Cancer immunotherapy using CAR‐T cells: from the research bench to the assembly line
The focus of cancer treatment has recently shifted towards targeted therapies, including immunotherapy, which allow better individualization of care and are hoped to increase the probability of success for patients. Specifically, T cells genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs; CAR‐T cells) have generated exciting results. Recent clinical successes with this cutting‐edge therapy have helped to push CAR‐T cells towards approval for wider use. However, several limitations need to be addressed before the widespread use of CAR‐T cells as a standard treatment. Here, we will give a succinct background on adoptive T‐cell therapy, followed by a brief overview of the structure of CARs, how they are introduced into T cells, and how CAR‐T cell expansion and selection is achieved in vitro. We will discuss some of the challenges in CAR design, as well as the difficulties that arise in large‐scale CAR‐T cell manufacture that will need to be addressed to achieve successful commercialization of this type of cell therapy. Finally, we will discuss developments already on the horizon.
Original Article: Cancer immunotherapy using CAR‐T cells: from the research bench to the assembly line
