scholarly journals Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors: Current Status, Obstacles and Future Strategies

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Heyman ◽  
Yiping Yang
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
Current Status ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T Cells) have led to dramatic improvements in the survival of cancer patients, most notably those with hematologic malignancies. Early phase clinical trials in patients with solid tumors have demonstrated them to be feasible, but unfortunately has yielded limited efficacy for various cancer types. In this article we will review the background on CAR T cells for the treatment of solid tumors, focusing on the unique obstacles that solid tumors present for the development of adoptive T cell therapy, and the novel approaches currently under development to overcome these hurdles.

scholarly journals 125 Co-opting IL-8 to enhance efficacy of B7H3 CAR T cells against pediatric sarcoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A134-A134
Author(s):  
Jessica Lake ◽  
Kevin Winkler ◽  
Alexander Harrant ◽  
Ashley Yingst ◽  
Kristin Schaller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T

BackgroundThe 5-year disease-free survival for children and young adults with metastatic sarcoma at diagnosis or recurrent disease after front-line therapy is 20–30%.1 2 Cellular immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has shown dramatic benefits in leukemia, but only limited success in solid tumors.3 4 One limitation of CAR T cell therapy has been poor trafficking into solid tumors.5–7 Chemokines are small, secreted, cytokine-like molecules that mediate lymphocyte homing and migration.8 In this study, we discovered that both osteosarcoma (OS) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells significantly increase expression of the chemokine IL-8 after clinically achievable doses of radiation, but not at rest. Given that CAR T cells do not express the receptor for IL-8, we created a construct with an IL-8 receptor (CXCR2) and a B7H3 CAR in T cells to improve CAR T homing and to create an effective new immunotherapy for patients with sarcoma.MethodsMultiple OS and RMS cell lines were irradiated at 10 Gy and IL-8 was measured by ELISA. We created retroviral constructs, B7H3 CAR-T2a-CXCR2 and B7H3 CAR. Peripheral blood T lymphocytes were stimulated with IL-2 and anti-CD3/28 antibodies for 48 hours prior to transduction with the retroviral vectors. Surface expression of the scFv (by L protein) and CXCR2 (mAb) were assessed using flow cytometry. In vitro cytotoxicity assays using sarcoma tumor spheroids were conducted using Incucyte. INF-γ and IL-2 production were measured by ELISA. NSG mice injected orthotopically with an IL-8 overexpressing RMS cell line were treated 4–7 days later with the B7H3 CAR-CXCR2 T cells or B7H3 T cells (control) and followed weekly with bioluminescent imaging.ResultsIrradiated (10 Gy) sarcoma cells express 2-9x higher IL-8 than non-irradiated sarcoma. T cells were transduced with efficiencies of 60–90%. INF-γ production was equivalent between the B7H3 CAR-T2a-CXCR2 T cells and B7H3 CAR T cells, but IL-2 production was significantly higher in the dual expressing CAR T cells. In vitro cytotoxicity with sarcoma spheroids was measured by Incucyte and showed faster and greater killing by B7H3 CAR-T2a-CXCR2 T cells than B7H3 CAR T cells. Furthermore, when sarcoma tumor bearing mice were treated with B7H3 CAR-T2a-CXCR2 T cells, tumors resolved completely by 4–5 weeks and had long-lasting remission.ConclusionsChemokine receptor expressing CAR T cells showed superior cytokine production and T cell activation/cytotoxicity compared to a CAR T construct alone. These finding lead to better efficacy in animal models and suggest a promising approach for pediatric sarcoma.ReferencesLuetke A, Meyers PA, Lewis I, Juergens H. Osteosarcoma treatment - where do we stand? A state of the art review. Cancer Treat Rev 2014;40:523–32.Bleyer A, Barr R, Hayes-Lattin B, et al. The distinctive biology of cancer in adolescents and young adults. Nat Rev Cancer 2008;8:288–98.Buechner J, SA G, SL M, et al. Global Registration Trial of Efficacy and Safety of CTL019 in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): Update to the interim analysis. 2017 European Hematology Association Annual Meeting: Madrid, Spain2017.Maude SL, Laetsch TW, Buechner J, et al. Tisagenlecleucel in Children and Young Adults with B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. N Engl J Med 2018;378:439–48.Gill S, Maus MV, Porter DL. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy: 25 years in the making. Blood Rev 2016;30:157–67.Fousek K, Ahmed N. The Evolution of T-cell Therapies for Solid Malignancies. Clin Cancer Res 2015;21:3384–92.Newick K, Moon E, Albelda SM. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for solid tumors. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2016;3:16006.Nagarsheth N, Wicha MS, Zou W. Chemokines in the cancer microenvironment and their relevance in cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol 2017;17:559–72.Ethics ApprovalThe animal experiments discussed in the abstract were approved by the University of Colorado IACUC, protocol #00251.

