Profiling targets and potential target pairs of CAR-T cell therapy in clinical trials

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Oncology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy has seen rapid growth since 2017, with over 100 new clinical trials annually.
• 1649 clinical studies have explored CAR-T targets and target pairs, necessitating advanced analytical methods for discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To employ a data-driven approach using clinical trial data to identify novel dual-target pairs for CAR-T cell therapy.
• To provide a reference for researchers and developers in selecting new CAR-T targets.

Main Methods:

• Screened 1283 non-withdrawal interventional CAR-T clinical trials from clinicaltrials.gov, covering 96 targets and 74 target pairs.
• Utilized Circos plots and temporal network plots for visualizing target-indication relationships.
• Inferred and validated new target pairs based on shared indications, expression patterns, literature, and patent information.

Main Results:

• Identified five novel dual-target pairs for CAR-T therapy, including CD19/CD7, CD19/CD5, CD19/CD37, and CD19/BAFFR.
• Validated these target pairs through expression patterns, scientific literature, and patent analysis.
• Demonstrated the utility of clinical trial data in uncovering potential CAR-T targets.

Conclusions:

• This study offers new insights into CAR-T target profiling by analyzing clinical trial data.
• The identified dual-target pairs provide a foundation for future CAR-T cell therapy research and development.