Development of molecular and pharmacological switches for chimeric antigen receptor T cells

Abstract The use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell technology as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment blood-born human cancers has delivered outstanding clinical efficacy. However, this treatment modality can also be associated with serious adverse events in the form of cytokine release...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bill X. Wu, No-Joon Song, Brian P. Riesenberg, Zihai Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-11-01
Series:Experimental Hematology & Oncology
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40164-019-0151-z
Description
Summary:Abstract The use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell technology as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment blood-born human cancers has delivered outstanding clinical efficacy. However, this treatment modality can also be associated with serious adverse events in the form of cytokine release syndrome. While several avenues are being pursued to limit the off-target effects, it is critically important that any intervention strategy has minimal consequences on long term efficacy. A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine by Dr. Hudecek’s group proved that dasatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, can serve as an on/off switch for CD19-CAR-T cells in preclinical models by limiting toxicities while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. In this editorial, we discuss the recent strategies for generating safer CAR-T cells, and also important questions surrounding the use of dasatinib for emergency intervention of CAR-T cell mediated cytokine release syndrome.
ISSN:2162-3619