Current approaches to increase CAR T cell potency in solid tumors: targeting the tumor microenvironment

J Immunother Cancer. 2017 Mar 21:5:28. doi: 10.1186/s40425-017-0230-9. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a revolutionary treatment for haematological malignancies (i.e. B-ALL). However, the success of this type of treatment has not yet been achieved in solid tumors. One hypothesis is that the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME) influences and affects the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy. Understanding the role of the TME and its interaction with CAR T-cells is crucial to improve the potency of adoptive immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the strategies and potential combinatorial approaches recently developed in mouse models to enhance the efficacy of CAR T-cells, with particular emphasis on the translational potential of these approaches.

Keywords: Adoptive immunotherapy; Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells; Tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell