Expert opinion on biological therapy
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Expert Opin Biol Ther · Jul 2014
ReviewBiological therapies in the acute respiratory distress syndrome.
The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterised by life-threatening respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, and multiple organ failure. It has a mortality of up to 30 - 45% and causes a long-term reduction in quality of life for survivors, with only approximately 50% of survivors able to return to work 12 months after hospital discharge. ⋯ Although understanding of the pathophysiology of ARDS has improved, to date there are no effective pharmacological interventions that target a specific mechanism, with the only potentially effective therapies to date aiming to limit ventilator-associated lung injury. However, we believe that through this improved mechanistic insight and better clinical trial design, there is cautious optimism for the future of biological therapies in ARDS, and expect current and future biological compounds to provide treatment options to clinicians managing this devastating condition.
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Expert Opin Biol Ther · Jul 2014
ReviewAllogeneic chimeric antigen receptor-modified cells for adoptive cell therapy of cancer.
Chimeric antigen (or antibody) receptors (CAR) are fusion proteins typically combining an antibody-derived targeting fragment with signaling domains capable of activating immune cells. Recent clinical trials have shown the tremendous potential of adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of autologous T cells engineered to express a CD19-specific CAR targeting B-cell malignancies. Building on this approach, ACT therapies employing allogeneic CAR-expressing cytotoxic cells are now being explored. ⋯ CAR-modified allogeneic cells have the potential to act as universal effector cells, which can be administered to any patient regardless of MHC type. Such universal effector cells could be used as an 'off-the-shelf' cell-mediated treatment for cancer.