CART cell carrier systems for subcutaneous application

Project Investigators:

Prof. Dr. Christine Dierks
MLU, Hematolgy / Oncology

Prof. Dr. Karsten Mäder
MLU, Pharmaceutical Technology

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Binder
MLU,  Macromolecular Chemistry

Project summary:
We aim to develop packaging systems for CAR-T-cells (Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T-cells) for subcutaneous application. While in hematologic malignancies, the one-time i.v. injection of CAR T-cells is often sufficient to target and destroy fluid leukemic cells or lymphoma cells, other requirements apply for solid tumors. In solid tumors the dense microenvironment and the extracellular matrix function as barriers against immune cells and only long-term CART exposure over several weeks is able to sufficiently target the cancer cells. Furthermore the current one-time i.v. application often induces severe side effects like neurological disorders and the cytokine release syndrom, which could be avoided by slow output of CARTs into the organizm. To fulfill all these requirements, we aim to identify CART cell carryers and to develop systems for subcutaneous CART cell application, which allow long-term survival of untouched CARTs in vivo and which allow a slow release into the organizm to avoid side effects.