Found a 'New Key' to Producing Cancer Immunotherapy Cells... Chemical Research Boosts CAR Therapy Performance [Reading Science]

Discovery of SRV2 Protein Derived from Simian Virus
Gene Delivery Efficiency Improved by 25%
Extended Survival Period Observed

A Korean research team has developed a new gene delivery technology that can enhance the production efficiency of next-generation cancer immunotherapy cell treatments, namely CAR-T and CAR-NK. By discovering a new "key protein" with superior gene delivery capability compared to previously widely used proteins, the team has presented the possibility of simultaneously improving both anticancer efficacy and productivity.

On June 21, the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology announced that Dr. Jihoon Park’s team has developed a new gene delivery vector utilizing the envelope protein of simian retrovirus type 2 (SRV2).

CAR immune cell therapy production process. Provided by the research team

CAR-T and CAR-NK therapies are next-generation cell and gene therapies in which a patient's immune cells are extracted, engineered to recognize and attack cancer cells by inserting specific genes, and then reinfused into the body. While these therapies show remarkable efficacy against hematologic cancers, they face limitations due to complex manufacturing processes and high costs.

The key lies in the technology used to deliver anticancer genes into immune cells. In this process, viral envelope proteins act as a "key" that opens the cell surface to enable gene delivery.

Currently, RD114, a protein derived from feline viruses, is commonly used as the standard. Seeking new candidates to improve productivity, the research team explored various viruses and focused on the SRV2 envelope protein.

Enhanced Gene Delivery Efficiency Strengthens Anticancer Effects

The study found that the SRV2 protein demonstrated high binding affinity to the ASCT2 receptor present on the surface of immune cells. Delivery vectors utilizing this protein yielded higher viral production than the conventional RD114 method and showed superior gene delivery efficiency in both T cells and NK cells.

In fact, CAR-T cells produced using the SRV2-based vector exhibited approximately 20–25% higher expression of anticancer genes compared to those produced with conventional methods.

The therapeutic effect was also confirmed in animal experiments. In a leukemic mouse model, tumors recurred in 2 out of 4 mice treated with RD114-based CAR-T cells, whereas no tumor growth was observed until the end of the experiment in 3 out of 4 mice treated with SRV2-based CAR-T cells. The survival period was also longer in the latter group compared to the former.

Research team photo. Jihoon Park, Senior Researcher (left), Jeon Munjung, Student Researcher. Courtesy of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology

The research team has already completed optimization of the production process for the SRV2-based gene delivery vector and plans to conduct further studies for mass production and commercialization in the future.

Jihoon Park of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology stated, "It is significant that we have discovered a new candidate with superior gene delivery performance compared to RD114, which has been used worldwide. We have confirmed its potential as a production platform for next-generation CAR-T and CAR-NK therapies."

The results of this study were published in the April 2026 issue of the international journal Nature Communications.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.