Novel chimeric antigen receptor T cells based on T-cell receptor-like antibodies

The need for novel therapeutics against human cancers such as leukemias and solid tumors is well recognized. Human T cells are poised to make a fundamental change in the therapeutic approach. T-cell interaction with a tumor cell is a critical event and primarily driven by T-cell receptor (TCR) recognition of peptide in the pocket HLA. However, among TCR-based T-cell therapies, either TCR mismatching or the low density of major histocompatibility complex causes tumor cells to escape from the immune response. TCR molecules have low binding affinities, preventing their recognitions. Undoubtedly, antibody therapeutics is an effective treatment for cancer. As the new generation of monoclonal antibodies, TCR-like antibodies can mimic TCR recognition but are not susceptible for mechanisms of tumor evasion from the immune response. As chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) structure expressed on the surface of T cells, TCR-like antibodies can confer antigen specificity to T cells. The new TCR-like CAR may be important to drive new technologies of adoptive cell therapy, in particular, T-cell therapy, and open possibilities to target endogenous tumor-specific antigens.