T Cell Immunotherapy of Cancer

Abstract

Overview Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) represents the first known example of using the anti‐tumor potential of T cells; a phenomenon later known as the graft versus tumor effect. Since the recognition in BMT that T cells are a significant source for therapeutic anti‐cancer potential, investigators have sought for the next 6–7 decades to better harness the potential of T cells as an anti‐ cancer therapeutic. This road to discovery early on included utilizing virus specific T cells to target virus induced malignancies which express viral proteins. Recognition that T cells infiltrating tumors also mediate anti‐tumor efficacy, investigators next harnessed these tumor infiltrating T cells (TILs), expanded in the laboratory, to demonstrate therapeutic benefit primarily in the setting of melanomas. With the advent of viral vector mediated gene engineering, the field of adoptive T cell therapies made a remarkable step forward in the setting of T cells engineered to specifically recognize tumor antigens through the introduction of genes encoding tumor targeted T cells receptors (TCRs) as well as the more novel chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These TCR and CAR engineered T cells have to date demonstrated anti‐tumor efficacies with the potential to markedly change cancer therapy in the foreseeable future. More significantly, with further understanding of the tumor immunology and consequent innovation, the ceiling on adoptive therapy using genetically engineered T cells is extremely high.