title: T-cell adoptive immunotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Substantial progress has been made in the treatment of precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), but recurrent disease remains a leading cause of death in children due to cancer and outcomes for adults with B-ALL remain poor. Recently, complete clinical responses have been observed in small numbers of patients with B-ALL treated with adoptive immunotherapy using T cells genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting CD19, a cell surface molecule present in essentially all cases of B-ALL. Preclinical data suggest that CARs targeting CD22, another antigen present in the majority of B-ALL cases, are similarly potent. Several clinical studies already under way will soon more clearly define the rate of response to this novel therapy in B-ALL. Further work is needed to identify optimal platforms for CAR-based adoptive immunotherapy for leukemia, to establish guidelines for managing toxicity, and to determine whether the remissions induced by this approach can be rendered durable.
authors: 1Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
authors: Terry J
authors: TJ
authors: Fry
authors: Crystal L
authors: CL
authors: Mackall
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D012008:Recurrence; D051918:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*
chemical_list: D018941:Antigens, CD19; C497867:CD22 protein, human; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D051918:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2