Manipulating the Tumor Microenvironment by Adoptive Cell Transfer of CAR T-cells
Overview
Affiliations
T-cells expressing synthetic chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have revolutionized immuno-oncology and highlighted the use of adoptive cell transfer, for the treatment of cancer. The phenomenal clinical success obtained in the treatment of hematological malignancies with CAR T-cells has not been reproduced in the treatment of solid tumors, mainly due to the suppressive and hostile tumor microenvironment (TME). This review will address the immunosuppressive features of the TME, which include the stroma, cytokine and chemokine milieu, suppressive regulatory cells and hypoxic conditions, which can all pose formidable barriers for the effective anti-tumor function of CAR T-cells. Some of the novel next generation CARs that have been developed and tested against the TME, will be discussed, to highlight the status of current research in CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors.
Glaviano A, Lau H, Carter L, Lee E, Lam H, Okina E J Hematol Oncol. 2025; 18(1):6.
PMID: 39806516 PMC: 11733683. DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01634-6.
Su M, Zhang Z, Jiang P, Wang X, Tong X, Wu G Cell Transplant. 2024; 33:9636897241293964.
PMID: 39506457 PMC: 11693693. DOI: 10.1177/09636897241293964.
T cell effects and mechanisms in immunotherapy of head and neck tumors.
Xiang Y, Gong M, Deng Y, Wang H, Ye D Cell Commun Signal. 2023; 21(1):49.
PMID: 36872320 PMC: 9985928. DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01070-y.
Adoptive tumor infiltrating lymphocytes cell therapy for cervical cancer.
Zhu Y, Zhou J, Zhu L, Hu W, Liu B, Xie L Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022; 18(5):2060019.
PMID: 35468048 PMC: 9897649. DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2060019.
Barisic S, Childs R Stem Cells. 2022; 40(6):556-563.
PMID: 35325242 PMC: 9216497. DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac021.