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Engineered T Cells: CAR T Cell Therapy and Beyond

  • Lymphomas (T Hilal, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This article reviews the current data and future directions of engineered T cell therapies in non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Recent Findings

Currently, four chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell products are approved: axicabtagene ciloleucel, tisagenlecleucel, lisocabtagene maraleucel, and brexucabtagene autoleucel. These products differ in construct, indication, manufacturing, clinical trial design, and toxicity profile, but all are autologous products targeting CD19. Encouraging early data is also emerging with the use of these products in additional subtypes of B cell lymphoma. Alternative engineered T cell products are also in development, including dual CD19/22 targeting CAR T cells, CD30-directed CAR T cells, allogeneic CAR T cells, and engineered natural killer (NK) cells. Preclinical data using novel CAR constructs such as cytokine-secreting CARs targeted gene delivery into the T cell receptor α constant (TRAC) locus, combination strategies, and third-generation CARs holds promise for additional novel approaches.

Summary

CAR T cells have transformed the therapeutic landscape for patients with relapsed/refractory B cell lymphomas. Early data with novel engineered cellular products is encouraging and holds promise for future clinical use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, USA

    P. Connor Johnson & Jeremy S. Abramson

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  1. P. Connor Johnson
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  2. Jeremy S. Abramson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeremy S. Abramson.

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Conflict of Interest

P. Connor Johnson declares that he has no conflict of interest. JSA reports consulting for Allogene, Celgene, Juno Therapeutics, Kite Pharma, and Novartis. Jeremy S. Abramson has received compensation from AstraZeneca and Genmab for service as a consultant; has received speaker’s honoraria from Celgene and Regeneron; and has received compensation for participation on scientific advisory boards from Celgene, Juno Therapeutics, AbbVie, EMD Serono, Genentech/Roche, Janssen, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Gilead Sciences, Verastem Oncology, Bayer, Merck, Kite Pharma, Amgen, Mustang Bio, Century Therapeutics, Epizyme Seattle Genetics, Allogene Therapeutics, MorphoSys, C4 Therapeutics, Incyte Corporation, and BeiGene.

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Johnson, P.C., Abramson, J.S. Engineered T Cells: CAR T Cell Therapy and Beyond. Curr Oncol Rep 24, 23–31 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-021-01161-4

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