Cellular Therapies for Cancer: Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells (CAR-T)

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T), a novel modality of adoptive cellular therapy, is characterized by the expression of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) engineered to bind to tumor-associated antigens while facilitating the cytotoxic activity of the CAR-T cells. CAR construct intricacies and T cell signaling play an important role in the function of CAR-T cells. Currently, various FDA-approved CAR-T products target B-cell malignancies and multiple myeloma. Despite these successes, the complex CAR-T production process, spanning collection logistics to manufacturing, coupled with the frequent occurrence of acute toxicities like cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), cytopenias, and infections, poses a significant challenge for widespread adoption of this remarkable therapy. Ongoing developments in novel CAR-T cell generations and alternative manufacturing practices aim to address current limitations and overcome resistance mechanisms. These advancements solidify CAR-T cells’ role as a revolutionary anticancer treatment.