Early-phenotype CAR-T cells for the treatment of pediatric cancers.

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of childhood cancers, particularly high-risk tumors that fail to respond to standard therapies. CAR-T cells have been highly successful in treating some types of hematological malignancies. However, CAR-T cells targeting solid cancers have had limited success so far for multiple reasons, including their poor long-term persistence and proliferation. Evidence is emerging to show that maintaining CAR-T cells in an early, less differentiated state in vitro results in superior persistence, proliferation, and anti-tumor effects in vivo. Children are ideal candidates for receiving less-differentiated CAR-T cell..