Chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy for solid tumors require new clinical regimens

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chimeric antigen receptor modified T cell (CAR-T) therapy has achieved encouraging breakthroughs in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Nevertheless, this success has not yet been extrapolated to solid tumors. This review focuses on new clinical regimens that could improve the therapeutic efficacy of CAR-T in solid tumors.

Areas covered: Herein, the authors reviewed recent clinical trials using CAR-T therapies for the treatment of solid tumors. Specifically, this review covered the following areas: (1) the current status of CAR-T cells in the treatment of solid tumors; (2) the major factors constraining the efficacy of CAR-T cells in solid tumors; and (3) opinions regarding the future of CAR-T as a treatment for solid tumors.

Expert commentary: While some recent studies have shown promising results, the ultimate success of CAR-T therapies in solid tumor patients will require the following improvements to clinical regimens: (1) local delivery of CAR-T cells; (2) combination of CAR-T cells with chemotherapeutic drugs to treat metastatic tumors; (3) combination of CAR-T with immune checkpoint inhibitors; (4) combination therapy using CAR-T cells targeting two different antigens; and (5) the use of CAR-T as a strategy to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis after radical resection.

KEYWORDS:

• Chemotherapy
• clinical regimen
• CAR-T
• radical resection
• solid tumor

Declaration of Interest

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 81773253], Social Development Key Project of Jiangsu Province [No. BE2016643], Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province [BK20161157], Natural Science Key Project of Jiangsu Province Education Department [17KJA320011].