Targeting CD79b for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy of B-Cell Lymphomas

Although chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy targeting antigens expressed in refractory and relapsed non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma, such as CD19 and CD22, has achieved encouraging clinical effects, some patients fail to attain remission, or relapse after CAR T-cell therapy, which has been ascribed to the loss of the target antigens. To evaluate CD79b as an alternative target for CAR T-cell B-cell lymphoma therapy. The expression of CD79b in different B-cell lymphomas was determined. Anti-CD79b CAR T-cells expressing one of two different CARs were generated, and a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the CAR T-cell function. We found that CD79b was extensively expressed on the tumor cells of patients with various types of lymphoma regardless of stage, subtype, and cytogenetic and molecular features. Anti-CD79b CAR T-cells were highly specific and effective for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas. Our data indicate that CD79b could be used as a target for CAR T-cell therapy of B-cell lymphomas, and further clinical development is warranted.