Fig. 1: Using an ultra-radioresistant extremophile gene to radioprotect T cells and potentiate ACT.
From: Enhancing adoptive cell therapy: future strategies for immune cell radioprotection in neuro-oncology
a Poor immunogenicity is a key barrier to efficacy for CAR T cells in brain tumors. b RT added to CAR T therapy has immunostimulatory effects that may potentiate CAR T therapy. But RT also kills T cells that enter the radiation field which has a counterproductive effect. c Radioprotectants such as a gene from the ultra-radioresistant extremophile Tardigrade are expressed in CAR T cells to protect them from RT, allowing immune stimulation from RT to synergize with CAR T.
