T Cell Redirecting Therapies for Cancer Treatment

T cell activity has been stimulated to enhance anti-tumor activity for several decades. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes have been expanded and reinfused to treat melanoma and other solid tumor cancers, and adaptive immune modulators have been used to increase endogenous T cell activity against cancer. Both of these strategies rely on the pre-existence of adequate recognition of cancer cells by the T cells which are being activated. Redirected T cell therapies represent a paradigm shift in treatment. They do not rely on endogenous T cell recognition but instead focus the T cells onto a defined tumor antigen. This review summarizes both molecular and cellular T cell redirecting therapies, compares their success in the clinic and highlights both their limitations and some potential future solutions.