A Talk by Astero Klampatsa
Thoracic Oncology Immunotherapy Group, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
About this talk
The use of adoptive transfer of T cells transduced with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies, however their therapeutic success is limited in the treatment of solid cancers. Major challenges within the hostile tumor microenvironment, poor trafficking and the presence of inhibitory tumor cells contribute to CAR treatment limitations. Tumor antigen heterogeneity is another obstacle preventing tumor eradication. In this talk, a study is discussed looking into the limitations in efficiency of CAR T cell therapy in an antigen-heterogeneous tumor model, and whether this can be overcome by CAR T cell induction of bystander effects; meaning, the ability of CAR T cells to eradicate tumor cells not expressing the targeted antigen. Findings from the study provide important information with potential implications in CAR T cell therapy trials.
