Membrane Antigen Targeting in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using Antibodies or CAR-T Cells

Abstract

This review explores the emerging area of the therapeutic use of antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Through a detailed analysis of the existing literature, this paper highlights the different categories of AML antigens for immunotherapeutic targeting, the most recent applications on antibodies, including bispecific immune cell engagers and CAR-T cells, to the therapy of patients with refractory/relapsing AML The studies performed in AML patients using BisAbs and CAR-T cells have shown that only a limited number of AML patients show sustained responses to these therapies, thus underlying AML heterogeneity as a major challenge. Several studies have addressed the potential mechanisms underlying the resistance of AMLs to antibody-directed immunotherapies. A better understanding of the barriers hampering the successful development of AML immunotherapy is required. However, in spite of the limitations, the studies recently carried out have shown the peculiar sensitivity of some AML subtypes to immunotherapy and have provided the basis for future studies, such as multiplex antigen targeting, which hold the promise of successful development.