USC researchers have developed a new CAR T-cell system that’s more effective against breast, prostate and other solid tumor cancers. (Image/Midjourney)
Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with solid tumor cancers, including breast, prostate, lung and brain. For most, one of medicine’s most powerful new tools, CAR T-cell therapy, remains largely ineffective. The therapy has produced remarkable results in blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, but solid tumors are a different, far more stubborn problem.
A team of USC engineers aims to change that.
Their new CAR T-cell system addresses three of the biggest challenges that have limited the therapy’s effectiveness against solid tumors: it can be redirected to new targets at any point; activates only at the tumor site to protect healthy tissue; and can train itself to attack cancers it was not originally designed to fight.
Together, these advances point to a significant step forward in cancer treatment.
