title: Producer T cells: Using genetically engineered T cells as vehicles to generate and deliver therapeutics to tumors.
abstract: Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) is an emerging anticancer therapy that has shown promise in various malignancies. Redirecting antigen specificity by genetically engineering T cells to stably express receptors has become an effective variant of ACT. A novel extension of this approach is to utilize engineered T cells to produce and deliver anticancer therapeutics that enhance cytotoxic T cell function and simultaneously inhibit immunosuppressive processes. Here, we review the potential of using T cells as therapeutic-secreting vehicles for immunotherapies and present theoretical and established arguments in support of further development of this unique cell-based immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland , Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Davila
keywords: Adoptive transfer; T cell; cancer therapy; cell vehicle; drug delivery; genetic engineering