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Blood Cancer Journal Apr 2021Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a revolutionary new pillar in cancer treatment. Although treatment with CAR-T cells has produced remarkable clinical... (Review)
Review
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a revolutionary new pillar in cancer treatment. Although treatment with CAR-T cells has produced remarkable clinical responses with certain subsets of B cell leukemia or lymphoma, many challenges limit the therapeutic efficacy of CAR-T cells in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Barriers to effective CAR-T cell therapy include severe life-threatening toxicities, modest anti-tumor activity, antigen escape, restricted trafficking, and limited tumor infiltration. In addition, the host and tumor microenvironment interactions with CAR-T cells critically alter CAR-T cell function. Furthermore, a complex workforce is required to develop and implement these treatments. In order to overcome these significant challenges, innovative strategies and approaches to engineer more powerful CAR-T cells with improved anti-tumor activity and decreased toxicity are necessary. In this review, we discuss recent innovations in CAR-T cell engineering to improve clinical efficacy in both hematological malignancy and solid tumors and strategies to overcome limitations of CAR-T cell therapy in both hematological malignancy and solid tumors.
Topics: Animals; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Neoplasms; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen; T-Lymphocytes; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 33824268
DOI: 10.1038/s41408-021-00459-7 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Immunotherapy has ushered in a new era in cancer treatment, and cancer immunotherapy continues to be rejuvenated. The clinical goal of cancer immunotherapy is to prime... (Review)
Review
Immunotherapy has ushered in a new era in cancer treatment, and cancer immunotherapy continues to be rejuvenated. The clinical goal of cancer immunotherapy is to prime host immune system to provide passive or active immunity against malignant tumors. Tumor infiltrating leukocytes (TILs) play an immunomodulatory role in tumor microenvironment (TME) which is closely related to immune escape of tumor cells, thus influence tumor progress. Several cancer immunotherapies, include immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cancer vaccine, adoptive cell transfer (ACT), have shown great efficacy and promise. In this review, we will summarize the recent research advances in tumor immunotherapy, including the molecular mechanisms and clinical effects as well as limitations of immunotherapy.
Topics: Immunotherapy; Immunomodulation; Immunity, Active; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Adoptive Transfer; Neoplasms
PubMed: 37691932
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1212476 -
Journal of Experimental & Clinical... Mar 2022Adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immunotherapy has made tremendous progress with five CAR T therapies approved by the US Food and Drug... (Review)
Review
Adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immunotherapy has made tremendous progress with five CAR T therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for hematological malignancies. However, CAR immunotherapy in solid tumors lags significantly behind. Some of the major hurdles for CAR immunotherapy in solid tumors include CAR T cell manufacturing, lack of tumor-specific antigens, inefficient CAR T cell trafficking and infiltration into tumor sites, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), therapy-associated toxicity, and antigen escape. CAR Natural Killer (NK) cells have several advantages over CAR T cells as the NK cells can be manufactured from pre-existing cell lines or allogeneic NK cells with unmatched major histocompatibility complex (MHC); can kill cancer cells through both CAR-dependent and CAR-independent pathways; and have less toxicity, especially cytokine-release syndrome and neurotoxicity. At least one clinical trial showed the efficacy and tolerability of CAR NK cell therapy. Macrophages can efficiently infiltrate into tumors, are major immune regulators and abundantly present in TME. The immunosuppressive M2 macrophages are at least as efficient as the proinflammatory M1 macrophages in phagocytosis of target cells; and M2 macrophages can be induced to differentiate to the M1 phenotype. Consequently, there is significant interest in developing CAR macrophages for cancer immunotherapy to overcome some major hurdles associated with CAR T/NK therapy, especially in solid tumors. Nevertheless, both CAR NK and CAR macrophages have their own limitations. This comprehensive review article will discuss the current status and the major hurdles associated with CAR T and CAR NK therapy, followed by the structure and cutting-edge research of developing CAR macrophages as cancer-specific phagocytes, antigen presenters, immunostimulators, and TME modifiers.
