dr. Robrecht De Vos (MD)

Adoptive chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has shown remarkable efficacy in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and other B-cell malignancies. CD19-targeted CAR T cells can eradicate late-stage leukemia in 70–90% of treated patients. This therapeutic approach involves engineering T cells to express synthetic chimeric receptors composed of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) derived from a monoclonal antibody, enabling antigen-specific recognition, combined with intracellular signaling domains such as CD3ζ, CD28, and/or 4-1BB to drive T cell activation and persistence.
To date, no CAR T cell therapies have been approved for solid tumors. Our team has developed a highly promising CAR T therapy targeting CD70, an antigen expressed on several solid tumors. The aim of my research is to bridge the gap between the preclinical development of this CAR T cell product in the laboratory and its application in the clinic.
The target population we have identified is patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common form of kidney cancer. Patients with metastatic ccRCC have a very poor prognosis, highlighting a clear unmet clinical need. To support our translational efforts, we have established patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of ccRCC. In the next phase of the project, we will evaluate the efficacy of our CD70-targeted CAR T cells in these PDX models.
Additionally, we have optimized the functionality of our CAR T cells using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. A crucial part of my project involves assessing the potential off-target effects of CRISPR modifications to ensure the safety of the final product.
In summary, the overarching goal of my project is to bring our CD70-targeted CAR T cell therapy as close to clinical application as possible, with the ultimate aim of initiating a first-in-human clinical trial in the near future.
 

• Master of Medicine in Medicine
• Master of Medicine in Specialist Medicine (Internal Medicine) – Subspecialisation Oncology
   

• Lab address: campus UZ Gent, MRB2 (entrance 38), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent
• LinkedIn 
• Robrecht De Vos is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks