CAR-T therapy in solid tumors

Abstract

While chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has shown great success in hematologic malignancies, the effectiveness in solid tumors has been limited by several factors, including antigenic heterogeneity and the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we discuss the advancements made in clinical studies and challenges faced by CAR-T therapy for solid tumors. To enhance CAR-T cell efficacy in solid tumors, we explore strategies such as enhancing T cell persistence and cytotoxicity, targeting multiple antigens, and utilizing innovative allogeneic CAR-T cell manufacturing. Additionally, we highlight the potential benefits of combining CAR-T therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors and other treatment modalities to overcome TME limitations. We remain optimistic about the future of CAR-T cell therapy in solid tumors, emphasizing the need for continued research to refine therapeutic approaches and address the clinical needs of patients with cancer.

Keywords: CAR-T; gene editing; solid tumor; synthetic biology; tumor microenvironment.