A universal CAR-T cell to target cancer's hidden signature

João Lacerda

Fundacao GIMM - Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Lisboa, Portugal

Cancer remains one of the world’s leading causes of death, and while immunotherapies like CAR T cells have shown promise in some blood cancers, they often fall short in other types due to a lack of truly cancer-specific targets. Most current therapies attack markers that are also found on healthy cells, leading to serious side effects. This project proposes a new solution: targeting a unique molecule found almost exclusively on cancer cells.

This molecule, a specific form of chondroitin sulfate (pCS), is normally only present in the placenta but has been discovered in over 90 % of cancers. The team has developed a new type of CAR T cell that can recognize and attack cells carrying this marker, while leaving healthy cells untouched. Early lab tests show that these engineered immune cells can eliminate a wide range of cancer types, including blood cancers and solid tumours, without harming normal tissues.

The project will now refine and test these therapies further, exploring newer protein-based designs such as antibodies. Researchers will also explore how pCS behave in the tumour environment and whether it plays a role in cancer relapse. The ultimate goal is to create a universal CAR T cell therapy that works across many cancer types with fewer side effects.

Development of CAR T cell therapies against cancer-specific post-translational modifications

€499,303.00