Adoptive T-cell immunotherapy in digestive tract malignancies: Current challenges and future perspectives. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mandriani, Barbara; Pelle', Eleonora; Pezzicoli, Gaetano; Strosberg, Jonathan; Abate-Daga, Daniel; Guarini, Attilio; Cives, Mauro; Porta, Camillo
• Is Part Of: Cancer treatment reviews. Volume 100(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: TILs -- TCR-engineered T cells -- CAR-T cells -- LAK cells -- CIK cells -- Adoptive immunotherapy; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- therapy -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Périodiques; Cancer -- Traitement -- Périodiques; Cancer -- Treatment; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.99406
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2021.102288
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-7372

Abstract

Highlights: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), T cell receptor (TCR)-redirected T cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells have been recently investigated as innovative strategies of adoptive T-cell immunotherapy. A number of clinical studies of adoptive T-cell transfer have been carried out or are currently underway in patients with digestive tract malignancies. While current evidence is controversial, new technical advancements have the potential to move forward the field of adoptive T-cell immunotherapy. New infrastructures, new medical/biological expertise and new health policies might soon become indispensable to govern a new era in the treatment of cancer. Abstract: Multiple systemic treatments are currently available for advanced cancers of the digestive tract, but none of them is curative. Adoptive T-cell immunotherapy refers to the extraction, modification and re-infusion of autologous or allogenic T lymphocytes for therapeutic purposes. A number of clinical trials have investigated either non-engineered T cells (i.e., lymphokine-activated killer cells, cytokine induced killer cells, or tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) or engineered T cells (T cell receptor-redirected T cells or chimeric antigen receptor T cells) in patients with digestive tract malignancies over the past two decades, with variable degrees of success. While the majority of completed trials have been primarily aimed at assessing the safety of T-cell transfer strategies, a new generation of studies is being designed to formally evaluate the antitumor potential of adoptive T-cell immunotherapy in both the metastatic and adjuvant settings. In this review, we provide an overview of completed and ongoing clinical trials of passive T-cell immunotherapy in patients with cancers of the digestive tract, focusing on present obstacles and future strategies for achieving potential success.