What is Cell Therapy?
Cell therapy involves transferring cells to a person with the objective of treating or preventing disease. Multiple processes are used to extract, modify, and reintroduce cells for treatment. Cell therapies can treat cancers, degenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, and more.
Cell therapy was first conceived in the 19th century by Charles Edouard Brown-Sequard, who sought to suppress the signs of aging. Since then, scientists and physicians have developed the processes he employed into an ever-evolving field that saves and improves countless lives.
How Does Cell Therapy Work?
Many illnesses are caused by damaged or incorrectly functioning cells. Cell therapy aims to introduce cells to a person that replace the damaged or improperly functioning cells to treat or prevent disease. There are two main processes for developing cell therapies: autologous and allogeneic.
- Autologous cell therapy uses cells taken directly from the person who requires treatment. Once the cells are extracted, they are modified and reintroduced to the person.
- Allogeneic cell therapy uses cells taken from a donor. Again, once the cells are extracted, they are processed, sometimes modified, and introduced into the system of the person who requires treatment.
In addition to autologous and allogeneic cell therapies, ex vivo gene therapy” combines cell therapy and gene therapy by taking cells and genetically modifying them outside the body.
Types of Cells Used in Cell Therapy
Cell therapies are used in multiple fields of medicine, such as oncology, immunology, and regenerative medicine. As mentioned above, damaged or improperly functioning cells can cause illnesses, prompting the use of modified cells to correct the problems. Therapies can consist of stem cells, non-stem cells, or both.
Stem cells are unspecialized cells that have the potential to differentiate into multiple types of cells. For instance, stem cells found in bone marrow (hemopoietic stem cells) can differentiate into mature red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These stem cells can be taken from a donor to treat blood cancers.
Non-stem cells are defined as cells that have been specialized and matured into cells with specific functions within the body. When non-stem cells are used in cell therapies, their highly specialized functions can be enhanced. For example, T-cells, found in the immune system, can be extracted and modified to attack tumors in CAR T-cell therapies. CAR T-cell therapies are an example of how cell therapy and gene therapy processes can overlap. They are created by genetically modifying T-cells to have a gene receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).
Challenges and Risks within Cell Therapy
Cell therapies are not without challenges or risks. One of the most significant hurdles people seeking treatment face is being matched with a donor due to recruitment and availability limitations.
Another challenge patients face is vulnerability from immunosuppression, as this is frequently a necessary step in preparing to receive cell therapies. Further, immune responses like Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD) are also a risk factor when receiving cell therapies; this is when someone’s immune system interprets the injected cells as foreign and begins to attack them.
There are also risks like toxicity from treatments like CAR T-cell therapy, which can cause the immune system to release cytokines, which, at high levels, are toxic to organs and can cause fever, difficulty breathing, and death.
Conclusion
Cell therapy is a field of treatment and prevention that offers promise and hope to many people. Although it has been around for centuries, careful research and experimentation are required to ensure the safety of both donors and the people receiving cell therapies.
Allucent helps small-to-midsize biotechs navigate cell and gene therapy clinical trials. For more information, please contact us.
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