CD2 costimulation bridges potent CAR-induced cytolysis and durable persistence

Background <p>Current second-generation CAR T cell products rely on CD28 or 4-1BB costimulatory domains, additions that respectively favor rapid cytolysis or long-term persistence, but rarely both. Preclinical modeling and retrospective analysis have linked CD2&ndash;CD58 engagement to superior preclinical and clinical responses, yet the direct contribution of CD2 intracellular signaling remains undefined.</p> Methods <p>We replaced the costimulatory domain of anti-mesothelin (SS1)…