Rationally designed approaches to augment CAR-T therapy for solid tumor treatment

Chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell immunotherapy: A bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2023

Chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cells represent a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy, making this a highly popular research area. However, comprehensive analyses of this field using bibliometric methods are rare. To our knowledge, this study has collected highest number of publications (1,259) on CAR-NK therapy from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2023, and utilized CiteSpace and VOSviewer to analyze regions, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords to forecast the latest trends in CAR-NK therapy research. The United States and China, contributing over 60% of publications, are the primary drivers in this field. The Helmholtz Association and Harvard University are the most active institutions, with most publications appearing in Frontiers in Immunology. Winfried S. Wels is the most prolific author, while EL Liu is the most frequently co-cited author. "Immunotherapy," "T-cells," and "Cancer" are the most extensively covered topics in CAR-NK therapy research. Our study reveals current CAR-NK research trends, identifies potential research hotspots, and visualizes references through bibliometric methods, providing valuable guidance for future research in this field.

Nanotechnology-Assisted CAR-T-Cell Therapy for Tumor Treatment

The adoptive transfer of T cells redirected by chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has made a dramatic breakthrough in defeating hematological malignancies. However, in solid tumor treatment, CAR-T-cell therapy has attained limited therapeutic benefits due to insufficient infiltration and expansion, rapidly diminishing function following adoptive transfer, and severe life-threatening toxicities. To address these challenges, advancements in nanotechnology have utilized innovative approaches to devise stronger CAR-T cells with reduced toxicity and enhanced anti-tumor activity. Equipping CAR-T cells with multifunctional nanoparticles can abrogate immunosuppressive signaling in the tumor area, augment the functions of CAR-T cells, and mitigate their toxicity against normal tissues. Additionally, nanoparticle-mediated CAR-T-cell programming has the potential to optimize manufacturing and lower the cost for the broader implementation of CAR-T-cell therapy. In this review, we introduce the obstacles to be surmounted in CAR-T-cell therapy, highlight the nanotechnology-based strategies that aim to enrich the therapeutic applications of CAR-T-cell therapy, and envision the prospect of nanoparticle-assisted CAR-T-cell therapy.

Enhancing CAR T cells function: role of immunomodulators in cancer immunotherapy

CAR T-cell therapy is a promising immunotherapy, providing successful results for cancer patients who are unresponsive to standard and traditional therapeutic approaches. However, there are limiting factors which create a hurdle in the therapy performing its role optimally. CAR T cells get exhausted, produce active antitumor responses, and might even produce toxic reactions. Specifically, in the case of solid tumors, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells fail to produce the desired outcomes. Then, the need to use supplementary agents such as immune system modifying immunomodulatory agents comes into play. A series of the literature was studied to evaluate the role of immunomodulators including a phytochemical, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved targeted drugs, and ILs in support of their achievements in boosting the efficiency of CAR-T cell therapy. Some of the most promising out of them are reported in this article. It is expected that by using the right combinations of immunotherapy, immunomodulators, and traditional cancer treatments, the best possible cancer defying results may be produced in the future.

The next frontier in immunotherapy: potential and challenges of CAR-macrophages

Chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-MΦ) represents a significant advancement in immunotherapy, especially for treating solid tumors where traditional CAR-T therapies face limitations. CAR-MΦ offers a promising approach to target and eradicate tumor cells by utilizing macrophages' phagocytic and antigen-presenting abilities. However, challenges such as the complex tumor microenvironment (TME), variability in antigen expression, and immune suppression limit their efficacy. This review addresses these issues, exploring mechanisms of CAR-MΦ action, optimal construct designs, and interactions within the TME. It also delves into the ex vivo manufacturing challenges of CAR-MΦ, discussing autologous and allogeneic sources and the importance of stringent quality control. The potential synergies of integrating CAR-MΦ with existing cancer therapies like checkpoint inhibitors and conventional chemotherapeutics are examined to highlight possible enhanced treatment outcomes. Furthermore, regulatory pathways for CAR-MΦ therapies are scrutinized alongside established protocols for CAR-T cells, identifying unique considerations essential for clinical trials and market approval. Proposed safety monitoring frameworks aim to manage potential adverse events, such as cytokine release syndrome, crucial for patient safety. Consolidating current research and clinical insights, this review seeks to refine CAR-MΦ therapeutic applications, overcome barriers, and suggest future research directions to transition CAR-MΦ therapies from experimental platforms to standard cancer care options.