Cell Therapy News Volume 18.35 | Oct 23 2017

TOP STORY

SOCS1 Gene Therapy Improves Radiosensitivity and Enhances Irradiation-Induced DNA Damage in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Combining SOCS1 with radiotherapy enhanced antitumor responses in a murine xenograft model compared to the individual therapies. Tumor repopulation occurred transiently after treatment by irradiation, but not the combination SOCS1/radiotherapy. [Cancer Res] Abstract

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Therapeutic Potential of hAECs for Early Achilles Tendon Defect Repair through Regeneration

Researchers investigated the efficacy of transplanted human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) by testing their early regenerative properties and mechanisms involved on a validated ovine Achilles tendon partial defect performed on 29 animals. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Application of the Allogenic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Therapy of the Bladder Tuberculosis

Using a model of bladder tuberculosis (TB) in New Zealand rabbits, the therapeutic efficacy of the interstitial injection of autologous bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with standard anti-TB treatment in the restoration of the bladder function was demonstrated. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Enhance Engraftment, Vasculogenic and Pro-Angiogenic Activities of Endothelial Colony Forming Cells in Immunocompetent Hosts

The impact of host immune system was investigated where endothelial colony forming cells were co-implanted with mesenchymal stem/stromal cells from adult bone marrow, fetal bone marrow, fetal placental, or maternal placental. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Priming with FGF2 Stimulates Human Dental Pulp Cells to Promote Axonal Regeneration and Locomotor Function Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury

Dental pulp cells were treated with fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) for five-six consecutive serial passages and were transplanted into the injury site immediately after complete transection of the rat spinal cord. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Transplantation of Isl1⁺ Cardiac Progenitor Cells in Small Intestinal Submucosa Improves Infarcted Heart Function

Investigators seeded Isl1⁺ embryonic cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) into decellularized porcine small intestinal submucosa extracellular matrix (SIS-ECM) to assess the therapeutic potential of Isl1⁺ CPCs and the biocompatibility of SIS-ECM with these cells. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Replacing Carmustine by Thiotepa and Cyclophosphamide for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s B-Cell Lymphoma

Scientists reviewed 125 consecutive patients who underwent a first autologous transplantation for B-cell lymphomas at a large tertiary transplantation center between 1999 and 2014. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Transplantation Routes Affect the Efficacy of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rat GDM Model

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (DM)/gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) rats were transplanted with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells by different routes: single or multiple tail vein injection, liver parenchyma, and renal capsule transplantation. These were compared to positive controls and negative controls to determine the effect of the transplant on the control of DM/GDM. [Clin Chim Acta] Abstract

Adoptive Cell Therapy with CD4⁺ T Helper 1 Cells and CD8⁺ Cytotoxic T Cells Enhances Complete Rejection of an Established Tumor, Leading to Generation of Endogenous Memory Responses to Non-Targeted Tumor Epitopes

Scientists examined a prior dacarbazine and after virus-like particle-ovalbumin (OVA) vaccine treatment to enhance adoptive T-cell therapy, but no therapeutic benefit was observed during primary B16-OVA tumor growth. [Clin Transl Immunol] Full Article

CRISPR/Cas9 Genome-Editing System in Human Stem Cells: Current Status and Future Prospects

The authors highlight the basic biology and application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in current human stem cell research, discuss its advantages and challenges, and debate the future prospects for human stem cells in regenerative medicine. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

Selection of Implantation Sites for Transplantation of Encapsulated Pancreatic Islets

Pancreatic islet transplantation has been validated as a valuable therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus patients with exhausted insulin treatment. However, this therapy remains limited by the shortage of donor and the requirement of lifelong immunosuppression. [Tissue Eng Part B Rev] Abstract

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Report of Successful OMS721 Treatment of Patient with Both Stem Cell Transplant-Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy and Graft-versus-Host Disease Presented

Omeros Corporation announced the presentation of a case report of a patient having co-existing hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy and graft-versus-host disease, which both resolved following OMS721 treatment. [Press release from Omeros Corporation discussing research presented at the 2017 European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Crash Course on Diagnosis and Treatment of Noninfectious Complications after HCT, Granada] Press Release

Agilis Biotherapeutics Announces Presentations on Angelman Syndrome Program

Agilis Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced two presentations on its gene therapy program for Angelman syndrome. [Press release from Agilis Biotherapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2017 European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT), Berlin, and the 2017 National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD) Summit, Washington] Press Release

