TCR-T Cell Therapy
PANG Mengke, ZHAO Xiang*
T cells are an important type of immune cell, and the TCR (T cell receptor) is the most crucial membrane protein receptor on the surface of T cells, responsible for activating T cells. TCR initiates the specific activation of T cells by recognizing the antigen complex pMHC. By isolating TCRs that are specific to tumor antigens, researchers can develop TCR-T cell therapies that attack and kill tumors, bringing new hope in the fight against cancer. The success of TCR-T therapy requires suitable tumor antigen targets, including viral antigens, neoantigens, differentiation antigens, cancer/testis antigens, and overexpressed antigens, to address different tumor indications. Additionally, it requires protein engineering techniques such as high-affinity maturation and catch bond engineering to enhance the activation level of TCR-T cells. Currently, some TCR-T cell therapies have been approved for market use, but further development of TCR-T cell therapy needs to focus on antigen discovery, protein engineering modifications of TCRs, low-cost delivery methods, T cell modifications, and strengthening basic research, in order to highlight its advantages in the efficacy against solid tumors amidst competition with CAR-T therapies.
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