Key Highlights
- Revolutionary Discovery: Researchers at City of Hope find human ILC2s can effectively kill cancer cells, contrasting with previous mouse model studies.
- Therapeutic Potential: Human ILC2s, unlike CAR T cells, can potentially be sourced from healthy donors, offering an ‘off-the-shelf’ treatment option.
- Clinical Advancements: The team has developed a platform to expand ILC2s 2000-fold, overcoming the challenge of rarity and advancing towards clinical trials.
Source: Business Wire
Notable Quotes
- “The City of Hope team has identified human ILC2 cells as a new member of the cell family capable of directly killing all types of cancers…” – Jianhua Yu, Ph.D., Professor at City of Hope
- “It is remarkable that something has evolved so distinctly in going from mouse to human. You have to be able to expand these cells for human clinical trials and one of the exciting things is that we are on the right track.” – Michael Caligiuri, M.D., Professor at City of Hope
SoH's Take
The discovery of human ILC2s’ ability to combat cancer marks a significant milestone in cancer research and treatment. This development not only challenges our understanding of immune cells’ roles but also opens new avenues for cancer therapy. Unlike traditional methods requiring patient-specific cells, ILC2s can potentially be used as a universal treatment, greatly simplifying the treatment process and expanding access to life-saving therapies. The successful expansion of these cells for clinical trials by the City of Hope team is a testament to the potential of this approach, signifying a hopeful future for cancer patients worldwide. The next steps in understanding and harnessing ILC2s’ full potential will be crucial, particularly in translating this research into practical treatments.
