Damon Runyon Researchers

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common type of blood cancer, is curable in less than 30% of all patients. Recently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has successfully cured patients with certain types of leukemia. This approach has not yet been effective for treatment of AML, in part because these cells look very similar to certain types of healthy blood cells that are critical for life. Dr. Koegel has engineered a variety of scientific tools (specific receptors) that can be used to develop next-generation CAR-T cells that can effectively kill AML cells without significant toxicity to normal, healthy blood cells. The first receptor acts as an ON/OFF switch and is regulated by a small molecule drug. The T cell is turned ON only in the presence of the small molecule. The second receptor allows T cells to discriminate AML cells from healthy blood cells. Successful next-generation immunotherapy strategies will provide AML patients with much needed treatment options.