[Cellular immunotherapies for malignancies - How do they work and what are the side effects?]

Abstract

Introduction: The advent of immunotherapy has brought about a revolutionary shift in the treatment of cancer patients, significantly improving their outcomes. However, it is disheartening that not all patients can benefit from the currently available immunotherapies. Fortunately, cellular immunotherapies have emerged as a promising alternative. Among these approaches, the use of ex vivo activated and expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has shown promise, particularly in patients with immunogenic cancers like melanoma. Moreover, advancements in genetic manipulation techniques have enabled the engineering of T cells with synthetic chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) capable of recognizing specific targets, such as CD19-positive cancers like B-cell leukemias and lymphomas. These cellular immunotherapies have made their way into clinical practice, although they may occasionally give rise to severe and previously unknown side effects. This review aims to provide an in-depth understanding of these therapies while discussing the associated side effects and their management strategies.