Cells (Oct 2021)

From Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation to Chimeric Antigen Receptor Therapy: Advances, Limitations and Future Perspectives

  • Elisaveta Voynova,
  • Damian Kovalovsky

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10112845
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 11
p. 2845

Abstract

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Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy was envisioned as a mechanism to re-direct effector T-cells to eliminate tumor cells. CARs are composed of the variable region of an antibody that binds a native cancer antigen coupled to the signaling domain of a TCR and co-stimulatory molecules. Its success and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of B-cell malignancies revolutionized the immunotherapy field, leading to extensive research on its possible application for other cancer types. In this review, we will focus on the evolution of CAR-T cell therapy outlining current technologies as well as major obstacles for its wide application. We will highlight achievements, the efforts to increase efficacy and to evolve into an off-the-shelf treatment, and as a possible future treatment for non-cancer related diseases.

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