Multipurposing CARs: Same engine, different vehicles

• Authors: Nawshad AKM Hossian, Emory University; Christopher S Hackett, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Renier J Brentjens, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; Sarwish Rafiq, Emory University
• Journal Title: MOLECULAR THERAPY
• Volume: Volume 30, Number 4
• Publisher: CELL PRESS | 2022-04-06, Pages 1381-1395
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.02.012
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Oncology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; Genetics & Heredity; Medicine, Research & Experimental; Research & Experimental Medicine; CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR; MESENCHYMAL STEM-CELLS; NATURAL-KILLER-CELLS; REGULATORY T-CELLS; IN-VIVO; NK CELLS; STROMAL CELLS; BONE-MARROW; MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY; MONOLAYER-CULTURES

Abstract

T cells genetically engineered to recognize and eliminate tumor cells through synthetic chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have demonstrated remarkable clinical efficacy against B cell leukemia over the past decade. This therapy is a form of highly personalized medicine that involves genetically modifying a patient's T cells to recognize and kill cancer cells. With the FDA approval of 5 CAR T cell products, this approach has been validated as a powerful new drug in the therapeutic armamentarium against cancer. Researchers are now studying how to expand this technology beyond its use in conventional polyclonal αβ T cells to address limitations to the current therapy in cancer and applications beyond it. Considering the specific characteristics of immune cell from diverse lineages, several preclinical and clinical studies are under way to assess the advantages of CAR-redirected function in these cells and apply the lessons learned from CAR T cell therapy in cancer to other diseases.