Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41372740›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Tuning CAR-T cells by targeting cancer-associated glycan in pancreatic cancer.

Sangwoo Park, Cassidy E Ho, Eli P Darnell, Alexandra N Wolff, Hana Takei, Filippo Birocchi, Amanda A Bouffard, Diego Salas-Benito, Giulia Escobar, Mark B Leick and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Engineering the next generation of cellular therapies for solid tumors: multi-specific armored CARs and TME reprogramming strategies.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Sangwoo ParkKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2701-3114
Cassidy E HoKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Eli P DarnellKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Alexandra N WolffKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Hana TakeiKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-7388-7736
Filippo BirocchiKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5214-233X
Amanda A BouffardKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Diego Salas-BenitoKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Giulia EscobarKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9177-0251
Mark B LeickKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3111-0221
Adele MucciKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Trisha R BergerKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Marcela V MausKrantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. mvmaus@mgh.harvard.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7578-0393

Funding

Overcoming tumor heterogeneity in glioblastoma with multi-targeted CAR T cells secreting bispecific antibodiesR01CA238268 · NCI · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI Marcela Valderrama Maus · 2019 to 2026
$4.0M
Targeted delivery of a VEGF‐blocking scFv by CD70 CAR‐T cells to enhance anti‐tumor activity in renal cell carcinomaK08CA289948 · NCI · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI Mark Leick · 2024 to 2026
$893k
Engineering novel CAR-T cell therapy to overcome the cancer cell glycocalyxK99CA303346 · NCI · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI Sangwoo Park · 2025 to 2026
$352k
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (Cancer Research Fund of the Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Foundation) DRG-2529-24NCI NIH HHS K08 CA289948NCI NIH HHS K99 CA303346NCI NIH HHS R01 CA238268U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Cancer Institute (NCI) K99CA303346U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Cancer Institute (NCI) R01CA238268
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has transformed cancer treatment but its efficacy remains limited in solid tumors due to antigen heterogeneity, an immunosuppressive microenvironment, and the glycocalyx barrier. The glycocalyx, composed of dense glycoproteins such as MUC1, is markedly expanded in cancers, where it impedes immune cell access and antigen engagement, thereby reducing efficacy. In most adenocarcinomas, Tn antigen, comprising N-acetylgalactosamine linked to serine or threonine, is overexpressed. Tn-MUC1, a truncated form of MUC1 decorated with Tn antigen, is frequently overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. Here, we incorporate a non-signaling glyco-bridge binder recognizing Tn-MUC1 into mesothelin-directed CAR-T cells. This bridge enhances tumor recognition and cytotoxicity by increasing avidity and facilitating CAR activation in a density- and affinity-dependent manner. To broaden its applicability, we design a tandem Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) lectin-based bridge that recognizes Tn antigens across cancer types. CAR-T cells with the HPA-bridge exhibit superior cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer models.

Indexed as

Immunotherapy, AdoptivePancreatic NeoplasmsPolysaccharidesReceptors, Chimeric AntigenT-LymphocytesAnimalsAntigens, Tumor-Associated, CarbohydrateCell Line, TumorFemaleGPI-Linked ProteinsHumansMesothelinMiceMucin-1Xenograft Model Antitumor AssaysAntigens, Tumor-Associated, CarbohydrateGPI-Linked ProteinsMesothelinMSLN protein, humanMUC1 protein, humanMucin-1PolysaccharidesReceptors, Chimeric AntigenTn antigen

Identifiers

PMID41372740
PMCPMC12717153

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.