Adoptive Cellular Immunotherapy using CD1a CART-cells for Treatment of Cortical Pediatric T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

(Pre)-clinical reports have demonstrated that chimeric antigen receptors efficiently redirect T cells (CARTs) against a variety of malignancies, including CD19+ B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). However, CAR T cell-based immunotherapy for other pediatric malignancies remains more challenging. Pediatric T-cell ALL (T-ALL) is a heterogeneous clonal disease arising early during T-cell development. CD1a is a cortical T-cell antigen always present in cortical T-ALL but absent in normal circulating T-cells. The choice of the antigen to be targeted is instrumental for the effective and safe development of adoptive immunotherapies.