STINGKO CAR-T

STINGKO CAR-T is an experimental cellular immunotherapy consisting of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that have undergone CRISPR-Cas9-mediated ablation of the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) protein. Developed by researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, this approach is designed to treat solid tumors, particularly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The genetic deletion of STING in the CAR-T cells is intended to prevent detrimental T cell-intrinsic STING signaling, which can lead to cell death and exhaustion when exposed to STING agonists. This modification allows for the synergistic use of STING agonists (such as diABZI) to activate the STING pathway within the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells—promoting an inflammatory state and enhancing anti-tumor immunity—without compromising the viability and function of the CAR-T cells themselves. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that STINGKO CAR-T cells exhibit improved proliferation, reduced exhaustion, and superior tumor control compared to conventional CAR-T cells when combined with STING-targeted therapies.

Other names

STING-knockout CAR-T cellsSTING-deficient CAR-T cells