CD70-Targeted HIT Cells Eradicate Solid Tumors in Mice

Overview

• Engineered HLA-independent T (HIT) cells eliminated pancreatic, ovarian and kidney tumors in patient-derived xenograft mouse models.
• The receptors detected CD70 at levels reported to be 10–50 times lower than what conventional CAR T cells can recognize.
• Researchers found that CD70 appears on all cancer cells in some solid tumors, often at levels too low for standard detection methods.
• In mice, the CD70-directed HIT cells spared healthy tissues, as most normal cells do not express CD70, though human safety remains untested.
• The team has filed a patent and is seeking funding to launch a phase I safety trial, noting other solid-tumor barriers still need to be addressed.