Fig. 4
From: Engineering switchable and programmable universal CARs for CAR T therapy
Multi-targeting of the universal CAR (UniCAR) T cells. UniCAR T cells can lyse tumor cells expressing the corresponding target antigen in the presence of the switch molecule (a). When the tumor cells lose the specific antigen, the UniCAR T cells could not recognize the tumors cells. This can lead to cancer resistance and relapse (b). By adding a second switch molecule that targets a new TAA, the killing function of the same UniCAR T cells are reactivated (c). Simultaneous or sequential addition of a variety of switch molecules targeting different TAAs can direct the same UniCAR T cells to more efficiently lyse tumor cells (d). This enhances the potential CAR T cells to combat cancer resistance and relapse