Research advances in chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell therapy (Review)

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cells are T-cells that have been genetically engineered to express CAR molecules to target specific surface antigens on tumor cells. CAR T-cell therapy, a novel cancer immunotherapy, has been attracting increasing attention, since it exhibited notable efficacy in the treatment of hematological tumors in clinical trials. However, for this type of therapy, challenges must be overcome in the treatment of solid tumors. Furthermore, certain side effects associated with CAR T-cell therapy, including cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-related neurotoxicity syndrome, tumor lysis syndrome and on-target off-tumor toxicity, must be taken into consideration. The present study provides a systematic review of the principle, clinical application, current challenges, possible solutions and future perspectives for CAR T-cell therapy.

Keywords: adoptive cellular therapy; chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cells; immunotherapy; tumor.

Figure 1

Schematic depiction of the structure of chimeric antigen receptor-modified molecules.

Figure 2

Schematic illustration of the mechanisms of action of CAR T-cells against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. (A) Role of CAR T-cells in targeting PTK7 to treat esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. (B) CAR T-cells (CAR + CXCR3A + T-cells) expressing CXCR3A. CAR T-cells, chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cells; PTK7, protein tyrosine kinase 7; CXCR/L, C-X-C motif chemokine receptor/ligand.