A research team from the University of California, Los Angeles has developed a novel immunotherapy targeting triple-negative breast cancer. This study, published in the Journal of Hematology & Oncology, shows that CAR-NKT cell therapy attacks tumor cells through multiple mechanisms while disrupting their protective barrier. This cell therapy uses engineered immune cells that can be scaled up from donated blood stem cells, providing patients with an off-the-shelf treatment option.

The research team combined invariant natural killer T cells with a chimeric antigen receptor targeting mesothelin. Senior author Professor Lili Yang stated: "Patients with triple-negative breast cancer have waited too long for better treatment options." This innovative cell therapy works through three pathways: the engineered CAR targets mesothelin, natural killer receptors recognize multiple molecular markers, and a unique T cell receptor remodels the tumor microenvironment. First author Charlie Li pointed out: "We are not just targeting one molecular marker on cancer cells—we are recognizing dozens at the same time."

This novel cell therapy adopts an off-the-shelf preparation mode, where a single donation can produce enough cells for thousands of treatments. Compared to existing personalized cell therapies, this CAR-NKT cell therapy significantly reduces treatment costs. The research team validated the effectiveness of this cell therapy in tumor samples from patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer, with results showing it can effectively eliminate cancer cells and immunosuppressive cells.

Since mesothelin is highly expressed in multiple cancers, this cell therapy platform also has potential to address other malignant tumors. Professor Lili Yang added: "This is indeed a platform technology." The research team has completed preclinical studies and is preparing to submit clinical trial applications to regulatory agencies. Further development of this cell therapy may provide new treatment directions for triple-negative breast cancer and other solid tumors.