ICLE 2022 | Overexpression of the LBTR gene to optimize T cell proliferation

Mateusz Legut, PhD, New York Genome Center, New York, NY, discusses strategies to improve the efficacy of T-cells in adoptive cell therapies. Certain genes that are not typically expressed in T-cells such as the lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTBR) gene were identified via CRISPR-based analysis of the whole human genome. Overexpression of the gene led to improved cell quality without affecting functionality of the T-cells and Dr Legut emphasizes that any new genes utilized should not increase toxicity of the therapy in a clinical setting. Promising T-cell therapies with overexpressed, beneficial genes will also potentially be assessed in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. This interview took place at the International Conference on Lymphocyte Engineering (ICLE) 2022.