Advanced scientific research requires time, perseverance, and strong alliances. It is from this awareness that the bond between Como 1907 and Quelli che... con LUCA ODV has grown since 2022—an organization founded in 2011 in memory of young Luca Ciccioni and at the forefront of supporting research against pediatric myeloid leukemia.
This commitment was recently reaffirmed with conviction by the Larian Club through the launch of the new fourth kit, a limited edition of just 1,000 pieces worldwide designed by Rhuigi Villaseñor in collaboration with RHUDE and Adidas, which debuted in the final home match of the 2025/26 season against Parma. All proceeds from sales were donated to the organization to fund the purchase of cutting-edge scientific equipment, such as the Seahorse Analyser and Incucyte, which are essential for the researchers' work at the Tettamanti Foundation.
One of the most complex and exciting milestones supported through this journey is the development of CARCIK cells for acute myeloid leukemia, a gene therapy studied at the Tettamanti Foundation. As Dr. Sarah Tettamanti, researcher at the center and head of research and development for the CARCIK platform, explains: "These are immune system cells—specifically white blood cells—that are extracted and 'trained' in the laboratory. By inserting a molecular radar called CAR, these cells become capable of recognizing tumor targets with extreme precision and attacking the disease in a targeted manner, sparing healthy tissues as much as possible."
Research into cell therapies demands continuous time and resources. Thanks to the collaboration between the involved parties and the hard work of the researchers, the project has successfully passed the preclinical phase to reach a fundamental milestone: the application for authorization to start the first human clinical trial. This is a decisive step toward transferring a therapy from the lab to the clinic, offering new hope to those facing forms of leukemia resistant to conventional treatments.
This achievement fits into the history of the Tettamanti Foundation, a true center of excellence that since 1988 has been establishing the 'genetic passport' of the disease for every child and adolescent affected by acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Italy. Over the years, this ability to analyze neoplasms at a molecular level has continuously improved treatment, pushing recovery rates above 85% of cases. Over the years, the support of Quelli che... con LUCA ODV has contributed to bringing the CARCIK platform for the treatment of B-cell leukemias and lymphomas (CARCIK-CD19) into clinical practice. Specifically, the organization made it possible to complete preclinical research activities and support the creation of the non-viral gene therapy room—the "Luca Ciccioni" room—within the Stefano Verri Laboratory at the IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori in Monza.
The CARCIK-CD19 therapy is proving to be highly promising in terms of efficacy and safety. Today, the challenge shifts to acute myeloid leukemia with a new generation of CARCIK cells (CARCIK-CD123/33).
Transforming laboratory discoveries into real treatments at the patient's bedside is today's ultimate challenge. This milestone is the fruit of the collaboration between the Tettamanti Foundation, the network of Quelli che... con LUCA, and Como 1907: tangible proof of how the union between science, volunteer work, and sports can make a real difference.