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Chimeric Antigen Receptor–Engineered T Cell Therapy in Lymphoma

  • Lymphomas (MR Smith, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are a form of adoptive therapy employing autologous T cells engineered with an artificial receptor, able to recognize tumor antigens through an HLA-independent mechanism. We will review data on safety and efficacy outcomes with CAR T cell therapy in lymphomas.

Recent Findings

Multicenter trials evaluating three CAR T cell products targeting CD19 have shown that they are highly effective and induce durable remissions in a substantial proportion of patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The most common toxicities were cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity.

Summary

Two anti-CD19 CAR T cell products were approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B cell NHL. Ongoing research is aimed at investigating their use in earlier lines of therapy and in other B cell lymphomas, improving CAR T cell efficacy and safety, and evaluating novel targets.

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PS and SSN have coauthored the paper.

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Correspondence to Sattva S. Neelapu.

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Paolo Strati declares that he has no conflict of interest. Sattva S. Neelapu has received research support from Kite/Gilead, Celgene, Cellectis, Poseida, Merck, Acerta, Karus, and Bristol-Myers Squibb and has served as a consultant and advisory board member for Kite/Gilead, Celgene, Novartis, Unum Therapeutics, Pfizer, CellMedica, and Merck.

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Strati, P., Neelapu, S.S. Chimeric Antigen Receptor–Engineered T Cell Therapy in Lymphoma. Curr Oncol Rep 21, 38 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-019-0789-z

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