LAUSR

The scientific concept of genetically endowing T cells with target-specific tumoricidal activity using antibody-mediated antigen recognition was first described by Dr. Eshhar around 1990 [1]. Such engineered T cells, which were originally called “T-bodies”, are now called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) gene-modified T cells (CAR-T). Therapy using these cells has emerged as the mainstay of modern anticancer immunotherapy, the most prominent example of which being CD19 CAR-T for relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies [2]. As an extension of this strategy, continuous efforts have been made to expand the scope of indications to not only solid cancers, but also viral diseases such as COVID-19 [3].