Design and evaluation of cellular immunotherapies targeting novel antigens

In the current CAR T cell paradigm, target antigens must be present on tumor cells and absent from essential normal tissues (e.g. CD19, BCMA). We and collaborators have identified novel antigens consistent with this pattern in select solid tumors, specifically rare and aggressive endocrine tumor typess that have had limited CAR T cell development to date. Integrating novel targeting and additional modifications to bypass intrinsic limits on anti-tumor potency, we seek to pre-clinically validate candidate next-generation cellular immunotherapies. The MGH Cellular Immunotherapy Program can advance promising designs via investigator-initiated clinical trials.