{
  "id": 10365324,
  "title": "Engineering CAR-T cells to remodel the mucin-rich cancer cell glycocalyx",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/engineering-car-t-cells-to-remodel-the-mucin-rich-cancer-cell",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-27T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.754490v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The dense glycoprotein layer, or glycocalyx, surrounding cancer cells can obstruct immune cells from reaching and binding to specific antigens on the cell surface, thus inhibiting the action of CAR-T cells. A recent study reveals that the density of mucins and their positioning on the cell surface play a crucial role in determining how glycocalyx remodeling impacts CAR-T cell recognition and killing. Researchers have identified KLK5, a human protease enzyme, which cleaves tumor-associated mucins, thereby increasing the accessibility of membrane-proximal antigens and boosting CAR-T cell functionality. To harness this potential, the scientists engineered CAR-T cells to either display or secrete KLK5, facilitating the remodeling of the tumor's glycocalyx during antigen recognition. CAR-T cells engineered to express or secrete KLK5 demonstrated enhanced tumor control in various xenograft models. Among these, CAR-T cells that secreted KLK5, specifically those targeting the MUC17 antigen, exhibited the most significant improvement in survival rates compared to conventional MUC17 CAR-T cells. These findings suggest that engineering CAR-T cells to breach the mucin-rich glycocalyx while maintaining access to essential target epitopes could significantly enhance the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy.",
  "summary": "The dense glycocalyx of cancer cells can restrict immune-cell access to surface antigens and limit CAR-T cell activity. Here, we show that mucin density and epitope position determine how glycocalyx remodeling affects CAR-T cell recognition and killing. We identify KLK5 as a human protease that cleaves tumor-associated mucins, increases access to membrane-proximal antigens, and enhances CAR-T…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}