The Pat Kenny Show Immunotherapy in cancer continues to advance
Dec 4, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Professor Luke O'Neill, a leading biochemist from Trinity College Dublin specializing in immunology, dives into groundbreaking research on pancreatic cancer treatment. He explores engineered immune cells, specifically CAR-NKT cells, showing promise in targeting tumors effectively. O'Neill contrasts these with CAR-T approaches, discusses treatment delivery methods, and highlights preclinical successes in mice. He also addresses the projected $5,000 cost for off-the-shelf therapies and the urgency of fast-tracking human trials, sparking hope for future cancer patients.
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Engineered Immune Cells Seek And Kill Tumours
- Researchers engineered NKT immune cells to hunt pancreatic tumours and their metastases like a heat-seeking missile.
- The cells home to tumour-released chemical gradients, latch on and kill cancer cells within tissues.
CAR‑NKT Extends CAR‑T Ideas To Solid Tumours
- The approach is called CAR‑NKT and builds on CAR‑T technology by giving immune cells a synthetic 'hand' to grab cancer cells.
- CAR‑NKT aims to work in solid tissues where CAR‑T has struggled despite CAR‑T success in blood cancers.
Overcoming The Hostile Tumour Microenvironment
- Solid tumours create a toxic microenvironment that usually kills infiltrating immune cells, making them hard to treat.
- In mouse models, engineered CAR‑NKT cells entered tissues, survived the hostile tumour environment, and cured metastatic disease.