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Updated: May 16, 2026
13:56
Robot Assisted Distal Pancreatectomy with Celiac Axis Resection (DP-CAR) for Pancreatic Cancer: Surgical Planning and Technique
Published on: August 14, 2021
CAR's made it to the pancreas
Markus Chmielewski1, Amit Maliar, Zelig Eshhar
1Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC); Department I of Internal Medicine; University Hospital Cologne; Cologne, Germany.
Oncoimmunology
|December 18, 2012
Summary
Engineered T cells targeting carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and ERBB2 showed therapeutic efficacy against pancreatic cancer. Targeting CD24, a cancer stem cell antigen, was also effective in preclinical models.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Cancer Stem Cells
Background:
- Pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a poor prognosis despite current treatments.
- Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for pancreatic cancer.
- Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy shows promise in oncology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells engineered with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting CEA and ERBB2 in pancreatic cancer models.
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of targeting CD24, a cancer stem cell antigen, in pancreatic cancer.
Main Methods:
- Utilized clinically relevant preclinical models of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
- Engineered T cells with a CAR specific for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and ERBB2.
- Administered adoptively transferred engineered T cells as therapy.
- Investigated the efficacy of targeting CD24, a putative cancer stem cell antigen.
Main Results:
- Adoptively transferred T cells engineered with a CEA- and ERBB2-specific CAR demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against pancreatic carcinoma.
- Targeting CD24, a cancer stem cell antigen expressed on a subset of tumor cells, also proved effective.
- These findings highlight the potential of CAR T cell therapy in pancreatic cancer.
Conclusions:
- CAR T cell therapy targeting CEA and ERBB2 is a viable therapeutic strategy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
- Targeting cancer stem cell antigens like CD24 offers an alternative or complementary approach for pancreatic cancer treatment.
- Further research into engineered T cell therapies is warranted for improving pancreatic cancer outcomes.
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