07.22.21

Building a Better BiTE: Strategies for Advancing the Therapeutic Potential of BiTEs

Opportunities to further advance the therapeutic potential of bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) in hematologic malignancies are the focus of a review article by Chinese researchers in the May issue of the Journal of Hematology & Oncology.

“BiTE therapy can be a strategy to activate exhausted T cells induced by long-term exposure to tumor antigens,” write Xin Wang and colleagues from Shandong University in China. Moreover, BiTEs are able to activate T cells without costimulatory signals.

“Further advances in molecular structures, dosing regimens and combination therapies can help to improve the efficacy and safety of BiTEs,” they write. “Innovative platforms enable the production of novel bispecific T cell-recruiting antibodies with higher affinity, greater flexibility and longer half-lives.”

To improve the efficacy of BiTEs, the authors urge further studies of the mechanisms of tumor escape. “Deeper investigation of combination therapy with PD-1/PD-L1 blockers is expected to prevent tumor escape efficiently,” they write.

  • Tian Z, Liu M, Zhang Y, Wang X. Bispecific T cell engagers: an emerging therapy for management of hematologic malignancies. J Hematol Oncol. 2021 May 3;14(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s13045-021-01084-4. PMID: 33941237

Tags: transplantation, BiTEs, cell therapy, strategies, advance, therapeutic, potential

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