Off-the-Shelf Immunotherapy May Offer Benefits in Kidney Cancer

Researchers have created a novel immunotherapy for metastatic kidney cancer that could provide a new treatment option for patients with limited options. Image generated by Google Gemini.

Researchers have created a novel immunotherapy for metastatic kidney cancer that could provide a new treatment option for patients with limited options, according to a news release from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), UCLA Health.

The therapy, called AlloCAR70-NKT, uses specially engineered immune cells equipped to attack kidney cancer tumors while reprogramming the tumor’s protective environment; this is done without the need to customize treatment for each patient.

“This off-the-shelf approach turns stem cells into powerful cancer-fighting immune cells ready for any patient,” said Dr. Lily Wu, professor of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology and Urology at UCLA. “It bypasses the time delays and safety risks associated with traditional immunotherapies, especially for patients with aggressive, late-stage disease.”

Despite advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy, many patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), an aggressive and often fatal type of kidney cancer, do not respond or eventually relapse. The five-year survival rate for metastatic RCC remains approximately 12%, highlighting the urgent need for new and more effective treatment strategies.

How AlloCAR70-NKT Works Against Kidney Cancer

AlloCAR70-NKT therapy was developed at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research. The therapy leverages the body’s immune system to fight cancer more effectively than traditional treatments.

Researchers genetically engineered natural killer T (NKT) cells derived from stem cells to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting CD70, a protein commonly found on kidney cancer cells. These cells are designed to resist immune rejection and remain active in the tumor microenvironment.

“This approach addresses a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy: creating a therapy that is ready to use for any patient while persisting and functioning effectively without causing serious immune complications,” explained Dr. Lili Yang, professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at UCLA. “Traditional CAR-T therapies often fail in solid tumors like kidney cancer due to limited durability, poor tumor penetration, and immune suppression. AlloCAR70-NKT cells are engineered to overcome these obstacles.”

Does this Treatment Offer a Safer, More Effective Option?

Preclinical studies show AlloCAR70-NKT cells perform a multi-pronged attack against kidney cancer. First, they directly kill tumor cells using both their engineered CAR and natural NKT receptors, even when tumors express low levels of CD70.

Second, the cells disrupt the tumor’s microenvironment, which normally shields the tumor from immune attack. By dismantling this protective barrier, the therapy makes tumors more vulnerable to the immune system.

Third, AlloCAR70-NKT cells eliminate CD70-positive host immune cells that would otherwise reject the donor cells, allowing the therapy to persist longer and sustain its anti-tumor effects. Because these engineered cells do not remain in the body indefinitely, patients face a lower risk of long-term immune system problems, including chronic immune suppression or graft-versus-host disease.

“This multi-pronged strategy targets both the tumor and its surrounding support system, making AlloCAR70-NKT a potent, multifunctional, and safer immunotherapy option for metastatic kidney cancer,” said Dr. Arnold Chin, professor of Urology at UCLA. “If early results translate to patients, this therapy could offer a new lifeline for many.”

The study was published in Cell Reports Medicine and highlights collaboration among UCLA scientists.

AlloCAR70-NKT represents a next-generation immunotherapy that could expand access and improve outcomes for patients facing the challenges of metastatic kidney cancer, offering a new treatment option where conventional therapies often fall short, the news release concludes.

Reference

"UCLA scientists develop off-the-shelf immunotherapy for metastatic kidney cancer," by Denise Heady. UCLA Health; Aug. 29, 2025.

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