A novel CAR-like therapy for solid cancer

We have recently discovered a novel subset of CD4+ T cell that express the high affinity receptor for IgG (FcgRI) in both mouse and human and efficiently kill tumor cells coated with antibodies. While the factors that induce these cells are currently unknown, we recapitulate their killing capacity by transducing conventional CD8+ T cells with altered FcgRI along with its signaling chain. The unique design of this genetic construct enables integration of complex signals, which are impossible to transmit using conventional CAR designs, thus inducing more potent cytotoxic activity. Moreover, since targeting tumor cells is mediated by antibodies, this technology can be applied to treat a wide range of cancers as well as refractory cancers that lost their expressed antigen, by changing the tumor-binding antibody.