scholarly journals Profile of Capillary-Leak Syndrome in Patients Received Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 5204-5204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongxian Hu ◽  
Jingjing Feng ◽  
Mi Shao ◽  
He Huang
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
Capillary Leak Syndrome ◽  
Capillary Leak ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T

Abstract Background: Autologous T cells modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) has demonstrated exciting efficacy in treating leukemia and there has been some reports about the toxicities recently. However, the spectrum of capillary-leak syndrome (CLS) associated with CAR-T cell therapy has not been systematically evaluated, which can be a life threatening complication as results of the cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Therefore, as the use of CAR-T therapy continues to expand to broader applications, it is prudent to characterize the profile of CLS to help providers guide safe management. Method: We reviewed all acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who had participated in the clinical trial from our center to receive CAR-T therapy between 2016-2018. Patients analyzed in the study received either CD19 CAR-T cells or CD19 plus CD22 CAR-T cells. The diagnosis of CLS includes edema, acute hypotension and hemoconcentration with hypoproteinemia or hypoalbuminemia. CRS grading was evaluated with Lee's criteria for CRS. Result: 42 ALL patients were included in this study with the mean age of 27(8-52) years old. 11(11/42, 26.2%) patients were diagnosed as CLS and 31 were not. It was observed that CLS was more common in patients who developed severe CRS. Patients with CLS was found to have high rate of hypotension and use of gamma globulin.(Table 1) Top level concentration of serum IL-6 in CLS patients was much higher than that in non-CLS patients (16438.7 vs 3292.7 pg/mL, p=0.0016), which is consistent with the well recognized concept of IL-6 as an indicator of CRS.(Figure 1) It is important to notice that CLS patients had lower levels of serum total protein (TP, 43.7 vs 52.8 g/L, p=0.0005) and serum albumin (ALB, 27.4 vs 33.8 g/L, p=0.0011), while the hemoglobin (HGB) concentration showed no difference, suggesting that TP and ALB might be better indicators for CLS than HGB, although hemoconcentration, hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia are both important in diagnosis.(Figure 2) Moreover, there was no significant difference in age, gender, Ph type of ALL, type of CAR-T cells infused and death ratio.(Table 1) Although CRS has been reported to be related with disease burden before the therapy, our data showed no difference of it between the patients with and without CLS. Conclusion: In conclusion, we have evaluated a basic profile of CLS among CAR-T patients in our center and the study indicates that CLS warrants extra attention for patients who receive CAR-T therapy. Further investigations are required to elucidate best practices for prevention and management of CLS in CAR-T therapy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals The roles of T cell competition and stochastic extinction events in chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1947) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory J. Kimmel ◽  
Frederick L. Locke ◽  
Philipp M. Altrock
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T Cell ◽  
Car T

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is a remarkably effective immunotherapy that relies on in vivo expansion of engineered CAR T cells, after lymphodepletion (LD) by chemotherapy. The quantitative laws underlying this expansion and subsequent tumour eradication remain unknown. We develop a mathematical model of T cell–tumour cell interactions and demonstrate that expansion can be explained by immune reconstitution dynamics after LD and competition among T cells. CAR T cells rapidly grow and engage tumour cells but experience an emerging growth rate disadvantage compared to normal T cells. Since tumour eradication is deterministically unstable in our model, we define cure as a stochastic event, which, even when likely, can occur at variable times. However, we show that variability in timing is largely determined by patient variability. While cure events impacted by these fluctuations occur early and are narrowly distributed, progression events occur late and are more widely distributed in time. We parameterized our model using population-level CAR T cell and tumour data over time and compare our predictions with progression-free survival rates. We find that therapy could be improved by optimizing the tumour-killing rate and the CAR T cells' ability to adapt, as quantified by their carrying capacity. Our tumour extinction model can be leveraged to examine why therapy works in some patients but not others, and to better understand the interplay of deterministic and stochastic effects on outcomes. For example, our model implies that LD before a second CAR T injection is necessary.

scholarly journals Clinical Study on the CD19-Targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia: A Single Center of Real World Data

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 4834-4834
Author(s):  
Jing Huang ◽  
Zhi Liu ◽  
Ruiming Ou ◽  
Liling Zheng ◽  
Yangmin Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T ◽  
Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia

Abstract Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell(CD19-CAR-T) therapy for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblast leukemia(B-ALL). Methods The efficacy and safety of CD19-CAR-T cells(4-1BB costimulatory domain) in treatment of 34 patients with relapsed/refractory B-ALL from March 2015 to December 2019 in the Department of Hematology of Guangdong Second Province Hospital were collected analyzed retrospectively. There were 18 cases (52.9%) with high-risk cytogenetic or molecular markers, 14 cases (41.2%) with tumor load was ≥50% before transfusion, 24 cases (70.6%) with ECOG score ≥2. The number of chemotherapy courses received before transfusion was 2-15, the median number of chemotherapy courses was 5. There were 32 autogenous CAR-T cells and 2 donor-derived CAR-T cells, 11 of them received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) before transfusion. All were mouse CAR-T cells. Fludarabine + Cyclophosphamide (FC) regimen was used for pretreatment before transfusion, and the number of CAR-T cells was 1 ~ 13.4×10 6/kg. Results All 34 patients received CD19-targeted CAR-T cell therapy. 22 patients obtained MRD- after 1 month, CR rate was 64.7%. 20 patients maintained MRD- after 2 months, and the CR rate was 58.8%. 13 patients still maintained MRD- after 3 months, with a CR rate of 38.2%. 4 patients with recurrence presented CD19 negative recurrence. 10 patients underwent Allo-HSCT after CR acquisition, 6 of them maintained a continuous CR state, and 4 patients died after recurrence. Cytokines release syndrome (CRS) was observed in 31 patients (91.2%). Among them, there were 20 patients (64.5%) with grade 1 ~ 2, 8 patients (25.8%) with grade 3 ~ 4, and 3 patients (9.7%) with grade 5. The cytokines levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ were mainly increased in 20 (64.5%) and 18 (58.1%) patients, respectively. Common clinical adverse reactions are: fever with 32 cases (94.1%), pancytopenia with 28 cases (82.4%), chills with 17 cases (50.0%), fatigue with 26 cases (76.5%), hypotension with 27 cases (79.4%), tachycardia with 24 cases (70.6%), hypofibrinogenemia with 20 cases (58.8%), hypoproglobinemia with 27 cases (79.4%), neurotoxicity with 15 cases (44.1%), nausea with 16 cases (47.1%), vomiting with 14 cases (41.2%), hypoalbuminemia with 25 cases (73.5%), transaminase eleations with 16 cases (47.1%), electrolyte metabolic disorders with 27 cases (79.4%) , hypoxemiawith 15 cases (44.1%). Conclusion CAR-T cells therapy is a novel method for the treatment of refractory/recurrent B-ALL with CD19 antigen positive, which can make patients achieved complete remission in a short time, even achieved MRD negative, and most of the CRS appeared in the process of treatment can be controlled by treatment, but the recurrence rate is higher after 3 months later, and can appear CD19 negative relapse. Allo-HSCT as soon as possible after obtaining CR can enable some patients to obtain sustained CR.Therefore, more clinical studies are needed to explore the clinical application of CAR-T cell therapy. Currently, it is believed that bridging with allo-HSCT may be a solution to achieve sustained CR. 【Key words】Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell; Relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblast leukemia; Efficacy; Safety; Cytokine release syndrome Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Killing Mechanisms of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed-Reda Benmebarek ◽  
Clara Karches ◽  
Bruno Cadilha ◽  
Stefanie Lesch ◽  
Stefan Endres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T Cell ◽  
Car T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T

Effective adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) comprises the killing of cancer cells through the therapeutic use of transferred T cells. One of the main ACT approaches is chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. CAR T cells mediate MHC-unrestricted tumor cell killing by enabling T cells to bind target cell surface antigens through a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) recognition domain. Upon engagement, CAR T cells form a non-classical immune synapse (IS), required for their effector function. These cells then mediate their anti-tumoral effects through the perforin and granzyme axis, the Fas and Fas ligand axis, as well as the release of cytokines to sensitize the tumor stroma. Their persistence in the host and functional outputs are tightly dependent on the receptor’s individual components—scFv, spacer domain, and costimulatory domains—and how said component functions converge to augment CAR T cell performance. In this review, we bring forth the successes and limitations of CAR T cell therapy. We delve further into the current understanding of how CAR T cells are designed to function, survive, and ultimately mediate their anti-tumoral effects.

Interventions and Outcomes of Adult Patients with B-ALL Progressing After CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kitsada Wudhikarn ◽  
Jessica R Flynn ◽  
Isabelle Rivière ◽  
Mithat Gonen ◽  
Xiuyan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T Cell ◽  
Car T

CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has become a breakthrough treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). However, despite the high initial response rate, the majority of adult patients with B-ALL progress after CD19 CAR T therapy. Data on the natural history, management, and outcome of adult B-ALL progressing after CD19 CAR T cells have not been described in detail. Herein, we report comprehensive data of 38 adult B-ALL patients who progressed after CD19 CAR T therapy at our institution. The median time to progression after CAR T therapy was 5.5 months. Median survival after post-CAR T progression was 7.4 months. A high disease burden at the time of CAR T cell infusion was significantly associated with risk of post-CAR T progression. Thirty patients (79%) received salvage treatment for post-CAR T disease progression and 13 patients (43%) achieved complete remission (CR), but remission duration was short. Notably, 7 of 12 patients (58.3%) achieved CR after blinatumomab and/or inotuzumab administered after post-CAR T failure. Multivariate analysis demonstrated longer remission duration from CAR T cells was associated with superior survival after progression following CAR T therapy. In conclusion, overall prognosis of adult B-ALL patients progressing after CD19 CAR T cells was poor though a subset of patients achieved sustained remissions to salvage treatments including blinatumomab, inotuzumab and re-infusion of CAR T cells. Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to reduce risk of progression after CAR T therapy and improve outcomes of these patients.

scholarly journals Toxicities of chimeric antigen receptor T cells: recognition and management

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 127 (26) ◽  
pp. 3321-3330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer N. Brudno ◽  
James N. Kochenderfer
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T Cell ◽  
Car T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T

Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells can produce durable remissions in hematologic malignancies that are not responsive to standard therapies. Yet the use of CAR T cells is limited by potentially severe toxicities. Early case reports of unexpected organ damage and deaths following CAR T-cell therapy first highlighted the possible dangers of this new treatment. CAR T cells can potentially damage normal tissues by specifically targeting a tumor-associated antigen that is also expressed on those tissues. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a systemic inflammatory response caused by cytokines released by infused CAR T cells can lead to widespread reversible organ dysfunction. CRS is the most common type of toxicity caused by CAR T cells. Neurologic toxicity due to CAR T cells might in some cases have a different pathophysiology than CRS and requires different management. Aggressive supportive care is necessary for all patients experiencing CAR T-cell toxicities, with early intervention for hypotension and treatment of concurrent infections being essential. Interleukin-6 receptor blockade with tocilizumab remains the mainstay pharmacologic therapy for CRS, though indications for administration vary among centers. Corticosteroids should be reserved for neurologic toxicities and CRS not responsive to tocilizumab. Pharmacologic management is complicated by the risk of immunosuppressive therapy abrogating the antimalignancy activity of the CAR T cells. This review describes the toxicities caused by CAR T cells and reviews the published approaches used to manage toxicities. We present guidelines for treating patients experiencing CRS and other adverse events following CAR T-cell therapy.

scholarly journals Metabolic and Mitochondrial Functioning in Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)—T Cells

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1229
Author(s):  
Ali Hosseini Rad S. M. ◽  
Joshua Colin Halpin ◽  
Mojtaba Mollaei ◽  
Samuel W. J. Smith Bell ◽  
Nattiya Hirankarn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Metabolic State ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T Cell ◽  
Car T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized adoptive cell therapy with impressive therapeutic outcomes of >80% complete remission (CR) rates in some haematological malignancies. Despite this, CAR T cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumours has invariably been unsuccessful in the clinic. Immunosuppressive factors and metabolic stresses in the tumour microenvironment (TME) result in the dysfunction and exhaustion of CAR T cells. A growing body of evidence demonstrates the importance of the mitochondrial and metabolic state of CAR T cells prior to infusion into patients. The different T cell subtypes utilise distinct metabolic pathways to fulfil their energy demands associated with their function. The reprogramming of CAR T cell metabolism is a viable approach to manufacture CAR T cells with superior antitumour functions and increased longevity, whilst also facilitating their adaptation to the nutrient restricted TME. This review discusses the mitochondrial and metabolic state of T cells, and describes the potential of the latest metabolic interventions to maximise CAR T cell efficacy for solid tumours.

scholarly journals Evaluation of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy in non-human primates infected with SHIV or SIV

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248973
Author(s):  
Nami Iwamoto ◽  
Bhavik Patel ◽  
Kaimei Song ◽  
Rosemarie Mason ◽  
Sara Bolivar-Wagers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Viral Suppression ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T

Achieving a functional cure is an important goal in the development of HIV therapy. Eliciting HIV-specific cellular immune responses has not been sufficient to achieve durable removal of HIV-infected cells due to the restriction on effective immune responses by mutation and establishment of latent reservoirs. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are an avenue to potentially develop more potent redirected cellular responses against infected T cells. We developed and tested a range of HIV- and SIV-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell reagents based on Env-binding proteins. In general, SHIV/SIV CAR T cells showed potent viral suppression in vitro, and adding additional CAR molecules in the same transduction resulted in more potent viral suppression than single CAR transduction. Importantly, the primary determinant of virus suppression potency by CAR was the accessibility to the Env epitope, and not the neutralization potency of the binding moiety. However, upon transduction of autologous T cells followed by infusion in vivo, none of these CAR T cells impacted either acquisition as a test of prevention, or viremia as a test of treatment. Our study illustrates limitations of the CAR T cells as possible antiviral therapeutics.

scholarly journals CAR T-cell therapy of solid tumors: promising approaches to modulating antitumor activity of CAR T cells

2019 ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya.Yu. Kiseleva ◽  
A.M. Shishkin ◽  
A.V. Ivanov ◽  
T.M. Kulinich ◽  
V.K. Bozhenko
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Functional Activity ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T Cells ◽  
Car T Cell ◽  
Car T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T

Adoptive immunotherapy that makes use of genetically modified autologous T cells carrying a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) with desired specificity is a promising approach to the treatment of advanced or relapsed solid tumors. However, there are a number of challenges facing the CAR T-cell therapy, including the ability of the tumor to silence the expression of target antigens in response to the selective pressure exerted by therapy and the dampening of the functional activity of CAR T cells by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This review discusses the existing gene-engineering approaches to the modification of CAR T-cell design for 1) creating universal “switchable” synthetic receptors capable of attacking a variety of target antigens; 2) enhancing the functional activity of CAR T cells in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of the tumor by silencing the expression of inhibiting receptors or by stimulating production of cytokines.

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