ESGCT 2021 | Genome editing to address challenges with adoptive T-cell therapy

Chiara Bonini, MD, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University & IRCCS San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy, describes the major hurdles associated with adoptive T-cell therapy for cancer, including challenges around determining appropriate molecular targets and type of T-cell product to use, as well as overcoming the tumor microenvironment. Dr Bonini highlights that genome editing can be used to address such challenges through the introduction or disruption of genes in the T-cell receptor (TCR) to impact specificity. In addition, tools such as CRISPR genome editing allow multiplexed strategies in which multiple genome modifications can be made in a single T-cell product, allowing modification of TCR specificity and sensitivity to the suppressive tumor microenvironment. This interview took place at the European Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ESGCT) Virtual Congress 2021.