Research
The overall objectives of ATTACK are to:
- Enhance understanding of the mechanisms involved in tumour evasion of immune control.
- Investigate novel technology to genetically modify T cells to improve the efficacy and safety of this new form of therapy.
- Raise awareness of Gene Therapy concept in novel cellular therapy of cancer and clinical applications in the general public and policy makers.
- Enhance the skills and knowledge of European Researchers in Immunotherapy of cancer.
The activities of the ATTACK consortium are implemented within wokpackages 1-7 (WP).
- Optimisation of two receptor-based strategies to endow the T-cells with tumour specificity (WP1 and 2).
The first strategy is based in engineering T-cells to express recombinant T-cell receptors complex (TCRα and β) recognising MHC restricted antigens at the surface of the tumour cells (WP1). The other strategy is based on chimeric immune receptors (CIR), which are scFv or small antibody molecules linked to the TCRζ (WP2). - Compare the in vivo efficacy of the redirected T-cells (WP3). This will include examining the mechanisms of action of the T-cells and improving their efficacy.
- Enhance cytotoxicity, proliferation, survival, tumour homing or other features to increase anti-neoplastic activity and safety of engineered T-cells for current and future applications in T-cell therapy trials (WP4).
- Improve protocols for T-cell selection, expansion and transduction (WP5).
- Looking into safety of the improved T-cells in vivo for future clinical trials in patients (WP6).
- Scientific workpackages are embedded within the Management workpackage (WP7).