The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has established the Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation, aiming to revolutionize treatment approaches for cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases through advanced cell therapies. The institute consolidates MD Anderson's research and clinical capabilities to expedite the creation and application of impactful cell therapies. Substantial philanthropic and institutional investments exceeding $80 million have catalyzed these endeavors.
Leadership and Vision
Katy Rezvani, M.D., Ph.D., leads the Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation as vice president and head. "Cell therapies have delivered profound results for patients with hematologic cancers, but there remain too many patients that do not benefit," Rezvani stated. "Through our discoveries, we aim to provide many more patients with effective cell therapies that are available as off-the-shelf treatment options, limiting the need for lengthy hospital stays and associated costs."
Cell Therapy Innovation
Cell therapies, often called 'living therapies,' are sophisticated immunotherapy treatments that use immune cells from a patient or healthy donor as building blocks. Researchers employ specialized engineering and manufacturing techniques to enhance the ability of these cells to detect and eliminate cancer cells, infected cells, or otherwise abnormal cells.
The institute integrates MD Anderson’s research ecosystem to accelerate the discovery and development of new cell therapies from preclinical studies through clinical trials. MD Anderson’s scientific and clinical expertise, highlighted by the world’s largest cancer clinical trials program and premier research institutes – the James P. Allison Institute and Institute for Data Science in Oncology – will enable institute researchers to uncover new cell therapy targets and approaches. Collaborations with external researchers as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies will further speed the pace of development.
Building on Prior Research
MD Anderson researchers have a history of cell therapy research and development. The FDA has approved six chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy products targeting CD19 and BCMA for B-cell lymphomas, leukemias, and multiple myeloma, with several approvals based on clinical trials led by MD Anderson researchers.
MD Anderson was also the first to advance CAR natural killer (NK) cells into clinical studies for patients with lymphoid malignancies, based on cord blood-derived CD19 CAR NK cell therapies developed by Rezvani and her team.
Additional MD Anderson research has shown progress for new cell therapies in solid tumors, with numerous preclinical studies and clinical trials in progress. Some key published and presented research findings include:
- Adoptive T cell receptor (TCR) therapy targeting MAGE-A4 achieved clinically significant results for patients with multiple solid tumor types in a Phase I trial
- Novel CD70-targeting CAR T cell therapy delivered promising early results in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma
- Engineered NK cells expressing interleukein-21 or missing the TFG-β receptor demonstrated strong antitumor activity against glioblastoma cells
- CAR NK cells expressing a second CAR molecule improved tumor specificity and enhanced NK cell activity
- Adding CD28 costimulation to CD70-targeting CAR NK cells enhanced antitumor activity and long-term cytotoxicity
Expanding Therapeutic Horizons
Researchers at MD Anderson, home to the world’s largest cord blood bank, will continue to explore cord blood-derived NK cell therapies and investigate alternative sources, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), for NK cells, T cells, B cells, and macrophages, all of which may be used for cell therapies. Researchers will investigate and identify additional targetable tumor antigens and immune signaling molecules, which play a key role in immune cells’ ability to eliminate tumor cells and reduce damage to healthy cells.
While cancer is a core focus of the institute, MD Anderson researchers’ extensive knowledge of cell biology and engineering also provides possibilities to develop cell therapies in autoimmune diseases and infections. Abnormal B cells can cause multiple autoimmune diseases, including Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, and cell therapies could improve upon current steroid and immunosuppressive treatments.
Further, Rezvani’s team has successfully developed cell therapies that show promise in treating rare and often fatal brain infections as well as viral infections that can arise after stem cell transplants.
Collaborative Structure and Support
Clinical and research leaders at MD Anderson will manage and oversee the institute’s research efforts. An Internal Advisory Council will provide guidance and scientific input on the research projects, offering recommendations on new research proposals submitted to the institute. A Pipeline Review Committee will ensure research and development projects align with the institute’s overall strategic objectives.
Recruitment and retention of top scientists in bioinformatics, cell therapy research and cell engineering are priorities to bolster research initiatives. In addition, supporting the research of young scientists with promising ideas is a key element of the institute’s work to advance cell therapies. The institute will establish a fellowship program to create an opportunity to mentor, recruit and educate the next generation of researchers.
