New CAR T-Cell Targets Identified to Combat Aggressive AML

CAR T-cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, could advance thanks to the identification of 13 promising antigen targets.

AML remains an aggressive blood cancer with limited options and poor long-term outcomes. A key challenge is the persistence of chemotherapy-resistant leukemic stem cells that can drive relapse.

While CAR T-cell therapy has transformed treatment for some blood cancers, progress in AML has been slower. The main hurdle is a lack of highly specific target antigens. Many potential targets are shared between cancer cells and healthy blood cells, risking serious toxicity.

To find better targets, researchers systematically reviewed 63 AML-associated antigens. Each was scored on criteria including uniform expression on leukemic stem cells and low presence on healthy blood-forming cells.

Using a 20-point system, they identified 13 top candidates: ADGRE2, SIGLEC 6, IL1RAP, MUC1, CCR1, CD155, CD70, LILRB4, GRP78, CD37, ITGB2, TIM 3, and mesothelin.

With no CAR T-cell therapy currently approved for AML, this prioritized list may guide the rational design of future therapies. The goal is to develop safer and more effective treatments by focusing on targets that better distinguish cancer cells from healthy tissue.