Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Non-Viral Engineering of Primary Human T Cells via Homology-Mediated End-Joining Targeted Integration of Large DNA Templates
Published on: May 9, 2025
T lymphocyte engineering ex vivo for cancer and infectious disease
1The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, M6.40 Maloney, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA. LevineBL@mail.med.upenn.edu
Background:
Basic research contributions towards the molecular and cellular understanding of immune mediated control of cancer and infectious diseases have created opportunities to develop new forms of T-cell-based vaccination for cancer and chronic infections like HIV. In the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cell therapy clinical trials around the world aimed at enhancing antitumor immunity, restoring immune function to infectious diseases and augmenting vaccine efficacy.
Objective:
To provide a review of new and emerging methods of T lymphocyte engineering, gene transfer to T cells and clinical trials.
Methods:
A review of recent clinical trials, along with a brief historical perspective, with a focus on challenges and recent advances in the field and requirements for successful T-cell therapies.
Conclusion:
Advances in the technological approaches and methods for ex vivo manipulation have led to T lymphocytes endowed with enhanced potency and unique functions, with promise as the new generation of infused therapeutics.

