From November 14 to 17, 2024, the Cellular Therapy and Immunotherapy Conference (CTI) was held in Hangzhou, China, bringing together global leaders in cell and immunotherapy. This conference served as an international platform for academic exchange and as a showcase for cutting-edge scientific achievements driving advancements in the field. During the event, Hematology Frontier had the honor of speaking with Dr. Herbert Kim Lyerly, former Director of the Duke University Cancer Center. Professor Lyerly shared his insights into the groundbreaking progress in cell therapy and the limitless potential for the future of cell and gene therapy. Below is a summary of the key points from our conversation.Key Highlights
- Broadening Applications: Cell and gene therapy is achieving remarkable results in treating certain cancers and is now being applied to autoimmune diseases, significantly expanding its scope.
- innovative Approaches: Cutting-edge advancements have enabled scientists to create “miniature robotic” cells with added or removed functions, paving the way for new strategies in precision medicine.
- Bright Future: As technological hurdles are overcome, challenges such as safe cell implantation and functional recovery are being addressed, offering a promising outlook for cell and gene therapy.
- A Multifunctional Toolbox: By skillfully engineering cells, the medical community is building a “toolbox” of unique functions to tackle a variety of diseases.
Dr. Herbert Kim Lyerly: The current focus of cell and gene therapy lies in its exceptional effectiveness in treating certain cancers, and it is now being extended to autoimmune diseases. This development has significantly broadened the scope of cell and gene therapy, offering new hope not only to cancer patients, particularly those with hematologic malignancies, but also to individuals with non-cancerous diseases. Certain cellular therapies are showing a dramatic impact on autoimmune conditions where the body attacks itself, providing new solutions to long-standing medical challenges.
One of the most exciting innovations in cell therapy is the ability to design cells with specific combinations of functions. By adding or removing functions, we can create cell products that act like miniature robots, capable of activating or inhibiting specific elements within the body. This not only opens the door to precision treatments for current diseases but also holds immense potential for the future of medicine, with effects that could last for decades.
International conferences like CTI provide invaluable opportunities to witness the diversity of research happening worldwide. Many investigators showcased creative techniques, applying their knowledge in unique ways to address various diseases. While not all approaches will succeed, this environment of comparison, learning, and collaboration fosters advancements that can significantly improve patient outcomes.
In addition to cell therapy, our team has started exploring subcellular compartments—such as cell fragments or exosomes—that may be the functional components of cell therapy. These smaller components might be better suited to reach areas of the body that whole cells cannot access, and they could also reduce manufacturing costs. While it’s unclear if they’ll work as effectively as whole cells, their targeted functionality could have a significant impact on certain diseases.
The future of cell and gene therapy is undeniably bright. For years, the field faced skepticism around fundamental questions: Can cells be safely implanted into patients? Can they recover and perform their intended functions? Today, these barriers have largely been overcome.
More importantly, we’ve learned how to manipulate cells to create highly specific functions. By turning cellular functions on and off or combining them in unique ways, we are essentially building a ‘toolbox’ to fight diseases. This toolbox of diverse functions and combinations is now available to us, waiting to be explored and applied.
It’s incredibly exciting to think about the progress we may achieve in the near future. As these innovations transition from research to clinical practice, they have the potential to deliver significant benefits to patients.
Conclusion
Dr. Herbert Kim Lyerly’s insights highlight the transformative progress in cell and gene therapy and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. The remarkable success of cell therapy in treating cancer and autoimmune diseases not only brings new hope to patients but also offers profound inspiration to the medical community.
As research continues and technology advances, cell and gene therapy is poised to play an increasingly significant role in combating diseases and improving human health. We eagerly anticipate the day when these groundbreaking innovations are fully integrated into clinical practice, delivering tangible benefits to patients and opening a new chapter in the history of medicine.
About Dr. Herbert Kim Lyerly
• Former Director of Duke University Cancer Center
• Professor of Surgery, Pathology, and Immunology at Duke University School of Medicine
• Lifetime Fellow of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge
• Former Chief Cancer Advisor to the White House
• Key research areas include immunotherapy drugs, DC-based cancer vaccines, and exosome-based cancer immunotherapies, with multiple patents and the first clinical trials of exosome cancer immunotherapy under his leadership
