CHOP and UPenn Develop ATLAS-seq for Enhanced Cancer Immunity Detection

Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) created a novel screening method, Aptamer-based T Lymphocyte Activity Screening and SEQuencing (ATLAS-seq), to enhance the detection of antigen-reactive T cells that are more likely to provide stronger immune reactions against cancer cells. 

Researchers are consistently striving to create immunotherapy methods that assist the immune system in identifying and targeting specific protein markers on cancer cells, referred to as tumour antigens, thus educating the body to combat cancer more efficiently and accurately. Identifying antigen-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) is crucial for this precision medicine strategy.

TCRs are protein structures found on the surface of T cells that identify and attach to antigen peptides shown by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, initiating a series of cellular reactions that result in T cell activation. Nonetheless, traditional techniques for isolating antigen-reactive TCRs frequently do not succeed in recognizing TCRs that efficiently activate T cells.

“TCRs identified by ATLAS-seq tend to be more efficient in target cell killing than those identified by conventional technologies,” said Lan Lin, PhD, senior author of the study and Assistant Professor in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine. “Overall, ATLAS-seq improves TCR screening to more effectively identify antigen-reactive TCRs with high functional activity.”