Fig. 8. Target-specific activation of CAR T cells in vitro and evaluation of CD66c XS CAR in vivo.

a Activation marker expression on CAR T cells upon co-culture with target cells. b Cytokine release of CAR T cells upon co-culture with target cells. AsPC1 and PaTu 8988 T are established cell lines, PanCa0201 is a cell line below passage 10 derived from a primary PDAC and different PAXF refer to freshly dissociated human PDAC PDX tumors. a, b Shown are mean ± s.e.m (n = 3). E:T = 2:1. Activation marker expression and cytokine release patterns were measured after 48 h. c Representative bioluminescence images of tumor-bearing NSG mice. Tumors were induced by subcutaneously transplanting luciferase expressing AsPC1 (Color scale for all images, min = 1 × 10⁹, max = 1 × 10¹¹). Mice were randomized and treated upon established solid tumors reached 25 mm² by intravenous infusion of 1 × 10⁷ CAR T cells or Mock T cells. d Development of tumor burden for individual mice treated either with Mock T cells (red) or with the respective CAR T cells (Mock: n = 5, CD66c S: n = 5, CD66c XS: n = 5). c Average bioluminescence ± SD of the respective treatment groups (n equal to d). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.