3784774B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3784774B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3784774B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Provided are methods of producing an isolated population of T cells, the method comprising culturing isolated T cells in vitro in the presence of hydroxycitric acid, and/or a salt thereof, wherein the salt is potassium hydroxycitrate or sodium hydroxycitrate. Also provided are related isolated populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal.