Home | Research | Translation Groups | CARs & TRUCKs CARs & TRUCKs Research The Clinical Translation Group „CARs & TRUCKs“ translates innovative concepts from the CAR and TRUCK T cell academic research into clinical trials for the treatment of hematologic and solid cancers. We focus on the pre-clinical validation of CAR T cells, process development and stepwise adaption to the GMP-compliant manufacturing process in close cooperation with the José-Carreras-Center. Our goal is to secure a fast transfer and harmonization of the clinical trial pipeline. Novel next-generation CAR We are currently involved in the preparation of a phase I trial that explores a novel next-generation CAR design for the treatment of metastatic CEA+ gastrointestinal cancer using CD30/CEA CAR T cells that exhibit prolonged and improved T cell activation due to CD30 blockade in CAR T cells. Next-generation CAR. Created in BioRender. Abken, H. (2025) https://BioRender.com/jxjiz98 Bio Render Pre-clinical testing to improve safety in CAR T cell application Novel CAR exodomains may show unexpected reactivities upon molecular antibody engineering. Together with the Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Regensburg, we established a histology screen to uncover reactivities to healthy tissue and discuss the value of such pre-clinical testing to improve safety in CAR T cell applications. The risk of reactivity against healthy tissues: Novel CARs demand testing for overlooked binding properties, Holzinger et al. Mol Ther. 2025 Jun 4;33(6):2328-2329. Publications Aleksandrova K, Leise J, Priesner C et al (2024) Automated manufacturing and characterization of clinical grade autologous CD20 CAR T cells for the treatment of patients with stage III/IV melanoma. Front Immunol 15:1328368. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1328368 Barden M, Elsenbroich PR, Haas V et al (2024) Integrating binding affinity and tonic signaling enables a rational CAR design for augmented T cell function. J Immunother Cancer 12:e010208. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2024-010208 Barden M, Holzinger A, Velas L et al (2023) CAR and TCR form individual signaling synapses and do not cross-activate, however, can co-operate in T cell activation. Front Immunol 14:1110482. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1110482 Holzinger A, Abken H (2017) CAR T cells targeting solid tumors: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) proves to be a safe target. Cancer Immunol Immunother CII 66:1505–1507. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-017-2045-4 Holzinger A, Abken H (2022) Treatment with Living Drugs: Pharmaceutical Aspects of CAR T Cells. Pharmacology 107:446–463. https://doi.org/10.1159/000525052 Holzinger A, Weber F, Abken H (2025) The risk of reactivity against healthy tissues: Novel CARs demand testing for overlooked binding properties. Mol Ther J Am Soc Gene Ther:S1525-0016(24)00835–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.12.035 Köhl U, Arsenieva S, Holzinger A, Abken H (2018) CAR T Cells in Trials: Recent Achievements and Challenges that Remain in the Production of Modified T Cells for Clinical Applications. Hum Gene Ther 29:559–568. https://doi.org/10.1089/hum.2017.254 Team & Lab Life Dr. Astrid Holzinger Head of Translation Group | CARs & TRUCKs Tel: +49 941 944 38114 Email: Astrid.Holzinger@ukr.de
