Exploring the Influence of the Total Target-Antigen Burden on CAR-T Cell Immunotherapy

Resumo

CAR-T cell immunotherapy stands out as a highly promising way in cancer treatment, receiving significant attention within the scientific community. This type of treatment aims to increase the ability of the patient’s own immune system to fight tumor cells. T lymphocytes are extracted from the patient, genetically modified to express the CAR gene, expanded ex vivo, and reintroduced into the patient. These engineered cells are called CAR-T cells and possess enhanced ability to recognize and kill tumor cells expressing a specific target antigen. In hematological cancers, affecting B cells, the target antigen is expressed by both malignant and healthy B cells, leading to a cytotoxic impact of CAR-T cells on both cell types. As a result of treatment, patients may develop B cell aplasia (BCA), a manageable side effect. Remarkably, BCA serves as a vital clinical marker, indicating the presence of functional CAR-T cells and enabling precise monitoring and management of the patient’s treatment. Here, our objective is to explore the role of healthy B cells expressing the target antigen in CAR-T cell immunotherapy through the development of a mathematical model.