autologous EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cells

Autologous EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cells are a type of adoptive cell therapy utilizing a patient's own (autologous) T-cells that have been specifically trained or engineered to recognize and kill cells infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In the context of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), these T-cells are further modified via retroviral transduction to express a calcineurin mutant (CNA12) that confers resistance to tacrolimus, a common immunosuppressant. This engineering allows the EBV-specific T-cells to expand and persist effectively in immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients, aiming to clear EBV+ PTLD without requiring a reduction in tacrolimus dosage, thereby mitigating the risk of graft rejection.