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Hamostaseologie 2025; 45(01): 014-023
DOI: 10.1055/a-2491-3652
Review Article

Basic Concepts and Indications of CAR T Cells

Jana van den Berg
1   Division of Hematology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
2   Innovation Focus Cell Therapies, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
,
Heinz Läubli
2   Innovation Focus Cell Therapies, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
3   Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
4   Division of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
,
Nina Khanna
2   Innovation Focus Cell Therapies, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
3   Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
5   Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
,
Lukas T. Jeker
2   Innovation Focus Cell Therapies, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
3   Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
6   Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
,
Andreas Holbro 
1   Division of Hematology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
2   Innovation Focus Cell Therapies, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
7   Regional Blood Transfusion Service, Swiss Red Cross, Basel, Switzerland
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Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy, particularly for hematological malignancies. This personalized approach is based on genetically engineering T cells derived from the patient to target antigens expressed—among others—on malignant cells. Nowadays they offer new hope where conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation, have often failed. Since the first FDA approval in 2017, CAR T cell therapy has rapidly expanded, proving highly effective against previously refractory diseases with otherwise a dismal outcome. Despite its promise, CAR T cell therapy continues to face significant challenges, including complex manufacturing, the management of toxicities, resistance mechanisms that impact long-term efficacy, and limited access as well as high costs, which continue to shape ongoing research and clinical applications. This review aims to provide an overview of CAR T cell therapy, including its fundamental concepts, clinical applications, current challenges, and future directions in hematological malignancies.

Keywords

chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy - adoptive cellular therapy - immunotherapy - lymphoma - leukemia


Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 16. Oktober 2024

Angenommen: 25. November 2024

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
19. Februar 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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