Definition

A substance made in the laboratory that can bind to two target proteins on the surface of different cells. For example, a bispecific T-cell engager may bind to a certain protein on healthy T cells (a type of immune cell) and, at the same time, to a different protein on cancer cells. This brings the T cells and cancer cells close together so the T cells can more effectively kill the cancer cells. Some bispecific T-cell engagers are being used to treat certain types of cancer, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and small cell lung cancer. They are a type of targeted therapy. Also called BiTE.