Definition

Autologous human cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) transduced with a retroviral vector encoding a human anti-HER2 (epidermal growth factor receptor 2) chimeric T cell receptor (CAR) gene with potential immunostimulatory and antineoplastic activities. Autologous CTLs from a patient with HER2- and CMV-positive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are genetically modified to express CAR gene specific for HER2 on their cell surfaces. After expansion in culture and reintroduction into the patient, the anti-HER2-CAR autologous CMV-specific CTLs bind to HER2 antigen on tumor cell surfaces; subsequently, HER2-positive tumor cells and stem cells may be lysed. HER2 (ErbB2), a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) overexpressed by a variety of cancer cell types, plays key roles in tumor cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. CMV is present in the majority of GBM tumors.