METHODS FOR ENHANCING IN VIVO PERSISTENCE AND EFFICACY OF EXOGENOUSLY ADMINISTERED T CELLS, GENETICALLY MODIFIED T CELLS AND METHOD AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

A method for enhancing the in vitro and in vivo lifespan of T cells is provided. A method for enhancing the life span of a T cell is provided. The method includes engineering the T cell to express exogenous ribonucleic acid (RNA), where the RNA includes a nucleic acid encoding telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). T cells genetically engineered to transiently express exogenous RNA which includes the coding sequence for TERT (TERT T cells) are provided. TERT T cells have one or more of the following characteristics when compared to a T cells not expressing TERT from an exogenously introduced nucleotide: enhanced in vitro and in vivo proliferation, decreased number of senescent cells， and enhanced in vivo anti-cancer activity. The modified TERT T cells can be used in adoptive cell transfer to treat a subject in need thereof.