Gene-edited lymphocytes and the path toward 'off-the-shelf' therapy against cervical cancer.

Scientists at Juntendo University School of Medicine in Japan have made a breakthrough in developing a potential therapy for cervical cancer. They have successfully engineered rejuvenated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (rejTs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to target HPV-specific antigens expressed in cervical cancer cells. By using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, the researchers were able to modify the iPSCs to evade attacks from the patient's immune system. In preclinical experiments, the gene-edited rejTs showed promising results in fighting cervical cancer cells while evading immune responses. The researchers plan to conduct a clinical trial in 2024. [Extracted from the article]