It is important to acknowledge how far research has come within the last few years and how salt ... more It is important to acknowledge how far research has come within the last few years and how salt has played a role in the SARS outbreak, the H1N1 virus outbreak, and now, COVID-19. Each new approach, study, trial, and prototype brings us a step closer to finding a treatment and cure for the global health crisis of the century. Salt and its extensive history, dating back to its discovery far earlier than any historical record, has proven its worth as an essential component in our world of food, disinfectants, and preservatives. Whole cities, towns, and civilizations were built based on the availability of salt, as it was considered to be a vital aspect of human life given its widely accessible and inexpensive nature. While this may seem absurd, it proves to us that salt and its multifaceted roles over decades and centuries have emerged to be effective.
Undergraduate Research in Natural and Clinical Science and Technology (URNCST) Journal, 2021
Introduction: With immunotherapy drugs such as Blinatumomab (Blincyto), the current overall survi... more Introduction: With immunotherapy drugs such as Blinatumomab (Blincyto), the current overall survival rate of relapsed/refractory B Lymphocyte Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) is 7.8 months in adults. However, with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, CAR T-cell therapy may extend survival. By knocking out T-cell receptors (TCRs) and HLA class I receptors on T-cells, CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cells could become a universal treatment alternative for BALL. This study compares the efficacy of CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cell therapy, a new era of CAR T-cell therapy, to the treatment of relapsed/ refractory BALL with Blinatumomab in mice. Methods: A cohort of 30 NSG mice receiving xenografts from an 18-24 year old patient with relapsed BALL will be randomly assigned to one of three groups, where they will receive treatment with: (1) mock transduced T-cells, (2) Blincyto, or (3) CRISPR-Cas9 edited TRAC-and B2M-knockout CAR T-cells. Another cohort of 30 NSG mice, receiving human skin xenografts from a healthy donor, will also be assigned to one of the groups and treated accordingly. Tumour shrinkage will be analyzed through in vivo antibody fluorescent imaging in the first cohort. Graft Vs Host Disease (GvHD) development will be assessed in the second cohort. Results: It is expected that mice treated with CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cells will be more effective at eliminating tumours. Compared to mice treated with Blincyto or mock-transfused T-cells, these mice will exhibit the highest overall response rates, complete response rates and tumour shrinkage rates, and the lowest relapse rates. It is also expected that these mice will not develop GvHD. Discussion: The use of CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cells in the treatment of BALL reveals a new facet to cancer therapeutics. The efficacy of this treatment will be demonstrated through greater tumour shrinkage rates and higher overall response rates than treatment with Blincyto, the current standard treatment drug for BALL. Conclusion: Current treatments involving Blinatumomab or conventional CAR T-cell therapy are expensive and therefore inaccessible to many. These results could demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cell therapy is viable as a safe, universal and more affordable alternative for relapsed/refractory BALL treatment.
It is important to acknowledge how far research has come within the last few years and how salt ... more It is important to acknowledge how far research has come within the last few years and how salt has played a role in the SARS outbreak, the H1N1 virus outbreak, and now, COVID-19. Each new approach, study, trial, and prototype brings us a step closer to finding a treatment and cure for the global health crisis of the century. Salt and its extensive history, dating back to its discovery far earlier than any historical record, has proven its worth as an essential component in our world of food, disinfectants, and preservatives. Whole cities, towns, and civilizations were built based on the availability of salt, as it was considered to be a vital aspect of human life given its widely accessible and inexpensive nature. While this may seem absurd, it proves to us that salt and its multifaceted roles over decades and centuries have emerged to be effective.
Undergraduate Research in Natural and Clinical Science and Technology (URNCST) Journal, 2021
Introduction: With immunotherapy drugs such as Blinatumomab (Blincyto), the current overall survi... more Introduction: With immunotherapy drugs such as Blinatumomab (Blincyto), the current overall survival rate of relapsed/refractory B Lymphocyte Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) is 7.8 months in adults. However, with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, CAR T-cell therapy may extend survival. By knocking out T-cell receptors (TCRs) and HLA class I receptors on T-cells, CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cells could become a universal treatment alternative for BALL. This study compares the efficacy of CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cell therapy, a new era of CAR T-cell therapy, to the treatment of relapsed/ refractory BALL with Blinatumomab in mice. Methods: A cohort of 30 NSG mice receiving xenografts from an 18-24 year old patient with relapsed BALL will be randomly assigned to one of three groups, where they will receive treatment with: (1) mock transduced T-cells, (2) Blincyto, or (3) CRISPR-Cas9 edited TRAC-and B2M-knockout CAR T-cells. Another cohort of 30 NSG mice, receiving human skin xenografts from a healthy donor, will also be assigned to one of the groups and treated accordingly. Tumour shrinkage will be analyzed through in vivo antibody fluorescent imaging in the first cohort. Graft Vs Host Disease (GvHD) development will be assessed in the second cohort. Results: It is expected that mice treated with CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cells will be more effective at eliminating tumours. Compared to mice treated with Blincyto or mock-transfused T-cells, these mice will exhibit the highest overall response rates, complete response rates and tumour shrinkage rates, and the lowest relapse rates. It is also expected that these mice will not develop GvHD. Discussion: The use of CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cells in the treatment of BALL reveals a new facet to cancer therapeutics. The efficacy of this treatment will be demonstrated through greater tumour shrinkage rates and higher overall response rates than treatment with Blincyto, the current standard treatment drug for BALL. Conclusion: Current treatments involving Blinatumomab or conventional CAR T-cell therapy are expensive and therefore inaccessible to many. These results could demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas9 edited CAR T-cell therapy is viable as a safe, universal and more affordable alternative for relapsed/refractory BALL treatment.
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