Report on Advanced Cancer Immunotherapy Research and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Researchers at The University of Kansas Cancer Center are developing a novel Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, contributing directly to SDG 3, Target 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. This initiative addresses the limitations of existing FDA-approved CAR T-cell treatments, which have proven revolutionary for some blood cancers but are not universally effective.

The new therapy, designated “Triple Threat,” is designed to improve health outcomes for patients with advanced B-cell malignancies, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, whose cancer has relapsed or proven resistant to initial treatments.

• Enhanced Efficacy: The therapy aims to overcome treatment resistance by targeting three molecular antigens (CD19, CD20, and CD22) on cancer cells simultaneously, a significant advancement over current single-target therapies.
• Improved Persistence: The engineered CAR T-cells are designed for faster multiplication and longer persistence within the patient’s body to ensure the eradication of all cancer cells.
• Lifespan Approach: Following an initial Phase 1 clinical trial for adults, a subsequent trial is planned for children and adolescents, demonstrating a commitment to promoting well-being across all age groups.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

This research project exemplifies SDG 9 by fostering innovation and leveraging specialized scientific infrastructure to advance medical technology. The development of a multi-antigen targeting CAR T-cell therapy is a significant scientific innovation aimed at upgrading treatment capabilities for complex diseases.

A critical component of this initiative is the in-house manufacturing of the CAR T-cells, which relies on sophisticated infrastructure. This process underscores the importance of building resilient and advanced technological capacity within research institutions.

1. T-cells are extracted from a patient’s blood.
2. The cells are genetically modified and cultivated in large quantities within the on-site Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) laboratory of KU Medical Center’s Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center.
3. This facility adheres to stringent FDA regulations, representing a high-level infrastructure asset typically found only in National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers.
4. The modified CAR T-cells are then infused back into the patient.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The success of the “Triple Threat” clinical trial is built upon multi-stakeholder partnerships, reflecting the principles of SDG 17. The project integrates expertise from various internal departments and includes collaboration with the private sector to achieve its objectives.

These partnerships are essential for translating complex scientific research into viable clinical applications that can have a global health impact.

• Internal Collaboration: The project is a joint effort involving the KU Cancer Center’s Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics program, the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation, and the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center.
• Public-Private Partnership: The research team is collaborating with KCAS Bio, a bioanalytical research company, to evaluate the treatment’s efficacy in killing malignant cells and stimulating the patient’s immune system.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article’s primary focus is on developing a new, more effective treatment for various blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. This directly contributes to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being by tackling a major non-communicable disease.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The research represents a significant scientific innovation, as the “Triple Threat” CAR T-cell therapy is a novel approach designed to “outsmart cancers that are resistant.” The article also highlights the critical role of specialized infrastructure, such as the in-house “Good Manufacturing Practices laboratory,” which is essential for advanced medical research and development.
3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The project is a collaborative effort involving multiple entities. The article mentions researchers at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation at KU Medical Center, and a “local bioanalytical research company, KCAS Bio.” This demonstrates a multi-stakeholder partnership to advance medical science.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • The research directly addresses this target by developing a new treatment for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma or B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia whose “cancer has relapsed or did not respond to initial treatment.” By creating a therapy for these resistant cases, the goal is to reduce mortality from these cancers.
2. Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases.
   • The entire article is a case study of this target in action. It details the process of investigating, designing, and manufacturing a “new treatment” for cancer, a non-communicable disease, through a “Phase 1, first-in-human clinical trial.”
3. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries…including…encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers.
   • The article exemplifies this target by describing the enhancement of scientific research through a clinical trial for the “Triple Threat” therapy. It showcases innovation by creating a treatment that “triples the number of molecular targets” and highlights the advanced technological capability of manufacturing CAR T-cells “in-house” at a specialized GMP laboratory.
4. Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources.
   • The collaboration between the KU Cancer Center, the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation, and the private company KCAS Bio to conduct the trial is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership sharing expertise and technology to achieve a common health goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Initial efficacy of the treatment: The article explicitly states that the trial is “evaluating the initial efficacy of the treatment: what effect the CAR T-cell product has on killing malignant cells.” This is a direct measure of the treatment’s success.
2. Patient remission rates and duration: The article notes that a key problem with existing therapies is that not everyone “stays in remission.” The new therapy’s cells are designed to “persist for a longer period of time to kill every last cancer cell,” implying that an increase in the rate and duration of remission is a key performance indicator.
3. Initiation of clinical trials: The launch of the “Phase 1, first-in-human clinical trial” is a concrete, measurable milestone in the research and development process. The plan to “open a trial for children and adolescents” is another future indicator.
4. Development of new medical technologies: The creation of the “Triple Threat” CAR T-cell therapy, which targets three antigens (CD19, CD20, and CD22) simultaneously, is a specific, measurable innovation.
5. Establishment of research partnerships: The formation of a working partnership between the university’s cancer center, its medical innovation institute, and a private bioanalytical company (KCAS Bio) serves as an indicator of a successful multi-stakeholder collaboration.

4. Summary of Findings

Source: kumc.edu