Adoptive immunotherapy: New assay for the identification of T cells with optimal avidity

T cells expressing high avidity T-cell receptors (TCRs) have been shown to mediate superior therapeutic effects. A novel k_off-rate assay allows for the quantitative and reproducible assessment of the avidity of TCRs for their ligands directly on living T cells, ex vivo. This assay might facilitate the selection of T cells with an optimal avidity for their target, hence favoring the development of adoptive immunotherapeutic regimens.