Rewiring the metabolism of CAR-T cells

Join Professor Mercedes Rincon, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, as she discusses the groundbreaking advancements in adoptive T cell therapy, particularly chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. While CAR-T therapy has achieved impressive complete remission rates in 60–90% of patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r-B-ALL), challenges such as treatment failures and relapses remain significant obstacles.

Metabolism plays a critical role in T cell function, shaping immune responses. While glycolysis is essential for T cell expansion, it can restrict the self-renewal capacity of CAR-T cells during manufacturing. Mitochondrial respiration is vital for their survival and effectiveness. Recent findings have highlighted MCJ, a protein that negatively regulates mitochondrial function in CD8 cells. Loss of MCJ enhances mitochondrial respiration, cytokine secretion, and anti-tumor activity. Targeting MCJ to boost mitochondrial metabolism presents a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cells and advance adoptive T cell therapies.

Key learning objectives

• Understand the current landscape of adoptive T-cell therapy
• Explain the role of metabolism in T cell function, highlighting the significance of glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in enhancing CAR-T cell efficacy
• Identify the potential of MCJ as a therapeutic target to improve mitochondrial metabolism, cytokine secretion, and overall effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapies

Who should attend?

• Researchers and scientists specializing in CAR T-cell therapy, immunotherapy development, cell metabolism, glycolysis, and mitochondrial respiration.

Certificate of attendance
All webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes.