Figure 1.

Patient-centered gene-engineered T-cell therapy of cancer. (1) Patient blood is collected by peripheral blood draw, or leukapheresis. (2) Ex vivo T cells are transduced or transfected with T-cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) genes via gamma-retrovirus, lentivirus, or non-viral (transposon) gene transfer. (3) Gene-transferred T cells are expanded ex vivo. (4) TCR- or CAR-engineered T-cell product is readministered back to patient intravenously. (5) Receptor-engineered T cells circulate through the patient's bloodstream to encounter tumor, where they bind cognate antigen, activate, and destroy the tumor.