autologous cytomegalovirus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Autologous cytomegalovirus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes is an investigational adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) developed by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for the treatment of glioblastoma. The therapy involves the ex vivo expansion of a patient's own polyclonal CD8+ and CD4+ T cells that are specifically reactive to the cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 antigen. CMV antigens are found in over 90% of glioblastoma tissues but are absent in normal brain tissue, providing a tumor-specific target for immune intervention. The expanded T cells are administered intravenously, typically following lymphodepleting chemotherapy with temozolomide, to induce an anti-tumor immune response. Clinical evaluation in Phase I/II trials has demonstrated that the therapy is well-tolerated, though research continues to address the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.

Other names

autologous CMV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytesautologous CMV-specific T cellsCMV-CTLsCMV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes