title: Adoptive cell therapy: past, present and future.
abstract: The immune system is a potent inhibitor of tumor growth with curative potential, constituting in many eyes the future of antineoplastic therapy. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a form of immunotherapy in which autologous cancer-cognate lymphocytes are expanded and modified ex vivo and re-infused to combat the tumor. This review follows the evolvement of ACT and treatment protocols, focusing on unresolved dilemmas regarding this treatment while providing evidence for its effectiveness in refractory patients. Future directions of ACT are discussed, in particular with regard to genetic engineering of autologous cells, and the role of ACT in the era of checkpoint inhibitors is addressed.
authors.affiliation: Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merims
authors.affiliation: Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Roni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Engelstein
authors.affiliation: Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.affiliation: Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lotem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D061025:Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D061025:Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
keywords: adoptive cell therapy; cancer immunotherapy; tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes