A recent study carried out by a group of researchers from Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has shed new light on ongoing efforts to combat leukemia. The study reveals a treatment method that utilizes engineered human plasma cells producing bispecific antibodies. This approach successfully eliminates leukemia cells within the body.
Leukemia
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In leukemia, the cell death signals are diminished and the cell growth signals are raised, leading to the disruption of the system and its innate protective functions. Although we have treatments such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, they have their limitations. It then becomes necessary to explore other approaches.
Gene editing scores another win
In this study, researchers propose a gene-editing strategy known as Homology Directed Repair (HDR). The goal is to create engineered plasma cells, also referred to as ePCs. These ePCs can produce specific types of antibodies known as ‘bispecific antibodies.’ These antibodies are designed to target two types of leukemia: B cell acute leukemia (B ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
The results of this combined research show that ePCs secreting bispecific antibodies can enhance T cell-mediated killing of leukemic cell lines in laboratory settings and patient-derived B ALL xenografts, in living organisms.
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Through engineering techniques, this study explores the use of engineered human plasma cells in combating leukemia. These engineered plasma cells are designed to secrete bispecific antibodies that can recognize and bind to both leukemia cells and immune cells. This bridge formation facilitates the targeting and destruction of the cancerous cells.
Clinical significance
The study shows a treatment method, for leukemia by utilizing engineered plasma cells that can generate bispecific antibodies. These antibodies have the ability to attach themselves to leukemia cells as immune cells thereby boosting the immune response and opening up possibilities for the creation of new immunotherapies. What better way to manage a condition induced by excess cellular proliferation than to use (or at least mimic) the body’s innate immunity?
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Conclusion
ePCs have the ability to transport protein therapeutics that go beyond just the delivery of bispecifics. This could just be the fulcrum that will unleash the benefits of biologics or peptides in relation to how they’re absorbed and processed by the body. Immunotherapy is not exactly a new field, and drugs that recruit the immune system to help them fight cancer have a long history of success. Be that as it may, the development of plasma cells that produce bispecific antibodies could very much change the terrain of immunotherapy in particular, and cancer treatment as a whole. As research in this field continues to evolve, the hope of achieving the ideal targeted, effective, and less invasive treatments for leukemia draws ever so closer to becoming a reality.
References
Tyler F Hill, Parnal Narvekar, Gregory Asher, Nathan Camp, Kerri R Thomas, Sarah K Tasian, David J Rawlings, Richard G Jamesdoi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.24.554523
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