CAR T cells: engineered immune cells to treat brain cancers and beyond

• Published in: Molecular cancer Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 22 - 27
• Main Authors: Huang, Zoufang, Dewanjee, Saikat, Chakraborty, Pratik, Jha, Niraj Kumar, Dey, Abhijit, Gangopadhyay, Moumita, Chen, Xuan-Yu, Wang, Jian, Jha, Saurabh Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 31.01.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Antibodies; Antigens; Antigens, CD19; Blood cancer; Brain cancer; Brain Neoplasms - therapy; Brain tumors; Cancer; Cancer therapies; CAR T cells; Care and treatment; CD19 antigen; Cell Death; Chemokines; Chemotherapy; Chimeric antigen receptors; Clinical trials; Cytokines; ErbB-2 protein; Genetic engineering; Hematological cancer; Hematology; Humans; Immune system; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Leukemia; Ligands; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Lymphoma; Malignancy; Medical prognosis; Patients; Proteins; Radiation; Radiation therapy; Radiotherapy; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen; Review; Solid tumors; Success; T cell receptors; T cells; T-Lymphocytes; Tumors; CAR T cells; Brain cancer; Immunotherapy; Tumor antigen; Clinical trials; Solid tumors; Hematological cancer
• ISSN: 1476-4598; 1476-4598
• DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01712-8

Malignant brain tumors rank among the most challenging type of malignancies to manage. The current treatment protocol commonly entails surgery followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, however, the median patient survival rate is poor. Recent developments in immunotherapy for a variety of tumor types spark optimism that immunological strategies may help patients with brain cancer. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells exploit the tumor-targeting specificity of antibodies or receptor ligands to direct the cytolytic capacity of T cells. Several molecules have been discovered as potential targets for immunotherapy-based targeting, including but not limited to EGFRvIII, IL13Rα2, and HER2. The outstanding clinical responses to CAR T cell-based treatments in patients with hematological malignancies have generated interest in using this approach to treat solid tumors. Research results to date support the astounding clinical response rates of CD19-targeted CAR T cells, early clinical experiences in brain tumors demonstrating safety and evidence for disease-modifying activity, and the promise for further advances to ultimately assist patients clinically. However, several variable factors seem to slow down the progress rate regarding treating brain cancers utilizing CAR T cells. The current study offers a thorough analysis of CAR T cells’ promise in treating brain cancer, including design and delivery considerations, current strides in clinical and preclinical research, issues encountered, and potential solutions.