In a first-in-human trial, UCLA scientists have shown that a tandem therapy using engineered stem cells can create a renewable source of cancer-fighting T cells that show no signs of exhaustion, a key limitation of current treatments.
In a landmark clinical trial, a team of UCLA scientists has successfully used a patient’s own reprogrammed stem cells to create a persistent, internal factory for cancer-killing immune cells. The study, published in Nature Communications, describes a novel “tandem” therapy that could solve one of the biggest challenges in cancer immunotherapy — the short-lived effectiveness of T-cell treatments.
Current T-cell therapies often provide a powerful initial response, but the engineered cells can become exhausted and lose their function over time. The new UCLA approach, tested in a Phase I clinical trial, combats this by using two separate cell infusions. Patients first receive a standard infusion of T cells engineered to attack tumors with the NY-ESO-1 antigen. A day later, they receive a second infusion of their own genetically modified blood-forming cell, formally called hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
These HSCs act as a long-term, self-renewing source, generating new T cells directly inside the body. Crucially, the paper reports that these new T-cell “progeny” showed tumor-specific functionality with “no evidence of anergy or exhaustion,” directly addressing the primary weakness of existing therapies.
We’ve shown that it’s possible to reprogram a patient’s own stem cells to create a renewable immune defense against cancer. It’s not a cure yet… but it points to a future where we don’t just treat cancer — we prevent it from coming back. — Dr. Theodore Scott Nowicki, a lead author of the study.
The engineered stem cells also include a built-in safety feature: a “suicide gene” called sr39TK. This gene allows doctors to track the cells in the body using PET scans and provides a way to destroy them if any unexpected toxicity occurs.
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Chibuike Okpara – Tech Writer – 86 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024
I have always been fascinated by technology and digital devices my entire life and even got addicted to it. I have always marveled at the intricacy of even the simplest digital devices and systems around us. I have been writing and publishing articles online for about 6 years now, just about a year ago, I found myself lost in the marvel of smartphones and laptops we have in our hands every day. I developed a passion for learning about new devices and technologies that come with them and at some point, I asked myself, “Why not get into writing tech articles?” It is useless to say I followed up the idea — it is evident. I am an open-minded individual who derives an infinite amount of joy from researching and discovering new information, I believe there is so much to learn and such a short life to live, so I put my time to good use — learning new things. I am a ‘bookworm’ of the internet and digital devices. When I am not writing, you will find me on my devices still, I do explore and admire the beauty of nature and creatures. I am a fast learner and quickly adapt to changes, always looking forward to new adventures.
Chibuike Okpara, 2025-08- 2 (Update: 2025-08- 2)