CAR-T Cells for Cancer Treatment: Current Design and Next Frontiers

Methods Mol Biol. 2020:2086:1-10. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0146-4_1.

Abstract

Immunotherapy has been growing in the past decade as a therapeutic alternative for cancer treatment. In this chapter, we deal with CAR-T cells, genetically engineered autologous T cells to express a chimeric receptor specific for an antigen expressed on tumor cell surface. While this type of personalized therapy is revolutionizing cancer treatment, especially B cell malignancies, it has some challenging limitations. Here, we discuss the basic immunological and technological aspects of CAR-T cell therapy, the limitations that have compromised its efficacy and safety, and the current proposed strategies to overcome these limitations, thereby allowing for greater therapeutic application of CAR-T cells.

Keywords: CAR-T cells; Chimeric antigen receptor; Immunotherapy; T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cellular Microenvironment / genetics
  • Cellular Microenvironment / immunology
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive* / adverse effects
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive* / methods
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive* / standards
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive* / trends
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen / genetics
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen / metabolism
  • Research Design
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen