CD44‐targeted chimeric antigen receptor‐T eradicates acute myeloid leukaemic stem cells

Despite significant progress in the development of newer FLT3 inhibitors with greater potency and specificity, drug toxicity and the emergence of resistance pose significant challenges. [...]there is a critical need for therapeutic strategies that decrease the risk of relapse and improve the survival of AML patients. The authors injected Luc+ MV4-11, a human AML cell line that carries FLT3-ITD mutation, and Luc+ SKM-1 cells subcutaneously into the groin of BALB/c-nu mice and, subsequently, inoculated CD44v6 CAR-T cells, NT cells or phosphate-buffered saline intratumorally in each mouse group and measured tumour burden by bioluminescent imaging. [...]CD44v6 CAR-T did not affect kidney or liver function, suggesting that CD44v6 CAR-T could be a safe therapeutic approach in AML. [...]it is expected that CD44v6 CAR-T cells will serve as a safe and highly effective weapon to fight hematologic malignancies.