On November 9, 2021 Precision BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: DTIL), a clinical stage biotechnology company using its ARCUS genome editing platform to develop allogeneic CAR T and in vivo gene editing therapies, reported that the abstract titled, "Allogeneic CAR T cells with Deoxycytidine Kinase Knockdown Demonstrate Resistance to Fludarabine" has been accepted for poster presentation at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 36th Annual Meeting taking place November 10 – 14, 2021 in Washington, D.C (Press release, Precision Biosciences, NOV 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234594872]).
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Abstract/Poster Details:
Abstract Number & Title: Abstract #140. Allogeneic CAR T cells with Deoxycytidine Kinase Knockdown Demonstrate Resistance to Fludarabine
Category: Cellular Therapies
Authors: Michelle B. Pires, M.S., and Aaron J. Martin, Ph.D., both of Precision BioSciences
Abstracts for the SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 36th Annual Meeting are now available on the SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting website and in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC). This abstract will be presented as an electronic poster that will be displayed on the SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2021 virtual meeting platform from 7 AM EST on Friday, November 12, 2021 until the virtual meeting platform is closed on January 9, 2022.
In this preclinical study, ARCUS gene editing was used to disrupt the endogenous T cell receptor by inserting a transgene carrying a CD19-specific CAR and an RNAi sequence designed to specifically knockdown deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), a protein that converts fludarabine from its prodrug form to an active compound. This single-step approach generated allogeneic, fludarabine-resistant (FluR) CAR T cells. In these cells, the dCK RNAi sequence produced a 70% reduction in dCK mRNA abundance, and resistance to fludarabine was confirmed in vitro. Additionally, treatment of tumor-bearing mice with fludarabine and FluR CAR T cells resulted in enhanced tumor clearance and survival compared to mice receiving control CAR T cells alone or control CAR T cells and fludarabine.