VHH-based CAR-T cells targeting Claudin 18.2 show high efficacy in pancreatic cancer models

This study establishes an effective framework for developing CLDN18.2-specific VHHs and demonstrates their successful integration into CAR-T cell therapy. The humanized HM2-CAR-T cells not only maintain high antigen specificity but also exhibit strong effector functions and pronounced antitumor activity in preclinical models. These findings support the clinical promise of VHH-based CAR-T cells as a next-generation immunotherapy for CLDN18.2-expressing malignancies, particularly PDAC, where effective treatment options remain limited.

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Publication Details

Journal
Frontiers in Immunology
Published
2026-01-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1638585
Primary Topic
CAR-T cell therapy research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

VHH-based CAR-T cells targeting Claudin 18.2 show high efficacy in pancreatic cancer models

Xiancheng Liu, X. Ronald Zhu, Yiqin Song, Y J Zhang et al.
Frontiers in Immunology
CAR-T cell therapy research
article

VHH-based CAR-T cells targeting Claudin 18.2 show high efficacy in pancreatic cancer models

Xiancheng Liu, X. Ronald Zhu, Yiqin Song, Y J Zhang, Krista Casazza, Mike K. S. Chan, Ying Xing, Z. J. Li, Jonathan R. T. Lakey, Linghu Nie, Shilin Sun, Gangqiang Shi, Yuping Chen, Michelle B. F. Wong, Yunfeng Feng
article en

Abstract

This study establishes an effective framework for developing CLDN18.2-specific VHHs and demonstrates their successful integration into CAR-T cell therapy. The humanized HM2-CAR-T cells not only maintain high antigen specificity but also exhibit strong effector functions and pronounced antitumor activity in preclinical models. These findings support the clinical promise of VHH-based CAR-T cells as a next-generation immunotherapy for CLDN18.2-expressing malignancies, particularly PDAC, where effective treatment options remain limited.

Frontiers in ImmunologyVol. 16
University of California, Irvine (US), Heidelberg University (DE), University Hospital Heidelberg (DE), Shanghai Chest Hospital (CN), Heidelberg University of Education (DE), European Academy of Technology and Innovation Assessment (DE), Lincoln University College (MY), Heidelberg Engineering (Germany) (DE), Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University (CN), Irvine University (US), Hochschule für Finanzen Rheinland Pfalz (DE), Baoding People's Hospital (CN), Heidelberg University (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 99%
CAR-T cell therapy research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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