Facing challenges with hope: universal immune cells for hematologic malignancies

Yuqing Wang; Ruihao Huang; Zheng Wang; Jingkang Xiong; Xiaoqi Wang; Xi Zhang

doi:10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2022.0759

Facing challenges with hope: universal immune cells for hematologic malignancies

Cancer Biol Med. 2023 May 4;20(4):229-247. doi: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2022.0759.

Authors

Yuqing Wang^#^{1

2}, Ruihao Huang^#¹, Zheng Wang¹, Jingkang Xiong¹, Xiaoqi Wang¹, Xi Zhang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
² Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing 400037, China.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 37144558
PMCID: PMC10157807
DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2022.0759

Abstract

Many patients have achieved a favorable overall survival rate since allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has been widely implemented to treat hematologic malignancies. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and complications of immunosuppressive drugs after allo-HSCT are the main causes of non-relapse mortality and a poor quality of life. In addition, GVHD and infusion-induced toxicity still occur with donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Because of the special immune tolerance characteristics and anti-tumor ability of universal immune cells, universal immune cell therapy may strongly reduce GVHD, while simultaneously reducing tumor burden. Nevertheless, widespread application of universal immune cell therapy is mainly restricted by poor expansion and persistence efficacy. Many strategies have been applied to improve universal immune cell proliferation and persistence efficacy, including the use of universal cell lines, signaling regulation and CAR technology. In this review we have summarized current advances in universal immune cell therapy for hematologic malignancies with a discussion of future perspectives.

Keywords: Universal immune cells; chimeric antigen receptor; graft-versus-host disease; immune tolerance.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Graft vs Host Disease* / etiology
Graft vs Host Disease* / prevention & control
Hematologic Neoplasms* / therapy
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
Humans
Quality of Life

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2022YFA1103300), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82020108004), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Innovation Group Science Program (Grant No. cstc2021jcyjcxttX0001), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (Grant No. CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX1060), the Special Project for Talent Construction in Xinqiao Hospital (Grant No. 2022XKRC001), and the National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program (Grant No. 202190035001).