Faculty Member Michel Sadelain

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center scientists have demonstrated the efficacy in mice of a novel therapeutic strategy that uses genetically modified human T cells to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) -- a protein found in prostate cancer cells -- and eliminate cancerous cells. This innovative approach might eventually be used to treat patients with advanced prostate cancer that is resistant to hormone therapies.

Their research showed that when Pz1 -- a designer antigen receptor specific to PSMA -- is introduced into these modified T cells, it enables the cells to recognize and destroy prostate cancer cells. The study, published in the October 1 issue of Cancer Research, found that these modified T cells not only suppressed tumor growth in mice but significantly increased long-term survival in three different mouse models.  [PubMed Abstract]

"Based on these very encouraging results, we are now planning a phase I clinical trial to assess the safety of this approach," said Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center investigator Michel Sadelain, senior author of the study.

Utilizing gene transfer techniques and multimodality imaging, this detailed study required the collaboration of scientists from many groups at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, including the departments of Medical Physics, Urology, Radiology, and Medicine; the Gene Transfer and Somatic Cell Engineering Facility; and the Immunology Program within the Sloan-Kettering Institute.

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