Definition

A preparation of T lymphocytes that have been genetically engineered and transduced with a lentiviral vector to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) directed against the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) CD7, the co-immunostimulatory signaling domain 4-1BB (CD137) and the intracellular CD3 zeta domain (CD3z), with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, the anti-CD7 CAR T cells BT-007 specifically recognize and bind to CD7-expressing tumor cells, resulting in specific T-cell-mediated tumor cell lysis. CD7 is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed by T cells and natural killer (NK) cells and their precursors. It is expressed in the majority of lymphoblastic T-cell leukemias and lymphomas and in a subset of peripheral T-cell lymphomas.