The demonstrated capacity of immune cells to kill tumor cells suggests that they could be used to treat cancer. Conceivably, immune cells could overcome the resistance of cancer cells to standard treatment modalities while sparing normal tissues. Results of recent clinical trials with autologous T cells redirected against leukemia or lymphoma cells through the expression of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptors (“CAR”) have fully validated the potential of immune cells as living drugs. Dramatic tumor responses were observed in patients who had become resistant to all other available treatment. The clinical efficacy of these early immune cell-based therapies has stimulated great interest in this area of translational research, encouraged efforts to further improve CAR-T cell function, and renewed the enthusiasm for exploring the potential of other immune cells..
Simplifying ex vivo cell processing, widening the range of targetable antigens, and generating safer and more effective cell products are important objectives for the future. To overcome the need of developing an individual CAR for each target and allow the targeting of multiple cancer antigens simultaneously, we developed a CD16-based receptor which endows T cells with antibody-dependent cell cytotoxic capacity. This receptor has shown promise in preclinical studies and is currently being tested in clinical trials. We have also generated ways to target T-cell malignancies with CAR-T cells. Finally, methods to expand and genetically engineer NK cells have been established and validated in a clinical-grade setting, leading to several ongoing clinical trials. These immune cell therapy approaches are being explored with the vision of building an array of immunotherapeutic options that can complement, and ultimately replace, standard therapy of cancer.
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