Current progress in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for malignant tumors

Abstract

In the realm of malignant tumor treatment, particularly regarding hematologic malignancies, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) immunotherapy has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years. This approach involves genetically modifying and engineering a patient's T-cells ex vivo to express a specific CAR, known as CAR-T cells. When these modified cells are reintroduced into the patient, they can specifically recognize target antigens and exhibit highly efficient cytotoxicity against cells expressing these antigens, making them suitable for the treatment of malignant tumors. CD19, which is expressed on the surface of B lymphocytes at different stages of differentiation, has been identified as a suitable target for the treatment of most B-cell lymphomas. CAR-T cells targeting CD19 have demonstrated excellent specificity, cytotoxicity, and persistence in both in vitro and clinical trials, showing tremendous potential for application. However, identifying appropriate targets for CAR-T therapy in solid tumors remains a challenge, leading to limited advancements in this area. This review discusses the mechanisms, applications, limitations, and prospects of CAR-T therapy in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, aiming to provide directions for future research in this field.