Depending on the disease type and therapeutic goals, cell therapy can generally be categorized into two main groups. The first involves cancer immunotherapy, which extracts and modifies immune cells before reintroducing them into cancer patients to target and destroy cancer cells. The second category is regenerative medicine, which utilizes induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) with embryonic-like stem cell properties to differentiate into various cell types for tissue regeneration.
Bryant Chen, Medical Affairs Manager, Beyond BioMedical Inc.
Immunotherapy involves extracting immune cells from the patient or a donor, expanding and modifying them in vitro, and reintroducing them into the patient. These modified cells gain the ability to recognize and attack specific cancer cells, thereby stimulating the patient’s immune system to combat cancer. Currently, multiple types of immune cell-based therapies are under research, development, or clinical trials, such as:
NK cells eliminate target cells by secreting cytokines and inflammatory mediators or by inducing apoptosis directly. This therapy involves proliferating and activating NK cells outside the body, then infusing them back into the patient to eliminate cancer cells through a “strength-in-numbers” approach.
Also known as antigen-presenting cell therapy, DCs identify pathogens or cancer cells, break them down into fragments, and present these as antigens on their surface. They “train” T-cells to recognize and attack specific cancer cells through cytokine-mediated activation, achieving therapeutic effects.
CIK cells are hybrid T-cell complexes with characteristics of NK and NKT cells. After in vitro expansion, cytokines such as interferons and interleukins activate these cells to directly attack cancer cells or stimulate T-cell immune responses.
Currently recognized internationally as one of the most effective cancer cell therapies,
therapy has been validated in clinical trials and approved by the US FDA. T-cells are extracted from the patient, genetically modified to express CAR receptors that recognize and target cancer cells, and then reinfused into the patient to induce a strong therapeutic response.
At present, while CAR-T therapy has been successfully applied in treating lymphomas, other immune cell therapies remain under development and lack sufficient large-scale clinical evidence.
Regenerative medicine utilizes the regenerative potential of stem cells to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs. These are primitive cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into various cell types—such as muscle, blood, bone, and nerve cells. Depending on the source and characteristics of the stem cells, related therapies can be classified as follows:
One of the most established and widely used stem cell therapies, it rebuilds the patient’s blood and immune systems and is primarily applied to treat hematologic diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma. Based on the stem cell source, transplantation can be divided into bone marrow, peripheral blood, and cord blood stem cell transplants.
MSCs can differentiate into multiple tissue types and possess immunomodulatory properties. They can be derived from various sources such as dental pulp, bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, and placenta. Their versatile physiological functions make them promising for tissue repair, regeneration, and treatment of autoimmune diseases.
iPSCs are reprogrammed somatic cells that regain pluripotency similar to embryonic stem cells. Theoretically, they can develop into any cell type, allowing regeneration of damaged tissues or organs without the ethical concerns associated with embryonic stem cells. However, the technology remains under research, and its translation into clinical evidence and practical applications will require further time and validation.
Future Prospects and Ongoing Challenges
The advancement of cell therapy undoubtedly broadens treatment options for both healthcare professionals and patients. However, key challenges remain — including establishing robust clinical validation, ensuring institutional collaboration, and defining appropriate regulatory frameworks.
These aspects are still evolving, and the next section will explore Taiwan’s recent progress and regulatory developments in the field of cell therapy.
