Adoptive immunotherapy with antiviral T cells: Materials and methods

Viral infections and reactivations are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in patients who undergo allogeneic haematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation. Adoptive immunotherapy with virus-specific T cells (from donor to patient) has shown efficacy in the antiviral treatment of patients who have undergone transplantation and whose immune system has not yet been reconstituted. Currently, and according to the requirements of the corresponding agencies that regulate the production of these advanced personalized therapies, the production and application of these cell products are being optimized in such a way that they comply with good manufacturing practice standards and are safe and effective for treating patients. To facilitate their implementation, we need to understand the foundations of producing and using virus-specific T cells. This study reviews the evolution of the methodology for producing antiviral T cells and the studies that support their therapeutic efficacy. The study covers up to the current production platforms, whose commercialisation has begun in Spain. These platforms will help obtain virus-specific T cells and chimeric antigen receptor T cells, among others, in a completely automated manner and under good manufacturing practice conditions. The implementation of these new methodologies in the Spanish healthcare system will undoubtedly facilitate patients’ access to a new repertoire of advanced therapies.