Adoptive Cell Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

Refractory and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and T-lineage leukemia have poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Adoptive cellular immunotherapies are emerging as an effective treatment for patients with chemotherapy refractory hematological malignancies. Indeed, the use of unselected donor lymphocyte infusions has demonstrated successes in treating patients with AML and T-lineage leukemia post-allogeneic transplantation. The development of ex vivo manipulation techniques such as genetic modification or selection and expansion of individual cellular components has permitted the clinical translation of a wide range of promising cellular therapies for AML and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Here, we will review clinical studies to date using adoptive cell therapy approaches and outline the major challenges limiting the development of safe and effective cell therapies for both types of acute leukemia.

Figure 1. Adoptive cellular therapy strategies:

A: chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells targeting surface cancer-antigens, B: Transgenic or native TCRs specific for leukemia antigens expressed through MHC molecules and C: NK cells interacting with leukemia cells through activating and inhibitory receptors.