Dissecting factors influencing response to CAR T cell therapy in B lymphoid hematologic malignancies: from basic to practice

Abstract

Over the past recent years, CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell has transformed the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) B lymphoid hematologic malignancy. CAR T cell therapy elicits an excellent anti-tumor effect and extends long-term disease-free remission in these difficult-to-treat patients. Notwithstanding, despite the impressive anti-tumor efficacy, some patients fail to attain clinical response or relapse after extended follow-up. The success of CAR T cell therapy involves complex interplays between host, tumor, and CAR T cell-associated arrays. Researchers have extensively explored potential predictive biomarkers for response to CAR T cell therapy. Ability to identify clinical and biological factors associated with improved response will help determine appropriate patients for CAR T cell treatment and enhance the clinical outcome of this novel therapeutic approach.

Keywords:

• Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T cell)
• leukemia
• lymphoma
• immunotherapy

Acknowledgments

KW receives salary support from Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Disclosure statement

KW declares no relevant conflict of interest. JHP has consulted and provided an advisory role for Amgen, Novartis, Kite Pharma, Incyte, Allogene, Autolus, Intellia, Artiva, AstraZeneca, and Servier.

Additional information

Funding

KW receives salary support from Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. JHP receives funding from the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO, a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Career Development Grant, the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Foundation, a National Comprehensive Cancer Center Young Investigator Award, and an American Society of Hematology Scholar Junior Faculty Award.