MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. announced the presentation of preclinical data from MiNK-215, an IL-15 armored FAP-targeting CAR-iNKT cell therapy, at the upcoming AACR Meeting, to be held April 5 ? 10, 2024 in San Diego, CA. MiNK-215 is an investigational IL-15 armored FAP-targeting CAR-iNKT cell therapy being studied in human organoid models as a novel approach for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases.

The liver acts an essential filter for foreign substances that enter the body through the intestinal tract, shutting down the cytotoxic T cell responses against foreign antigens. This includes the tumor antigens that present due to liver metastases, as the liver shuts down the anti-cancer T cell response. Consequently, liver metastases pose a significant challenge for current pharmacological treatments, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

iNKT cells offer promise in overcoming this immune barrier, given their natural ability to reside in and migrate to the liver. The liver has the largest number of iNKT cells as compared to any other organ and iNKT cells are drawn to CD1d-expressing cells, a prevalent cell type in the liver. In human organoid models of CRC with liver metastases, MiNK-215 potently enhanced tumor killing by T cells and was associated with depletion of immune suppressive FAP-expressing stellate cells and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration.

This allows the body to mount a much stronger T-cell response against the liver metastases, which can then be further enhanced by adding ICIs, like Agenus? botensilimab/balstilimab.