?? Hot Topic of the Week: ?? Engineering Universal Allogeneic CAR-T and CAR-NK Cell Therapies for Cancer Treatment

In recent years, allogeneic CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies are rapidly developing, providing off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapies with greater accessibility and scalability. Researchers are currently focusing on genetic engineering, dual-targeting strategies, and improved manufacturing technologies to improve their safety and efficacy.

A major advance is gene-edited universal CAR-T cells, which are designed to eliminate graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and immune rejection. The principle is that CRISPR-based modifications can remove HLA molecules and disrupt TCR expression, allowing allogeneic CAR-T cells to persist in patients without triggering immune rejection. Similarly, CRISPR-enhanced CAR-NK cells are also being designed to have higher tumor specificity and longer persistence, thereby overcoming the traditionally short lifespan of NK cells in the body.

To combat tumor antigen escape, researchers are developing dual-targeting CAR constructs. These CAR-T and CAR-NK cells recognize multiple tumor antigens, thereby reducing the possibility of cancer cells evading treatment. Additionally, iPSC-derived universal CAR-T and CAR-NK cells are emerging as a promising off-the-shelf platform, providing a scalable source of standardized, potent immune cells for therapeutics.

Finally, improvements in allogeneic cell expansion and manufacturing are critical for widespread adoption of these therapies. Several optimized culture systems and bioprocessing technologies are improving yield, potency, and safety, bringing us closer to cost-effective, scalable CAR-based immunotherapies.

Overall, as these innovations progress, universal allogeneic CAR-T and CAR-NK therapies will revolutionize cancer treatment, making advanced immunotherapies more affordable, scalable, and accessible to patients worldwide.