Kyoto and Suita--- The Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University ("CiRA"; Headquarters: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan; Director: Shinya Yamanaka) and KOTAI Biotechnologies, Inc. ("KOTAI"; Headquarters: Suita, Osaka, Japan; CEO, Kazuo Yamashita) jointly announced today that they have initiated joint research on personalized cancer immunotherapy using regenerated T cells¹ derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells².

The laboratory of Associate Professor Shin Kaneko at the Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation at CiRA has been engaged in research on therapeutic regenerative T cells using iPS cells for cancer immune cell therapies. In these therapies, cytotoxic T cells³ that can attack cancer cells are isolated from cancer patients and reprogrammed into iPS cells. These iPS cells are then used to produce large numbers of rejuvenated T cells with high anti-cancer function (see figure below). CiRA and KOTAI have started joint research to establish more efficacious individualized cancer immune cell therapies using a surface antigen⁴ specifically expressed on anti-cancer cytotoxic T cells and immuno-informatics technologies possessed by KOTAI.

In this joint research, CiRA isolates T cells from cancer tissue and conducts iPS cell induction, T cell redifferentiation, and functional evaluation, while KOTAI provides information on the surface antigen for the T cell isolation and performs genetic analysis of the cells.

CiRA and KOTAI are working diligently to further the development and spread of cancer immune cell therapies.

(Note 1) T cells
A type of lymphocyte that acts in immunity by recognizing and eliminating infected cells and cancer cells. Each T cell responds to a specific antigen. There are various types of T cells, such as cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells and others.

(Note 2) iPS cells
Somatic cells, such as skin or blood cells are reprogrammed into the pluripotent state by introducing a few genes. iPS cells are a type of stem cell with almost indefinite capacity to multiply and can differentiate into almost any kind of cell in the body.

(Note 3) Cytotoxic T cells
A type of T cell. When antigen information is received from other immune cells, cytotoxic T cells attack the cells corresponding to the antigen.

(Note 4) Surface antigen
A substance on a cell surface recognized by an antibody.