This “off-the-shelf” approach, called AlloCAR70-NKT, could help improve outcomes, reduce complications and expand access for patients with limited treatment options.

“We successfully turned stem cells into powerful cancer-fighting immune cells that can be ready to use for any patient, bypassing the need to engineer each patient’s own cells,” said Dr. Lily Wu, professor of molecular and medical pharmacology and urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and co-senior author of the study.

“This approach overcomes the time delays and safety risks of traditional immunotherapies, especially for patients with aggressive, late-stage disease.”