Combination of IL13Rα2 CAR T cell therapy with PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade for treatment of glioblastoma

We will explore the prospective of combining IL13Ra2-CAR T cell therapy with a PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade against GBM and other IL13Ra2-expressing malignancies by determining 1) central mechanisms regulating CAR-T cell homeostasis at the tumor site, 2) infiltration into the GBM mass, and 3) PD-1 mediated regulation of IL13Ra2-CAR T cells activity in immune competent mouse models to distinguish the involvement of the immune system and glioblastoma in following aims: A1) To determine the regulation of IL13Rα2-CAR T cell function in the glioblastoma multiforme milieu; A2) To determine the role of the PD-1 blockade in the exhaustion and apoptosis of IL13Rα2-CAR T cells.