Novel approaches to enhance the specificity and safety of engineered T cells

Cancer J. 2014 Mar-Apr;20(2):160-5. doi: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000040.

Abstract

T-cell therapies using engineered T cells show great promise for cancer immunotherapy, as illustrated by the CD19 paradigm. Much of the excitement about this approach, and second-generation CARs in particular, is due to the dramatic clinical results recently reported by a few centers, especially in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and the applicability of this approach, in principle, to a wide range of cancers. Extending the use of CAR therapies to cancers other than B-cell malignancies will require selective tumor targeting with minimal or acceptable "on-target, off-tumor" effects. The identification of new CAR target antigens is thus one of the next big challenges to address. Recognizing the paucity of currently available tumor-specific targets, we have developed broadly applicable approaches to enhance the tumor selectivity and safety of engineered T cells. Here, we review 2 promising concepts. One is to improve tumor targeting based on combinatorial antigen recognition. The other uses receptors that provide antigen-specific inhibition, which we named iCARs, to divert T cells from the normal tissues one wants to protect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Epitopes
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / isolation & purification
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / therapeutic use*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell