The schematics below show how an ImmTAC molecule works. In the first step, ImmTAC molecules recognise and strongly bind to cancer cells displaying a defined target (peptide-HLA) (1). The free end of the ImmTAC molecule (an anti-CD3 antibody fragment) recruits, or redirects’ circulating T cells to the tumour site (2). The ImmTAC molecule forms a bridge between the cancer cell and the T cell, enabling the formation of a perfectly optimised immune synapse (3). Lytic granules are released by the re-directed and activated T cell, leading to destruction of the cancer cell (4).
The videos below show real cancer cells being killed by ImmTAC-redirected T cells, the schematics on the right show the different cell types that can be seen in each video.
Here, ImmTAC-redirected non-cancer specific T cells (shown in blue) kill the cancer cells (shown in red), leaving adjacent non-cancerous cells (shown in green) intact.
Here, a single ImmTAC-redirected non-cancer specific T cell (shown in blue) kills multiple cancer cells (shown in red) through serial killing.
