Step forward for CAR-T therapy as it shows promise in solid bladder tumours

Genetically engineered T cells derived from patients have been developed to recognise and destroy human-derived bladder tumours grown in mice. The team was able to control these tumours by delivering treatment directly via catheter, minimising side effects, and hope to translate this work into an effective treatment in the clinic.

As one of the most common cancers worldwide, bladder cancer treatment typically involves surgical tumour removal followed by chemotherapy. However, some cancers are resistant to chemotherapy which means the patient’s bladder must be removed, resulting in significant complications. Researchers searching for bladder-sparing cancer therapies are now looking to immunotherapies like chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T).