Generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes for immunotherapy of EBV-associated malignancies

Current approaches for the treatment of tumours typically employ broad acting radiotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic approaches, which have led to high success rates but can be associated with unwanted side-effects. Cytotoxic T cell (CTL)-based immunotherapy offers an alternative approach that is designed to specifically target protein antigens expressed in malignant cells and is thus likely to limit any adverse side-effects. Defining tumour-specific antigens is therefore critical for the successful application of CTL-based therapy. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignancies offer an attractive target for CTL-based immunotherapy due to presence of virally encoded antigens in the malignant cells. Recent success in treating Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) using cytotoxic T cell (CTL)-based immunotherapy has led to interest in the development of CTL-based immunotherapy to treat other EBV-associated malignancies in which antigen expression patterns are well defined but limited to a restricted number of proteins.