REDIRECTING T LYMPHOCYTE SPECIFICITY USING T CELL RECEPTOR GENES

Redirecting T cells by transferring T cell receptor (TCR) genes from tumor-associated antigen (TAA)-reactive T cell clones into human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) has therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases, including cancer. T cell specificity can be altered using retroviruses encoding TCR f and TCR g chain genes, or chimeric immunoglobulin (cIg) genes containing signaling domains of CD3 ‘ or Fc l RI- n. This review evaluates recent studies using TCRs and cIgs to redirect T cell specificity and discusses some of the technical and biological hurdles that need to be addressed before these approaches can be successfully used to treat patients.