Cell-Guided Drugs

This chapter delves into the innovative domain of cell-guided drugs in tumor therapy, showcasing groundbreaking developments in this area. The focus of cell-guided therapy is primarily on two cell types: stem cells and immune cells. While stem cell transplants are a mainstay in treating hematological malignancies, their broader use as drug agents in cancer therapy remains limited. Therefore, this chapter places a special emphasis on adoptive cell therapy (ACT), a more promising approach that leverages immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. We offer a thorough introduction to ACT, discussing its principal methods, such as Lymphokine-Activated Killer (LAK) cells, Cytokine-Induced Killer (CIK) cells, Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs), T Cell Receptor (TCR) therapy, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, and Natural Killer (NK) cell therapy. Beyond outlining these advanced techniques, the chapter traces their historical development and evolution. It provides a critical analysis of clinical trials, sheds light on the drugs that have gained approval, and explores the future prospects and potential of ACT in the ongoing fight against cancer.