Engineered T cells for Colorectal Cancer
Creators: name: Bakarurraini, Nurul Ainaa Adilah Rus
name: Kamarudin, Ammar Akram
name: Jamal, Rahman
name: Abu, Nadiah
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Space Science
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Cancer

description: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major contributor to global cancer incidence and mortality. Conventional treatments have limitations; hence, innovative approaches are imperative. Recent advancements in cancer research have led to the development of personalized targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Immunotherapy, in particular, T cell-based therapies, exhibited to be promising in enhancing cancer treatment outcomes. This review focuses on the landscape of engineered T cells as a potential option for the treatment of CRC. It highlights the approaches, challenges and current advancements in this field. As the understanding of molecular mechanisms increases, engineered T cells hold great potential in revolutionizing cancer treatment. To fully explore their safety efficacy in improving patient outcomes, further research and clinical trials are necessary. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of cancer cases and cancer-related deaths globally. Current treatments for CRC have limitations; hence, there is a need for new and innovative approaches. Recent progress in cancer research has led to the development of personalized targeted therapies and immunotherapies, that is, treatments that use the body's immune system to fight cancer. T cell-based therapy is a type of immunotherapy that has shown promising outcomes in cancer treatment. This therapy involves modifying a type of immune cell called T cells to specifically target cancer cells. In this review, the focus is on the landscape of engineered T cells as a potential option for the treatment of CRC, as well as their challenges and current advancements. Generally, additional research and clinical trials are needed to fully explore its safety and efficacy in improving patient outcomes. Engineered T cells are a promising therapeutic approach for CRC treatment. ACT is a therapeutic approach that aims to enhance the immune response against cancer by increasing the abundance of T cells in the patient. Generally, it can be classified into three different types, that is, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), T cell receptor (TCR) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. CAR-T cells are genetically modified T cells comprised of four regions, that is, an antigen recognition region, a hinge region, a transmembrane region and an intracellular T cell signaling region or endodomain. By contrast, TCRs are heterodimers composed of two subunits, that is, alpha and beta chains, which form the TCR complex. CAR-T is designed to recognize specific cell surface antigens without the need to interact with MHC molecules. By contrast, TCR possesses an advantageous characteristic for detecting low-expressed antigens as it elicits low T cell response. Multiple challenges are contributing to effective engineered T cells such as target antigens, heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment, TCR resistance and toxicities, as well as T cell persistence and exhaustion. Current advancements like immune mobilizing monoclonal T cell receptors (ImmTAC), T cell receptor fusion constructs (TRuCs) and CRISPR can improve the efficacy of TCR-engineered T cells.