Combining CAR T Cells with Immunotherapies to Enhance Treatment Effectiveness
摘要
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a modern and established practice in cancer treatment. They have shown great clinical effects, especially in B-cell leukemia and lymphoma, gained remarkable clinical success, and can produce potent and selective antitumor responses. In contrast to ordinary T cells, CART cells are engineered to identify antigens on the surface of tumor cells without the need for major histocompatibility complex (MHC). It is obtained by incorporating an antibody-derived single-chain variable fragment (scFv) into the CAR structure, which allows for direct binding to specific tumor antigens. Initially, clinical trials with CART were held in patients with late-stage solid tumors, including ovarian cancer and renal cancer. By contrast, impressive success has been achieved in the case of anti-CD19. As a result, it has broader application in hematologic malignancies. One of the most significant drawbacks hindering the long-term success of CART is the emergence of tumor resistance due to the limitations of single-antigen targeting CARs. While CAR T cells designed to target a particular antigen often induce robust initial therapeutic responses, many patients experience disease relapse attributed to the tumor’s ability to evade immune recognition. Current research emphasizes overcoming these hurdles through novel strategies, including dual-targeting CARs, allogeneic cell therapies, and the use of alternative immune cells.