Topics: Humans; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Macrophages; Neoplasms; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen; T-Lymphocytes; United States
PubMed: 35361234
DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02327-z -
Nature Reviews. Cancer Oct 2022Natural killer (NK) cells comprise a unique population of innate lymphoid cells endowed with intrinsic abilities to identify and eliminate virally infected cells and... (Review)
Review
Natural killer (NK) cells comprise a unique population of innate lymphoid cells endowed with intrinsic abilities to identify and eliminate virally infected cells and tumour cells. Possessing multiple cytotoxicity mechanisms and the ability to modulate the immune response through cytokine production, NK cells play a pivotal role in anticancer immunity. This role was elucidated nearly two decades ago, when NK cells, used as immunotherapeutic agents, showed safety and efficacy in the treatment of patients with advanced-stage leukaemia. In recent years, following the paradigm-shifting successes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered adoptive T cell therapy and the advancement in technologies that can turn cells into powerful antitumour weapons, the interest in NK cells as a candidate for immunotherapy has grown exponentially. Strategies for the development of NK cell-based therapies focus on enhancing NK cell potency and persistence through co-stimulatory signalling, checkpoint inhibition and cytokine armouring, and aim to redirect NK cell specificity to the tumour through expression of CAR or the use of engager molecules. In the clinic, the first generation of NK cell therapies have delivered promising results, showing encouraging efficacy and remarkable safety, thus driving great enthusiasm for continued innovation. In this Review, we describe the various approaches to augment NK cell cytotoxicity and longevity, evaluate challenges and opportunities, and reflect on how lessons learned from the clinic will guide the design of next-generation NK cell products that will address the unique complexities of each cancer.
Topics: Cytokines; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Killer Cells, Natural; Neoplasms; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
PubMed: 35879429
DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00491-0 -
International Journal of Biological... 2019Cancer immunotherapy by chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cells has shown exhilarative clinical efficacy for hematological malignancies. Recently two CAR-T... (Review)
Review
Cancer immunotherapy by chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cells has shown exhilarative clinical efficacy for hematological malignancies. Recently two CAR-T cell based therapeutics, Kymriah (Tisagenlecleucel) and Yescarta (Axicabtagene ciloleucel) approved by US FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) are now used for treatment of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) respectively in the US. Despite the progresses made in treating hematological malignancies, challenges still remain for use of CAR-T cell therapy to treat solid tumors. In this landscape, most studies have primarily focused on improving CAR-T cells and overcoming the unfavorable effects of tumor microenvironment on solid tumors. To further understand the current status and trend for developing CAR-T cell based therapies for various solid tumors, this review emphasizes on CAR-T techniques, current obstacles, and strategies for application, as well as necessary companion diagnostics for treatment of solid tumors with CAR-T cells.
Topics: Cytokine Release Syndrome; Cytokines; Humans; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 31754328
DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.34213 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy achieved extraordinary achievements results in antitumor treatments, especially against hematological malignancies,... (Review)
Review
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy achieved extraordinary achievements results in antitumor treatments, especially against hematological malignancies, where it leads to remarkable, long-term antineoplastic effects with higher target specificity. Nevertheless, some limitations persist in autologous CAR-T cell therapy, such as high costs, long manufacturing periods, and restricted cell sources. The development of a universal CAR-T (UCAR-T) cell therapy is an attractive breakthrough point that may overcome most of these drawbacks. Here, we review the progress and challenges in CAR-T cell therapy, especially focusing on comprehensive comparison in UCAR-T cell therapy to original CAR-T cell therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the developments and concerns about the safety and efficiency of UCAR-T cell therapy. Finally, we address other immune cells, which might be promising candidates as a complement for UCAR-T cells. Through a detailed overview, we describe the current landscape and explore the prospect of UCAR-T cell therapy.
Topics: Humans; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
PubMed: 34691052
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.744823 -
Blood Feb 2023Interest in adoptive cell therapy for treating cancer is exploding owing to early clinical successes of autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T lymphocyte therapy.... (Review)
Review
Interest in adoptive cell therapy for treating cancer is exploding owing to early clinical successes of autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T lymphocyte therapy. However, limitations using T cells and autologous cell products are apparent as they (1) take weeks to generate, (2) utilize a 1:1 donor-to-patient model, (3) are expensive, and (4) are prone to heterogeneity and manufacturing failures. CAR T cells are also associated with significant toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, and prolonged cytopenias. To overcome these issues, natural killer (NK) cells are being explored as an alternative cell source for allogeneic cell therapies. NK cells have an inherent ability to recognize cancers, mediate immune functions of killing and communication, and do not induce graft-versus-host disease, cytokine release syndrome, or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. NK cells can be obtained from blood or cord blood or be derived from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, and can be expanded and cryopreserved for off-the-shelf availability. The first wave of point-of-care NK cell therapies led to the current allogeneic NK cell products being investigated in clinical trials with promising preliminary results. Basic advances in NK cell biology and cellular engineering have led to new translational strategies to block inhibition, enhance and broaden target cell recognition, optimize functional persistence, and provide stealth from patients' immunity. This review details NK cell biology, as well as NK cell product manufacturing, engineering, and combination therapies explored in the clinic leading to the next generation of potent, off-the-shelf cellular therapies for blood cancers.
