CD69 and neoplasm: Coculture with PANCII PDX tumor cells leads CAR T cells to upregulate CD69 expression (Figure 3C), a marker of early T cell activation, and increases expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon gamma (IFNg), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and granzyme B (GzmB), which are cytokines or effector molecules that contribute to activation, amplification, and persistence of CAR T cell function (Figure 3D).