anti-EGFRvIII CAR T-cells

Anti-EGFRvIII CAR T-cells are an adoptive cellular immunotherapy designed to target the epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), a tumor-specific neoantigen frequently expressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) but absent in normal tissues. EGFRvIII results from a specific genomic deletion in the extracellular domain of the EGFR gene, leading to constitutive, ligand-independent signaling that promotes tumor growth. The therapy involves genetically engineering a patient's T-cells to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that specifically recognizes the EGFRvIII mutation, enabling the T-cells to selectively bind to and eliminate EGFRvIII-positive tumor cells. While highly specific, clinical efficacy in GBM has been limited by the blood-brain barrier, heterogeneous antigen expression leading to antigen escape, and a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Research at institutions such as the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is exploring enhancement strategies, including the use of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPU) to improve T-cell trafficking and synthetic Notch (synNotch) circuits to target multiple antigens and overcome tumor heterogeneity.

Other names

EGFRvIII-targeted CAR T-cellsEGFRvIII CAR-Tanti-EGFRvIII CAR-T