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Next-gen oncology: the role of CAR-T cells against ocular lymphoma and myeloma

Eye (2024)Cite this article

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Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR-T) cell therapy represents a groundbreaking advancement in the field of cancer immunotherapy, where it offers a highly targeted and personalized approach to cancer treatment [1]. Since its birth in 1993, this innovative therapy has been built upon the genetic engineering of a patient’s own T cells to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which is designed to recognize and bind to specific antigens present on cancer cells [1]. By reprogramming the immune system to better recognize and destroy malignant cells, CAR-T therapy improves the body's natural ability to fight cancer cells with unprecedented precision and effectiveness [1].

The therapeutic potential of CAR-T cells has been particularly promising in the treatment of hematological malignancies, such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM) [2]. The ability to specifically target antigens, such as CD19 in B cell malignancies, CD20 in lymphomas, and CD138 in MM, allows for a more directed and efficient immune response and significantly reduces the off-target effects that often accompany traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation [2, 3].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland

    Mouayad Masalkhi

  2. Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Noura Wahhoud

  3. University Hospital Waterford, Waterford, Ireland

    Ezzat Elhassadi

Authors
  1. Mouayad Masalkhi
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  2. Noura Wahhoud
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  3. Ezzat Elhassadi
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MM: idea synthesis and literature review. NW: literature review and manuscript writing. EE: manuscript editing and evaluation.

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Correspondence to Mouayad Masalkhi.

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Masalkhi, M., Wahhoud, N. & Elhassadi, E. Next-gen oncology: the role of CAR-T cells against ocular lymphoma and myeloma. Eye (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-024-03324-6

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