Review
Immunology
Cai Zhang, Yuan Hu, Weihua Xiao, Zhigang Tian
Summary: IKCs, particularly NK cells, NKT cells, and gamma delta T cells, exhibit specific tumor recognition and potent antitumor functions, with low risk of developing GVHD, making them potentially excellent candidates for cancer immunotherapy. Advances in synthetic biology and genetic engineering techniques will further optimize IKC-based anticancer therapies.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Ying Gong, Roel G. J. Klein Wolterink, Jianxiang Wang, Gerard M. J. Bos, Wilfred T. V. Germeraad
Summary: NK cells, especially CAR-NK cells, play a crucial role in cancer treatment. Advances in CAR-NK technology show promising potential in efficiently targeting cancer cells with reduced side effects. These developments contribute to improving cancer treatment strategies.
JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sophia Stock, Anna-Kristina Kluever, Stefan Endres, Sebastian Kobold
Summary: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has achieved remarkable success in treating specific hematological malignancies. However, many patients do not respond or relapse after treatment. Strategies such as combining CAR T cells with other treatments and using clinically approved compounds have been investigated to improve this therapy.
Review
Hematology
Hind Rafei, May Daher, Katayoun Rezvani
Summary: CAR T cells are an emerging cancer treatment with limitations including toxicity, manufacturing complexity, and cost. NK cells have potential as a safer and more accessible source for CAR therapy, and genetic engineering of NK cells to express CAR is showing promising results in preclinical studies and clinical trials.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Nattaporn Phanthaphol, Chalermchai Somboonpatarakun, Kwanpirom Suwanchiwasiri, Thaweesak Chieochansin, Jatuporn Sujjitjoon, Sopit Wongkham, John Maher, Mutita Junking, Pa-thai Yenchitsomanus
Summary: CAR T cell therapy has shown efficacy in hematologic malignancies, but further investigation is needed for its application in solid tumors. The selection of target antigens highly expressed in cancer cells but not normal cells is crucial for successful immunotherapy.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rui Zheng, Yuankun Chen, Yiting Zhang, Sixin Liang, Xiaojuan Zhao, Yiyi Wang, Pengju Wang, Ruotong Meng, Angang Yang, Bo Yan
Summary: Our study explores the effect of low-affinity CARs using humanized scFvs on the function of CAR-T cells. We find that moderately reducing the affinity of CARs can maintain anti-tumor efficacy and improve the safety of CAR therapy both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, T cells expressing the VL domain only antibody show long-lasting tumor elimination capability and lower cytokine levels.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Xiao Wang, Xuejiao Yang, Xiang Yuan, Wenbo Wang, Yueying Wang
Summary: CAR-NK cells have shown significant efficacy in cancer therapy and have advantages over CAR-T cells, making them a promising direction for future cancer immunotherapy.
EXPERIMENTAL HEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Piriya Luangwattananun, Mutita Junking, Jatuporn Sujjitjoon, Yupanun Wutti-in, Naravat Poungvarin, Chanitra Thuwajit, Pa-thai Yenchitsomanus
Summary: The study demonstrates the specificity of fourth-generation FR alpha-CAR T cells in lysing breast cancer cells and their anti-tumor activity in spheroid cultures.
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Ali Bashiri Dezfouli, Mina Yazdi, Alan Graham Pockley, Mohammad Khosravi, Sebastian Kobold, Ernst Wagner, Gabriele Multhoff
Summary: In recent years, cell-based immunotherapies using Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) have shown promise in cancer treatment, with CD19 CAR-engineered T cells being most commonly used for hematological malignancies. However, challenges in clinical applications include side effects like cytokine release syndrome, neurological symptoms, and off-target effects, necessitating the development of safer and more potent technologies. Natural Killer (NK) cells have emerged as a promising alternative, being capable of CAR engineering and exhibiting specialized lytic mechanisms against virally infected and cancer cells.
Review
Immunology
Peng Zhang, Yang Zhang, Nan Ji
Summary: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly brain cancer with limited efficacy of standard treatments, necessitating the development of new therapies. Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell immunotherapy has shown success in hematological malignancies, but has not yet yielded promising results in GBM. CAR-T cell therapy for GBM faces challenges including tumor heterogeneity, immunosuppressive microenvironment, and cell persistence.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Xiaoxuan Zhuang, Eric O. Long
Summary: This study demonstrates that CAR-NK cells engineered to overcome inhibition by HLA-I receptors can promote lysis of HLA-I+ tumor cells. The NK-CAR delivered stronger activation signals to NK cells and induced more robust tumor cell lysis compared to a third-generation T-cell CAR. Furthermore, CAR-NK cells could overcome inhibition by HLA-E or HLA-C expressed on tumor cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Peter J. J. Chockley, Jorge Ibanez-Vega, Giedre Krenciute, Lindsay J. J. Talbot, Stephen Gottschalk
Summary: In this study, researchers aimed to enhance the function of CAR immune cells by tuning the CAR immune synapses using an intracellular scaffolding protein binding site. The results showed that the synapse-tuned CAR immune cells exhibited increased effector cell functionality both in vitro and in vivo, leading to enhanced killing of tumor cells.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Mahasha P. J. Perera, Patrick B. Thomas, Gail P. Risbridger, Renea Taylor, Arun Azad, Michael S. Hofman, Elizabeth D. Williams, Ian Vela
Summary: This review discusses the role of CAR-T cell therapy in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed solid-organ cancer in males worldwide. Men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer have limited treatment options, and current therapies are not curative. CAR-T cell therapy has shown success in the treatment of treatment-resistant hematological malignancies, and there are ongoing studies investigating its utility in solid tumors. However, preliminary clinical trials in men with prostate cancer have had limited efficacy, indicating the need for further research to enhance understanding and translation of this therapy.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mina Hosseini, Zahra Habibi, Narges Hosseini, Sina Abdoli, Nima Rezaei
Summary: CAR-NK cells have emerged as safe and effective immunotherapeutic tools in preclinical settings. However, further research is needed to design CAR structures with specific biology in mind, as well as to choose the optimal cell source and gene transfer method to support clinical studies.
EXPERT OPINION ON BIOLOGICAL THERAPY
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Lisa Feldman, Christine Brown, Behnam Badie
Summary: CAR T-cell therapy, utilizing genetically engineered cells from patients to target tumor cells, has emerged as a promising strategy for treating GBM. Ongoing clinical trials are exploring the potential of this approach to combat the challenges associated with GBM treatment.
