Summary
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the Western world. Novel targeted drugs are effective, but not curative. Moreover, prolonged use is associated with development of resistance, toxicity, and high economic cost. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation, which evokes a T cell mediated response, is potentially curative yet is associated with high graft-vs-host-related mortality. Therefore, an autologous T cell-based approach, e.g. chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), is a highly promising strategy. However, in contrast to the success of CAR-T cells in aggressive leukemia, their effect in CLL is limited owing to a largely unexplained acquired T cell dysfunction in this disease setting.
I recently found that CLL cells impose a reduction in mitochondrial fitness and altered glucose metabolism on T cells, which may underlie the acquired T cell dysfunction. Lending clinical significance to this finding, I observed that the success of CAR-T treatment in CLL patients is highly associated with their mitochondrial biogenic capacity. I therefore hypothesize that improving mitochondrial fitness of CAR-T cells may offer a path to cure CLL.
I aim to:
1. Characterize the molecular mechanisms of metabolic alterations in CLL-derived T cells
2. Elucidate how CLL cells reprogram T cells metabolism
3. Increase mitochondrial biogenesis and fitness in CAR-T cells to improve therapeutic efficacy
To achieve these goals, I will conduct an array of complementary molecular, metabolic, and genetic assays using patient samples and a murine model of CLL. To address therapeutic potential I will study murine and human CAR-T cells in which metabolic processes will be manipulated.
This project provides crucial insight into the interplay between CLL and T cells, and the underlying failure of cancer immune surveillance. This may lead to metabolism-based curative autologous T cell based therapies in CLL, which may also be relevant for other malignancies.
I recently found that CLL cells impose a reduction in mitochondrial fitness and altered glucose metabolism on T cells, which may underlie the acquired T cell dysfunction. Lending clinical significance to this finding, I observed that the success of CAR-T treatment in CLL patients is highly associated with their mitochondrial biogenic capacity. I therefore hypothesize that improving mitochondrial fitness of CAR-T cells may offer a path to cure CLL.
I aim to:
1. Characterize the molecular mechanisms of metabolic alterations in CLL-derived T cells
2. Elucidate how CLL cells reprogram T cells metabolism
3. Increase mitochondrial biogenesis and fitness in CAR-T cells to improve therapeutic efficacy
To achieve these goals, I will conduct an array of complementary molecular, metabolic, and genetic assays using patient samples and a murine model of CLL. To address therapeutic potential I will study murine and human CAR-T cells in which metabolic processes will be manipulated.
This project provides crucial insight into the interplay between CLL and T cells, and the underlying failure of cancer immune surveillance. This may lead to metabolism-based curative autologous T cell based therapies in CLL, which may also be relevant for other malignancies.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/864815 |
| Start date: | 01-08-2020 |
| End date: | 31-07-2025 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 1 997 662,00 Euro - 1 997 662,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the Western world. Novel targeted drugs are effective, but not curative. Moreover, prolonged use is associated with development of resistance, toxicity, and high economic cost. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation, which evokes a T cell mediated response, is potentially curative yet is associated with high graft-vs-host-related mortality. Therefore, an autologous T cell-based approach, e.g. chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), is a highly promising strategy. However, in contrast to the success of CAR-T cells in aggressive leukemia, their effect in CLL is limited owing to a largely unexplained acquired T cell dysfunction in this disease setting.I recently found that CLL cells impose a reduction in mitochondrial fitness and altered glucose metabolism on T cells, which may underlie the acquired T cell dysfunction. Lending clinical significance to this finding, I observed that the success of CAR-T treatment in CLL patients is highly associated with their mitochondrial biogenic capacity. I therefore hypothesize that improving mitochondrial fitness of CAR-T cells may offer a path to cure CLL.
I aim to:
1. Characterize the molecular mechanisms of metabolic alterations in CLL-derived T cells
2. Elucidate how CLL cells reprogram T cells metabolism
3. Increase mitochondrial biogenesis and fitness in CAR-T cells to improve therapeutic efficacy
To achieve these goals, I will conduct an array of complementary molecular, metabolic, and genetic assays using patient samples and a murine model of CLL. To address therapeutic potential I will study murine and human CAR-T cells in which metabolic processes will be manipulated.
This project provides crucial insight into the interplay between CLL and T cells, and the underlying failure of cancer immune surveillance. This may lead to metabolism-based curative autologous T cell based therapies in CLL, which may also be relevant for other malignancies.
Status
SIGNEDCall topic
ERC-2019-COGUpdate Date
27-04-2024
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