GCC REACH Cohort 4
Teny M. John, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Project Summary: Breath Biomarkers to Predict CRS and ICANS in Patients Receiving CAR T-cell Therapy
Cellular immunotherapy (CI), including CAR T-cell therapy, has revolutionized cancer treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies. Yet, its broader adoption is limited by life-threatening toxicities—specifically cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Our solution is a first-in-class, non-invasive diagnostic platform that analyzes exhaled breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to predict these toxicities before therapy is administered. This enables real-time, bedside-compatible risk stratification and timely intervention—reducing ICU admissions and supporting the safe expansion of CI into outpatient and community oncology settings.
Stephen Safe, Texas A&M University
Project Summary: Orally bioavailable small molecule antagonists of NR4A1/2 that inhibits tumor growth and reprograms the tumor microenvironment to enhance anti-cancer immunity