Adoptive cellular therapy with T cells specific for EBV-derived tumor antigens

Adoptive T-cell therapy is an attractive option for targeting tumors associated with Epstein-Barr virus. In immunogenic Type III latency tumors such as post transplant lymphoproliferative disease, EBV-specific CTL have been used successfully as prophylaxis and treatment. In Type II latency malignancies such as Hodgkin's disease and nasopharyngeal cancer, a more restricted array of EBV antigens are encoded and the clinical response rates after infusion of EBV-specific CTLs have been lower. Current strategies to increase response rates include targeting CTL to subdominant EBV antigens and genetically modifying CTL to increase their potency.