Challenges and Feasible Solutions of CART Therapy in Solid Tumors

Abstract

CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as a significant advancement in cancer immunotherapy, particularly in treating hematologic malignancies with notable success. Yet, its efficacy in addressing complex solid tumors remains constrained. A principal challenge in the deployment of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for solid tumors lies in the limited availability of tumor-specific target antigens. Presently, the field of CAR-T cell research is marked by the limited availability of antigens that are genuinely specific to tumors. Even if tumor-specific antigens with high specificity can be identified, the heterogeneity of their expression in tumor tissues often further complicates the treatment. This review aims to delve into the issue of tumor-specific antigens and, based on current research progress, propose strategies for improving the search for new tumor antigens and CAR structural design to provide reasonable theoretical support and practical guidance for the safe and effective targeting of solid tumors by CART cells. By continuously optimizing the treatment strategies of CAR-T cell therapy, we aim to offer solid tumor patients more precise and efficient immunotherapy.