CICON24 Day 4 Recap: Pioneering Cellular Therapies and Cancer Vaccines Shape the Future of Cancer Treatment

Led by inaugural CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR, Yvonne Chen, PhD, from UCLA, day four of CICON24 ended the conference with a half-day of intense focus on the future of cancer care and treatment. It was as if the conference had saved its most compelling presentations for last, featuring a session dedicated to Cellular Therapies & Cancer Vaccines: Moving Toward Personalization. Although the final day was brief, it contained a wealth of groundbreaking insights. 

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CLICK HERE for the CICON24 Day 1 Recap

Magnus Essand, PhD, from Uppsala University, showcased exciting advancements in arming CAR-T cells for glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer resistant to many treatments. Dr. Essand’s approach involves equipping CAR-T cells with the bacterial virulence factor NAP. This innovation not only targets tumor cells but also activates dendritic cells to enhance the immune response to neoepitopes from dying cancer cells. This strategy holds potential for tackling both glioblastoma and relapsed B cell carcinoma patients, where conventional CAR-T therapies have struggled. 

Maria Themeli, PhD, from the University of Amsterdam, explored novel strategies to enhance and control CAR T cell function through multi-targeting, co-stimulation, and logic-gating. She discussed the use of “OR/AND” and “IF-THEN” gates to activate CAR T cells only in the presence of specific tumor antigens. While the absence of reliable target antigens remains a challenge, Dr. Themeli proposed combining chimeric costimulatory receptors with CARs to amplify therapeutic signals. Her work with double-targeting CAR T cells in multiple myeloma models demonstrated improved targeting over single-targeting approaches, offering a promising solution to the limitations of current CAR T therapies. 

Gianpietro Dotti, MD, from UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, presented his research on CAR-natural killer T (NKT) cells. By using IL-12 to create proinflammatory, TH1-polarized CAR NKT cells, Dr. Dotti’s team achieved significant anti-tumor activity. They developed a membrane-bound IL-12 version to avoid the side effects of free IL-12, providing a safer and effective cancer therapy option. 

Neeha Zaidi, MD, from Johns Hopkins Medicine, addressed the challenge of targeting mutant KRAS, a mutation prevalent in several aggressive cancers. Dr. Zaidi discussed innovative strategies to harness the immune system to recognize and attack these difficult targets, offering new hope for patients with KRAS-driven cancers. 

Yu-Chan Chih, PhD, from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), highlighted his work on targeting glioblastoma stem cells with a vaccine-induced T cell receptor specific to the cancer-associated antigen PTPRZ1. This approach aims to generate a robust immune response against glioblastoma stem cells, presenting a new therapeutic avenue for this challenging cancer. 

Kasidet Manakongtreecheep, PhD, from Harvard Medical School, introduced a sensitive method for detecting cancer-specific antigens using user-defined peptide spectral libraries. This innovative technique enhances precision in identifying tumor-associated peptides, improving diagnostic and therapeutic targeting. 

Finally, Vinod Balachandran, MD, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, presented his groundbreaking research on RNA vaccines for pancreatic cancer. By targeting specific neoantigens identified from patient tumors, his approach offers a promising new strategy to enhance immunotherapy and improve outcomes for this notoriously difficult-to-treat cancer. 

As day four of CICON24 wrapped up, attendees reflected on the cutting-edge science presented and the future possibilities in cancer treatment. With presentations spanning a wide array of groundbreaking research, participants left with a renewed sense of optimism and determination. The conference not only showcased the latest advancements but also set the stage for ongoing innovation and collaboration in immunotherapy and personalized medicine. Conversations sparked throughout the event are expected to lead to new partnerships and ideas. The potential impact of the discoveries shared could transform the landscape of cancer care in the coming years.

The conference might be over, but there is still much more to unpack from this week’s gathering of the brightest minds in cancer immunology. Stay tuned to CRI’s website for additional coverage of #CICON24 in the coming days.