Topics: Humans; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Cytokine Release Syndrome; Killer Cells, Natural; Neoplasms; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
PubMed: 36416736
DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016200 -
EBioMedicine Sep 2020Natural Killer (NK) cells and CD8 cytotoxic T cells are two types of immune cells that can kill target cells through similar cytotoxic mechanisms. With the remarkable... (Review)
Review
Natural Killer (NK) cells and CD8 cytotoxic T cells are two types of immune cells that can kill target cells through similar cytotoxic mechanisms. With the remarkable success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T (CAR-T) cells for treating haematological malignancies, there is a rapid growing interest in developing CAR-engineered NK (CAR-NK) cells for cancer therapy. Compared to CAR-T cells, CAR-NK cells could offer some significant advantages, including: (1) better safety, such as a lack or minimal cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity in autologous setting and graft-versus-host disease in allogenic setting, (2) multiple mechanisms for activating cytotoxic activity, and (3) high feasibility for 'off-the-shelf' manufacturing. CAR-NK cells could be engineered to target diverse antigens, enhance proliferation and persistence in vivo, increase infiltration into solid tumours, overcome resistant tumour microenvironment, and ultimately achieve an effective anti-tumour response. In this review, we focus on recent progress in genetic engineering and clinical application of CAR-NK cells, and discuss current challenges and future promise of CAR-NK cells as a novel cellular immunotherapy in cancer.
Topics: Animals; Antigens, Neoplasm; Batch Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Clinical Trials as Topic; Genetic Engineering; Humans; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Killer Cells, Natural; Neoplasms; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32853984
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102975 -
Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports Apr 2023Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is an immunotherapy that has resulted in tremendous progress in the treatment of patients with B cell malignancies.... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is an immunotherapy that has resulted in tremendous progress in the treatment of patients with B cell malignancies. However, the remarkable efficacy of therapy is not without significant safety concerns. Herein, we will review the unique and potentially life-threatening toxicities associated with CAR-T cell therapy and their association with treatment efficacy.
RECENT FINDINGS
Currently, CAR-T cell therapy is approved for the treatment of B cell relapsed or refractory leukemia and lymphoma, and most recently, multiple myeloma (MM). In these different diseases, it has led to excellent complete and overall response rates depending on the patient population and therapy. Despite promising efficacy, CAR-T cell therapy is associated with significant side effects; the two most notable toxicities are cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). The treatment of CAR-T-induced toxicity is supportive; however, as higher-grade adverse events occur, toxicity-directed therapy with tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor antibody, and steroids is standard practice. Overall, a careful risk-benefit balance exists between the efficacy and toxicities of therapies. The challenge lies in the underlying pathophysiology of CAR-T-related toxicity which relies upon the activation of CAR-T cells. Some degree of toxicity is expected to achieve an effective response to therapy, and certain aspects of treatment are also associated with toxicity. As progress is made in the investigation and approval of new CARs, novel toxicity-directed therapies and toxicity-limited constructs will be the focus of attention.
Topics: Humans; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Multiple Myeloma; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
PubMed: 36763238
DOI: 10.1007/s11899-023-00687-7 -
Archivum Immunologiae Et Therapiae... Aug 2022Despite advances in surgery and chemotherapy, ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies. Hence, the implementation of novel treatment approaches is... (Review)
Review
Despite advances in surgery and chemotherapy, ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies. Hence, the implementation of novel treatment approaches is required to improve the outcomes of the disease. Immunotherapy has been proven to be effective in many tumors and has already been incorporated into clinical practice. In this review, we describe key strategies in immunotherapy of ovarian cancer and summarize data from clinical studies assessing immunological prospects which could improve ovarian cancer treatment approaches in the future. The most notable current strategies include checkpoint blockade agents, the use of vaccines, adoptive cell transfer, as well as various combinations of these methods. While several of these options are promising, large controlled randomized studies are still needed to implement new immunotherapeutic options into clinical practice.
Topics: Cancer Vaccines; Female; Humans; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Ovarian Neoplasms
PubMed: 35941287
DOI: 10.1007/s00005-022-00655-8