Adoptive transfer of T-cell immunity

Allogeneic transplantation is the most successful form of T-cell-based cancer immunotherapy to date. However, a major complication of allogeneic transplantation remains the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Two recent developments might lead to procedures for the induction of strong tumor-specific T-cell immunity without these side-effects. First, MHC-tetramer technology has allowed the identification of T-cell responses that correlate with either GVHD or tumor regression. Second, technologies to alter the specificity of T-cell receptors (TCRs) and redirect T-cell populations by TCR gene transfer offer the means to genetically tailor T-cell immunity. Collectively, these experiments suggest the genetic introduction of TCRs with proven antitumor effects into peripheral T cells as a strategy to induce defined tumor-specific immunity.