CAR T cell therapy for T cell leukemia and lymphoma: latest updates from 2022 ASH Annual Meeting

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Oncology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• CAR T cell therapy development for T cell malignancies is hindered by fratricide, unlike B cell malignancies.
• Existing strategies focus on T cell malignancies, necessitating revised T cell biomarkers for CAR T cell therapy.
• Pan-T cell surface biomarkers CD3 and CD7 are key targets for engineering CAR T cells to avoid fratricide.

Framework:

• Genome base-editing technology and protein expression blockers are employed to modify T cell biomarkers.
• Knocking out or down CD3 and CD7 aims to enable re-engineered CAR T cells to target T cell malignancies without self-destruction.
• This approach seeks to overcome the fratricide barrier in T cell cancer therapy.

Implementation:

• Clinical trials are evaluating novel CAR T cell therapies for T cell leukemia and lymphoma.
• Specific trials mentioned include those for TvT CAR7, RD-13-01, and CD7 CART.
• Updates from the 2022 ASH Annual Meeting highlight progress in this therapeutic area.

Implications:

• Successful implementation of these strategies could significantly advance CAR T cell therapy for T cell cancers.
• Overcoming fratricide is crucial for expanding the clinical utility of CAR T cells in treating T cell malignancies.
• These advancements offer new hope for patients with T cell leukemia and lymphoma.