9.30 – 4.00 EST | 6.30 – 1.00 PST
* Please note that the following agenda timings are Eastern Time.
For Pacific Times, please download the full event guide here
9:30 am | Coffee Networking Session
9:55 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
10:00 am Keynote Panel Discussion – Driving Clinical Success in Solid Tumor Settings
Synopsis
- What is the optimal cell type to tackle the solid tumor microenvironment
- What solid tumors should the field be targeting first, considering myeloid compartments and heterogeneity?
- Address acquired versus inherent resistance to immunotherapy
- Discuss how different modalities induce epitope spreading and the potential of this to overcome heterogeneity
Enhancing Cell Fitness & Safety Control through Gene Engineering
10:40 am Context-Dependent Upregulation of Multiple Endogenous Genes in Solid Tumor Cell Therapies
Synopsis
- CRISPR activation is a non-editing approach than can turn on multiple endogenous genes simultaneously
- Antigen-driven conditional up regulation reduces risk of immunological side effects and tumorigenesis
- Up regulation of both IL-12 and cJun in the same CAR-T has the potential for a curative cell therapy in solid tumor
11:10 am Cellular Avidity to Tumor Cells is a Key Driver for Engineered T Cell Functioning
Synopsis
– CARs and TCRs do not need highest affinity for best T cell performance
– CAR T cells require suboptimal cellular avidity while TCR T cells function best having the highest cellular avidity
– First CAR T cell studies reveal correlation between avidity data and in vivo tumor reduction and T cell function
– Cellular avidity has potential to be a key quality attribute used for cell product release to patients
11:40 am
Speed Networking and Refreshment Break
Synopsis
Like speed dating, but for business! Turn on your camera and randomly connect with speakers, delegates and partners of the conference so you can meet as many people as possible. Your random connection could lead to your next collaboration!
12:30 pm Empowering TCR-Ts to Infiltrate, Proliferate and Control Solid Tumors in a Hostile TME
Synopsis
- Selection of an antigen-specific and sensitive TCR for a good tumor target is the starting point for successful control of solid tumors
- Modification of TCR-Ts themselves to express a PD1-41BB switch receptor fosters improved T cell functions in a hostile TME
- We demonstrate the power of this intrinsic combination of signals to control tumor growth using in vitro and in vivo models
Strategies to Identify and Target Safe Solid Tumor Antigens
1:00 pm Functional Phenomics Enabling Comprehensive Analysis of Cancer-Immune Cell Interactions at Single-Cell Resolution
Synopsis
• Investigate temporal cellular interactions between different resident cell types (e.g., cancer cells, macrophages, T-cells, NK cells) of the solid tumor microenvironment
• Examine intratumor heterogeneity and cellular crosstalks in a physiologically relevant 3D microenvironment at single-cell resolution
• Connect single cell’s functional phenotypes with the underlying genome and transcriptome
• Analyze dynamic secretion profiles of cytokines from every single cell-pair
1:10 pm Intestinal Proteins as Safe CAR-T Cell Therapy Targets for GI Cancers
Synopsis
- Describe GUCY2C, a compartmentalized intestinal protein that may be targetable in GI cancers
- Address preclinical safety and efficacy data of GUCY2C-directed CAR-T cell therapies
- Review translational and clinical manufacturing plans as well as clinical trial design
1:40 pm A Modular Approach to Combinatorial Antigen Recognition Using Co-Stimulatory CARs in NK Cells
Synopsis
- Outline the development of an approach to safely target epithelialbased antigens using co-stimulatory CARs
- Highlight benefits of utilizing NK cells as the platform for combinatorial antigen recognition
- Discuss potential clinical applications/indications for co-targeting tumors and the tumor microenvironment
2:10 pm
Lunch & Networking Break
Synopsis
Take this time to review the attendee list and reach out to your colleagues to set up meetings and video calls to discuss potential collaborations.
3:00 pm Bioinformatics to Identify Optimal Solid Tumor Targets and Improve Antigen Selection
Synopsis
- Discuss what is the CD19 equivalent in solid tumors?
- Review the clinical potential of HER2, MAC3, MAC4, Mage3, Mage4, and more
- Best-in-class bioinformatics platforms to identify safe tumor targets
3:30 pm TAC-T Cells for Solid Tumors
Synopsis
- Key advantages of T cells engineered with the TAC (T Cell Antigen Coupler) receptor to treat solid tumors
- Development status of TAC01-HER2, a HER2-directed TAC-T cell product in a Phase I clinical trial
- Identification and development of novel TAC receptors against safe solid tumor antigens
4:00 pm Identification of Novel pHLA Targets for Solid Tumor Targeting with TCR based Therapies
Synopsis
- Advantages of intracellular targets (pHLAs) versus viral, neoantigens or conventional cell surface antigens
- Strategies to find the most prevalent and immunogenic pHLA targets in tumors of CPI responders
- Selection of self-antigen targets with highest tumor vs normal ratios to avoid off-tumor, on-target toxicities of TCR based therapies