Identifying rare cancer-targeting TCRs amongst large pools of TCRs_v2

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Validation of a proof-of-concept AI model using TCRs identified from cancer patients.

• IRAS ID

  321788

• Contact name

  Federico Paoletti

• Contact email

  f.paoletti@exogene.co.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Exogene

• Duration of Study in the UK

  5 years, 1 months, 2 days

• Research summary

  T cell receptor (TCR) therapies are promising curative treatments for otherwise untreatable cancers. They consist of T cells, derived from patients, that are genetically reprogrammed with cancer-targeting TCRs, multiplied and reintroduced into patients to destroy cancer cells. Some patients naturally produce cancer-targeting TCRs that can be leveraged to treat millions of other cancer patients. In this study, we will isolate T cells and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from cancer tissue biopsy, blood and/or PBMC samples. The TCRs expressed by these TILs will be sequenced and their cancer targets will be identified utilising high-throughput, state-of-the-art wet lab techniques. Subsequently, this massive dataset will be used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model and enable accelerated identification of rare cancer-targeting TCRs.

• REC name

  London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/PR/1557

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Dec 2022

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion