Definition

A preparation of T lymphocytes that have been genetically modified to express a hypoxia-stimulated chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2; ErbB2; HER-2), with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, HER2-targeted hypoxia-stimulated CAR T cells target and bind to HER2-expressing tumor cells, thereby inducing selective toxicity in HER2-expressing tumor cells. HER2 is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cell types and is associated with increased tumor cell proliferation. Hypoxia-stimulated CAR may improve the expansion and survival of the CAR T cells in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME).