UW-Madison says it found a new way to fight cancer

MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin Madison announced Tuesday it has discovered a promising new therapy to treat blood cancers.

Thanks to a recent study from the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, UW said Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy can be improved by altering the conditions the T-cells are grown in. Researchers at the WID accomplished this through "metabolic priming."

UW said its researchers manipulated the T-cells by first activating them in a nutrient-deficient environment, and then moving them to a high-nutrient medium. The first step triggers specific processes that helps the T-cells target tumors, remember illnesses, and select the more resilient cells that can survive with low levels of energy. The second step supports rapid growth and T-cell multiplication.

As a result of this "metabolic priming," UW said the cells retained their stem cell-like qualities, which enhances their ability to kill cancer cells, transform into durable memory cells, and survive longer in the body.

UW said in its recent studies using the two-step process, 63% of patients experienced a partial or complete reduction in tumors for a time, compared to clinical trials' results where just 15% of patients experienced tumor reduction.

UW said more research is needed to understand the key factors that help these CAR T-cells live longer and become more effective against solid tumors.

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