Scientists from Karolinska Institutet have demonstrated for the first time the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy in ovarian cancer, one of the deadliest cancers of the female reproductive system. The research was published in the journal Cancer Immunotherapy.
CAR T cell therapy relies on reprogramming the immune system’s T cells to attack the tumor. The cells are obtained from the patient’s blood and then given a new gene in the laboratory. This relatively new treatment has now been shown to be effective only in patients with blood cancer, but not in patients with solid tumors. As the scientists explain, this is because such tumors often occur in an environment unfavorable for T cells, which reduces their effectiveness.
Many ovarian cancers contain the protein mesothelin, and the researchers tested three types of CAR molecules that are programmed to destroy it.
All three treatments significantly extended the lifespan of the mouse model of ovarian cancer, one particularly effective. A few mice even recovered completely, and the cancer did not return three months after treatment.
Scientists hope their discovery will pave the way for clinical trials and extend the lives of patients with ovarian cancer.