# Treating Liver Cancer with Specially Trained Immune Cells > This patent describes a method for treating hepatocellular cancer by giving patients specially activated immune cells that are trained to recognize and kill cancer cells displaying a specific protein fragment. - **Patent:** US 12168044 - **Original title:** Peptides and combination of peptides for use in immunotherapy against non-small cell lung cancer and other cancers - **Owner:** Immatics Biotechnologies - **Granted:** 2024 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, immunotherapy, gene_editing ## What it does This patent describes a method for treating hepatocellular cancer, a type of liver cancer, by administering activated T cells to a patient. These T cells are specifically designed to kill cancer cells that display a particular peptide, KVLEHVVRV (SEQ ID NO: 1), on their surface, bound to an MHC class I molecule (claim 1). The activated T cells can be created in two main ways: either by genetically modifying T cells with a specific T cell receptor (TCR) that recognizes the target peptide (claim 2), or by training T cells outside the body using special 'antigen presenting cells' that display the peptide (claim 3). The treatment can also include giving additional helper medicines, called adjuvants, such as IL-2, IL-7, or IL-15, to boost the immune response (claim 4). For example, a patient with hepatocellular cancer could receive an infusion of their own T cells, modified in a lab to target the KVLEHVVRV peptide found on their tumor cells. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover treating cancers other than hepatocellular cancer. - Does not cover targeting cancer cells with peptides other than KVLEHVVRV (SEQ ID NO: 1). - Does not cover methods where the T cells do not bind the target peptide in a complex with an MHC class I molecule. - Does not cover cancer immunotherapies that do not involve administering activated T cells, such as traditional vaccines using the peptide alone. ## The clever bit The novelty lies in identifying a specific peptide, KVLEHVVRV, as a target for T cells in hepatocellular cancer, and then outlining precise methods to activate T cells to recognize this peptide when presented by MHC class I molecules on tumor cells. ## Real-world examples 1. TCR-T cell therapies for solid tumors 2. CAR-T cell therapies (a related but distinct approach) 3. Personalized cancer immunotherapies ## Why it matters Hepatocellular cancer is a challenging disease to treat, and targeted immunotherapies offer new hope. This patent focuses on a highly specific approach, using the body's own immune system, specifically T cells, to identify and destroy cancer cells based on a unique marker. Such targeted therapies aim to reduce side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy by focusing the attack directly on tumor cells. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Treating Liver Cancer with Specially Trained Immune Cells cover? This patent describes a method for treating hepatocellular cancer by giving patients specially activated immune cells that are trained to recognize and kill cancer cells displaying a specific protein fragment. ### Who owns patent US 12168044? Immatics Biotechnologies owns this patent, granted in 2024. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on October 19, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? Hepatocellular cancer is a challenging disease to treat, and targeted immunotherapies offer new hope. This patent focuses on a highly specific approach, using the body's own immune system, specifically T cells, to identify and destroy cancer cells based on a unique marker. Such targeted therapies aim to reduce side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy by focusing the attack directly on tumor cells. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover treating cancers other than hepatocellular cancer. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12168044/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-non-small- **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12168044 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Specific Protein Fragment Can Train Immune Cells to Fight Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10314897/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-various-ca) — This patent describes methods to fight various cancers by using a specific protein fragment (peptide LYHDIFSRL) to train a patient's immune cells to recognize and attack tumor cells. - [How Genetically Modified T-Cells Attack Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9328156/use-of-chimeric-antigen-receptor-modified-t-cells-to-treat-cancer) — This patent describes how human T cells are genetically engineered to express a special receptor (CAR) that specifically targets and kills cancer cells, particularly those with the CD19 marker, offering a new way to treat cancer. - [How Genetically Modified T-Cells Fight CD19 Cancers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9481728/compositions-and-methods-for-treatment-of-cancer) — This patent describes how to create and use genetically modified human T cells that target and kill cancer cells expressing the CD19 protein, offering a new way to treat blood cancers. - [How an mRNA Vaccine Targets Prostate Cancer with Six Antigens](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160166668/composition-and-vaccine-for-treating-prostate-cancer) — This patent describes an mRNA vaccine designed to treat prostate cancer by delivering genetic instructions for a specific combination of six prostate-related proteins, teaching the body to fight the cancer. - [Predicting and Treating Dangerous Side Effects in CAR T-Cell Therapy](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12163952/determining-toxicity-risk-in-car-t-cell-therapy) — This patent describes methods to identify patients at high risk for severe side effects, like cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity, during CAR T-cell cancer therapy and how to treat them proactively.