CAR-T cell therapy shows potential for multiple sclerosis and thyroid cancer

Recent clinical and preclinical studies are advancing the application of CAR-T cell therapy for both autoimmune diseases and solid tumors.

A clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that in vivo CAR-T cell therapy may relieve symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Unlike traditional methods that require laboratory modification of cells, this approach uses a virus to genetically reprogram T cells directly inside the body. In a study of 16 patients, researchers observed a reduction in disease-causing B cells and reported improvements in fatigue, movement, and cognitive function. While results are preliminary due to the small sample size and lack of a control group, the treatment showed a potential for an immune reset without the high costs and manufacturing delays of traditional CAR-T methods.

In a separate preclinical study published in Molecular Cancer, Mayo Clinic researchers identified a method to improve CAR-T efficacy against solid tumors, specifically thyroid cancer. To combat the tendency of cancer cells to hide from immune cells by losing specific antigens, researchers used drugs to restore the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) on aggressive cancer cells. This makes the tumors visible to engineered CAR-T cells again. The combination of these drugs and CAR-T therapy showed better tumor control and survival in preclinical models than using either treatment alone.