CNIO Develops a New Immunotherapy That Generates Antitumor Cells Inside the Patient’s Body
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Researchers at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) are developing a novel immunotherapy strategy for multiple myeloma that aims to simplify the way personalised cell therapies are produced.
Unlike conventional CAR-T therapy, which requires immune cells to be genetically modified in a specialised laboratory before being returned to the patient, the new approach is designed to generate genetically engineered immune cells directly within the patient's body.
The project, known as LIVE-STAb, is led by Professor Luis Álvarez-Vallina.
Addressing the Limitations of Conventional CAR-T Therapy
Traditional CAR-T treatment begins with collecting a patient's own T lymphocytes. These cells are then genetically modified and expanded in specialised manufacturing facilities before being infused back into the patient.
Producing an individualised cellular therapy is a complex and time-consuming process that requires highly specialised equipment, strict quality control and dedicated manufacturing facilities.
The LIVE-STAb project proposes a different strategy.
Instead of modifying immune cells outside the body, researchers aim to engineer T lymphocytes in vivo. If successful, this approach could significantly reduce manufacturing time and may ultimately lower the cost of personalised cell therapies.
What Are STAb-T Cells?
The project is based on STAb-T cells, a type of genetically modified T lymphocyte.
Like CAR-T cells, they are designed to recognise and attack cancer cells. However, STAb-T cells have an additional mechanism of action: they are intended to recruit the patient's own non-modified T cells into the anti-tumour immune response.
Rather than relying solely on genetically engineered cells, the therapy is designed to stimulate a broader immune response by engaging additional components of the patient's immune system.
Initial Focus on Multiple Myeloma
The first stage of the project focuses on multiple myeloma, a haematological malignancy affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow.
Researchers have selected BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) as the therapeutic target, as it is commonly expressed on the surface of myeloma cells.
BCMA is already used as a target in several existing antibody-based and cellular therapies. However, the LIVE-STAb programme aims to introduce a different method of generating tumour-targeting immune cells.
What Researchers Aim to Evaluate
The study will investigate several key aspects of the new therapeutic strategy, including:
- whether functional STAb-T cells can be generated directly within the patient's body;
- their ability to recognise and destroy tumour cells;
- the duration of the anti-tumour immune response;
- the overall safety of the approach;
- potential adverse effects.
An Experimental Approach Still Under Development
The LIVE-STAb programme remains in the research and development phase. At present, it is too early to draw conclusions regarding its clinical effectiveness or future availability for patients.
Should the technology prove to be both safe and effective, it could simplify the manufacture of personalised cell therapies and improve access to advanced immunotherapy for a wider patient population.
In the future, similar approaches may also be investigated for the treatment of other forms of cancer.