FAP-specific re-directed T cells first in-man study in malignant pleural mesothelioma: experience of the first patient treated

Background Median survival of advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is less than 2 years, and novel treatments are urgently needed. Immunotherapy with adoptive T cell transfer is an attractive approach that could be added to current therapeutic concepts. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is expressed by all subtypes of MPM [1] and can serve as target of re-directed T cells harboring an anti-FAP chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) leading to site-specific T cell activation.