Investigating chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy and the potential for cancer immunotherapy (Review)

Abstract

Immunotherapy has emerged as a crucial treatment option, particularly for types of cancer that display resistance to conventional therapies. A remarkable breakthrough in this field is the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. CAR T cells are generated by engineering the T cells of a patient to express receptors that can recognize specific tumor antigens. This groundbreaking approach has demonstrated impressive outcomes in hematologic malignancies, including diffuse large B cell lymphoma, B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Despite these significant successes, CAR T cell therapy has encountered challenges in its application against solid tumors, leading to limited success in these cases. Consequently, researchers are actively exploring novel strategies to enhance the efficacy of CAR T cells. The focus lies on augmenting CAR T cell trafficking to tumors while preventing the development of CAR T cell exhaustion and dysfunction. The present review aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the achievements and limitations of CAR T cell therapy in the context of cancer treatment. By understanding both the successes and hurdles, further advancements in this promising area of research can be developed. Overall, immunotherapy, particularly CAR T cell therapy, has opened up novel possibilities for cancer treatment, offering hope to patients with previously untreatable malignancies. However, to fully realize its potential, ongoing research and innovative strategies are essential in overcoming the challenges posed by solid tumors and maximizing CAR T cell efficacy in clinical settings.

PRAME Updated: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Role in Skin Cancer

“…Given its preferential expression in cancer cells, it is an attractive target for immunotherapy approaches, such as cancer vaccines or Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies [30,31]. These strategies aim to train the immune system to recognise and destroy cells expressing PRAME, sparing normal tissues that do not express the antigen or express it at low levels [32,33]. Several clinical trials are underway trying to exploit CTAs, including PRAME, for cancer treatment.…”

“…Furthermore, it is believed that the integration of checkpoint inhibitors with PRAME-targeted therapies could potentially enhance the immune system's response to the tumour [31]. This synergy could be due to PRAME's influence on the tumour's immune environment, suggesting a holistic approach to enhance the body's natural defence against cancer [32]. The role of PRAME in ocular melanomas and its potential as a therapeutic target represent interesting opportunities.…”