USC Scientists Create Renewable Cancer-Fighting Cells, Slowing Tumors in Mice
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Oct 16
USC Scientists Create Renewable Cancer-Fighting Cells, Slowing Tumors in Mice
2 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Oct 16
Summary
USC researchers reported in Cell that engineered granulocyte-monocyte progenitors can be expanded long term, creating a potentially renewable source of cancer-fighting immune cells.
The approach targets a key immunotherapy bottleneck: mature macrophages are hard to multiply, engineer, store and keep active, while these immature progenitors can self-renew and later generate functional immune defenders.
In mouse tests, the modified cells settled in bone marrow, kept producing tumor-targeting cells and slowed both blood cancers and solid tumors; adding an immune-activating signal strengthened the antitumor effect.
The donor-cell strategy also worked despite immune mismatches in experiments, pointing to possible off-the-shelf therapies rather than patient-by-patient manufacturing.
The results remain preclinical, but the team said the platform could extend beyond cancer after separate mouse experiments restored antibacterial defenses in chronic granulomatous disease.
If these self-renewing immune cells conquer solid tumors in mice, what hidden hurdles remain before human trials begin?
Could choosing immature cells over mature ones be the ultimate secret to unlocking universal, off-the-shelf cancer cures?
Self-Renewing GMPs in 2026: A Paradigm Shift for Off-the-Shelf CAR Immunotherapy and Regenerative Medicine
Overview
In October 2026, scientists at USC discovered that granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs) can self-renew, overturning the belief that only stem cells have this ability. By engineering these GMPs with CAR technology and immune-activating signals, researchers created cells that settle in bone marrow and continuously produce cancer-fighting macrophages. This approach proved effective in slowing both blood and solid tumors in mice, as the engineered cells could break through tumor barriers and avoid severe side effects seen in traditional CAR-T therapies. Scalable culture methods now allow for mass production of GMPs, paving the way for safe, off-the-shelf cell therapies and new treatments for immune disorders.