In News:

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have addressed a key technical bottleneck in CAR T-cell and other Adoptive T-cell Transfer (ACT) therapies, safe recovery of lab-grown T-cells without loss of viability or immune function. The study demonstrates that using a gentler enzyme (Accutase) significantly improves therapeutic reliability and may reduce costs of cancer immunotherapy in India.

Basics for Prelims

T-Cells

• A type of white blood cell central to the immune response
• Detect and destroy infected or abnormal (cancerous) cells
• Coordinate other immune cells, making them crucial for immunotherapy

CAR T-Cell Therapy

• A personalised cancer treatment using a patient’s own T-cells
• Process:
  1. T-cells collected from patient’s blood
  2. Genetically engineered to express Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs)
  3. CARs act like GPS, guiding T-cells to cancer cells
  4. Cells are multiplied in the lab and infused back into the patient
• Approved globally for certain blood cancers (leukaemia, lymphoma)
• Indian milestone: NexCAR19, the world’s first humanised CAR-T therapy, developed by ImmunoACT

Key Research Development (IIT Bombay)

The Challenge

• T-cells are grown on 3D fibrous scaffolds to mimic the body’s environment
• These scaffolds improve growth and potency, but cells adhere tightly, making recovery difficult
• Harsh recovery methods damage surface proteins, reducing therapeutic effectiveness

Methods Tested

• Manual flushing
• TrypLE enzyme (harsh)
• Accutase enzyme (gentle)

Findings

• Cell yield: Similar across all methods
• Cell viability & immune function:
  • TrypLE → higher cell death, reduced immune activity
  • Accutase → preserved viability, clustering ability, and cancer-killing potency
• T-cells grown on scaffolds and recovered with Accutase remained highly effective against cancer cells

Significance of the Study

• Improves reliability of CAR T-cell and ACT therapies
• Potentially reduces production costs of immunotherapy
• Enhances India’s capacity for indigenous, affordable advanced cancer treatments
• Supports expansion of immunotherapy beyond elite centres

Benefits of CAR T-Cell Therapy

• Targeted precision: Spares healthy cells compared to chemotherapy
• Personalised: Uses patient’s own engineered cells
• Long-lasting protection: Engineered T-cells persist in the body
• Reduced hospitalisation and costs (especially with indigenous innovations)
• Expands future possibilities in cancer immunotherapy research