VOLUME 21 - NUMBER 1 / January - March (Review articles / Artículos de revisión)
John A. Cuenca, Departamento de Cuidados Críticos, División de Anestesiología, Cuidados Críticos y Medicina del Dolor, Centro Oncológico MD Anderson, Universidad de Texas, Houston, Texas, EE.UU.
Marissa G. Schettino, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Ketty E. Vera, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
L. Esteban Tamariz, Departamento de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy is one of the most advanced forms of immunotherapy. It is based on the genetic modification of T lymphocytes through the infection by a retrovirus that serves as the vector. The genetic information is translated into the production of a chimeric membrane receptor, which is directed specifically against a tumor protein. These T lymphocytes proliferate and generate an inflammatory response targeting tumor cells, in many cases achieving a curative response. This new strategy has shown promising results in the treatment of malignancies refractory to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapies, especially in acute lymphoid leukemia and certain types of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This review of the literature synthesizes the principles of the genetically engineered CAR-T cells, the anti-tumoral mechanism, clinical application, and its adverse events.
Keywords: Chimeric antigen receptor therapy. Adoptive immunotherapy. Adoptive cell therapy. T-Lymphocytes. Hematology. Genetic engineering.