MeiraGTx Presents Preclinical Data on Its Ocular Gene Therapy Studies for the Treatment of Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis, Achromatopsia and X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa

MeiraGTx announced the presentation of preclinical data from studies in animal models of Leber’s congenital amaurosis, achromatopsia, and X-linked retinitis pigmentosa that support the company’s clinical development programs in these indications. [Press release from MeiraGTx discussing research presented at the 2017 European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT), Berlin] Press Release

AbbVie and Harpoon Therapeutics Announce Immuno-Oncology Research Collaboration

AbbVie and Harpoon Therapeutics announced that they have entered an immuno-oncology research collaboration. [AbbVie, Inc.] Press Release

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Joins the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy announced that researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have joined its network. Dana-Farber is a leader in cancer research and brings a team of experts who will collaborate with Parker Institute investigators to enhance and expand research projects and clinical trials. [Dana-Farber Cancer Institute] Press Release

Kite’s Yescarta™ (Axicabtagene Ciloleucel) Becomes First CAR T Therapy Approved by the FDA for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma after Two or More Lines of Systemic Therapy

Kite announced that the FDA has granted regular approval to Yescarta™, the first CAR T therapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, high-grade B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma. [Gilead Sciences] Press Release | Editorial

City of Hope, Leading Cancer Research and Treatment Center, to Provide First-Ever FDA-Approved CAR-T Cell Therapy for Adult Patients with Certain Types of Large B-Cell Lymphoma

City of Hope will be one of the first authorized centers in the nation to provide axicabtagene ciloleucel, which the FDA announced is the first approved CAR-T cell therapy for adult patients with certain types of large B-cell lymphoma who have not responded to or who have relapsed after at least two other kinds of treatment. [City of Hope] Press Release

AskBio and Columbus Venture Partners Launch Gene Therapy Company Viralgen

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. announced the formation of Viralgen, a gene therapy joint venture with Columbus Venture Partners. The Viralgen Vector Core will use AskBio’s technology for the production of double strand adeno-associated virus. [Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Agenus Creates New Cell Therapy Subsidiary Named AgenTus Therapeutics

Agenus Inc. announced the launch of a subsidiary company for its cell therapy business, AgenTus Therapeutics, Inc. [Agenus Inc.] Press Release

IsoPlexis Receives $1.8 Million National Cancer Institute Grant to Develop Automated Platform to Assess CAR-T Product Potency and Toxicity and Predict Patient Response

IsoPlexis Corporation announced that it has received $1.8 million in grant funding from the National Cancer Institute’s Small Business Innovation Research Development Center to develop an automated assay platform and informatics suite that can be used in larger clinical trials to test CAR-T patient product potency and toxicity, pre-infusion, in order to help predict patient response and inform usage of these therapies. [IsoPlexis Corporation (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Iranian Scholar Sentenced to Death

A judge in Tehran has ordered the death penalty for Iranian researcher Ahmadreza Djalali, according to his wife and diplomatic sources in Italy. Djalali is affiliated with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and the University of Eastern Piedmont in Novara, Italy. A resident of Sweden with his family, Djalali was arrested in April 2016 on an academic visit to Tehran and accused of “collaboration with a hostile government”. [Nature News] Editorial

In Brazil, Researchers Struggle to Fend Off Deepening Budget Cuts

With time and money running out, Brazilian scientists are turning up the pressure on the federal government to avoid a total collapse of the national science and technology funding system before the end of the year. Researchers delivered a petition with more than 82,000 signatures to congressional leaders in Brasília, demanding the reversal of deep budget cuts that have left research institutions struggling to pay even basic water and electricity bills.” [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Rand Paul Takes a Poke at U.S. Peer Review Panels

Senate Republicans have launched a new attack on peer review by proposing changes to how the U.S. government funds basic research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Lymphocytes and Their Roles in Cancer
February 11-15, 2018
Keystone, Colorado, United States

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NEW Medical Director – Cell-Based Therapies (Celyad)

Research Technologist – Immunotherapy (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – CART-Cell Research (National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Regeneration (Kyoto University)

Postdoctorate Research Associate – Cell Therapy (Nova Southeastern University)

Postdoctoral Position – Human PSC-Based Cell Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Position – Development of Gene Therapy (Vitalité Health Network, Université de Moncton)

Technologist – Cell Therapy (Yale New Haven Health)

Researcher – Skeletal Tissue Engineering (KU Leuven)

Professor and Faculty Positions – Various Projects (Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Various Projects (University of Oklahoma)

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