Tumor markers play an important part in CAR T-cell therapy as they identify specific cancer cell antigens, enabling the development of targeted therapies that precisely attack cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
In blood cancers, several tumor markers are relevant for CAR T-cell therapy as they help identify the specific antigens that CAR T-cells can target. Key tumor markers and associated antigens for different types of blood cancers include:
- CD19: This antigen is commonly expressed on the surface of B cells, including malignant B cells in many blood cancers such as B-cell lymphomas and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). CAR T-cell therapies targeting CD19, such as Kymriah and Yescarta, have shown significant efficacy in treating these cancers.
- CD20: Present on the surface of B cells and used in some therapies targeting B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Although not typically a target for CAR T-cell therapy, it is relevant in other immunotherapies.
- CD22: Another antigen found on B cells and targeted in some CAR T-cell therapies, particularly for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and B-cell lymphomas.
- BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen): Found on the surface of malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma. CAR T-cell therapies targeting BCMA, such as Abecma and Carvykti, have shown promise in treating multiple myeloma.
- CD30: Expressed in some lymphomas, such as Hodgkin lymphoma. While not a primary target in current CAR T-cell therapies, it is relevant for some targeted treatments and research.
- FLT3 (Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3): Found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although not the primary target for CAR T-cell therapies yet, research is ongoing to target this antigen in AML.
These tumor markers are critical for identifying appropriate targets for CAR T-cell therapies, enabling the development of personalized treatments that specifically target the cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues.
