MD Anderson Cancer Center is partnering with notable organizations to explore the effects of space on T cell biology. This research aims to unlock new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment by studying cell differentiation, activation and exhaustion in microgravity.
In an unprecedented collaboration, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and its partners are launching a research project that will take T cells to the International Space Station (ISS). The objective is to investigate the impact of prolonged microgravity on these vital immune cells. The findings could revolutionize our understanding of immune responses and therapeutic strategies for cancer and other diseases.
Led by Cassian Yee and Kunal Rai, the research team will collaborate with Axiom Space, BioServe Space Technologies, Deep Space Biology and Mongoose Bio.
“We are excited to join with talented collaborators who are experienced in biological research and in delivering payloads to deep space in order to leverage the unique research environment of sustained microgravity on the ISS National Laboratory,” Yee, a professor of melanoma medical oncology at MD Anderson, said in a news release. “We look forward to this opportunity to study how T cells are affected by microgravity, identify novel targets and translate these findings into meaningful therapeutic strategies that can improve cellular therapies and enhance life here on Earth.”
Harnessing the Power of Space
This groundbreaking experiment will utilize Axiom Space and BioServe Space Technologies for implementation, building on their extensive experience in space-based biological payloads. The research will involve multiple space missions, enabling in-depth study and potential application on Axiom Space’s upcoming commercial station, Axiom Station.
Employing cutting-edge technology, Rai and Yee’s laboratories plan to perform single-cell sequencing on cryopreserved samples brought back from space. This analysis will help uncover the epigenetic changes that occur in T cells under microgravity, leading to new models of T cell states.
The Deep Space Biology’s Yotta technology, the first AI platform leveraging space biology for health discoveries, will be a critical tool in this analysis.
Additionally, Mongoose Bio will use technology licensed from MD Anderson to translate space-based discoveries into scalable cell therapy projects and novel cancer treatments.
Promising Prospects for Immune Therapies
Cell therapy, a powerful form of immunotherapy, modifies or expands immune cells to attack cancer more effectively. While groundbreaking, these therapies, such as CAR T cell therapy, face challenges like T cell exhaustion and cancer’s evasive evolution.
This space-based study aims to map the transcriptional and epigenetic signatures of T cell memory, effector and exhaustion states induced by microgravity. Insights gained could inform and enhance strategies for various other cell therapies under development, including endogenous T cell (ETC) therapies, TCR-based therapies and CAR NK cell therapies.
“This multidisciplinary project bridges the intersection of space science and immunology to uncover potential breakthroughs in cell therapy research,” added Rai, an associate professor of genomic medicine at MD Anderson. “This work will provide new insights into immune cell epigenetic pathways that will allow us to identify targets, simulate models and develop techniques to enhance T cell memory and prevent cell exhaustion so we can improve patient outcomes.”
The project is being funded by a grant from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS), which manages the ISS National Laboratory. CASIS and NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences division aim to support spaceflight projects leading to significant technological innovations and national research advancements.