Unleashing the power of CAR-M therapy in solid tumors: a comprehensive review
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) macrophage therapy represents a promising new frontier in cancer immunotherapy, with the potential to overcome the limitations of CAR-T cell approaches, particularly in solid tumours. This comprehensive review focuses on the current state and future prospects of CAR m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1615760/full |
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| author | Ahsen Morva Ahsen Morva Ana Belén Arroyo Ana Belén Arroyo Liudmila Andreeva Ana Tapia-Abellán Ana Tapia-Abellán Ginés Luengo-Gil Ginés Luengo-Gil |
| author_facet | Ahsen Morva Ahsen Morva Ana Belén Arroyo Ana Belén Arroyo Liudmila Andreeva Ana Tapia-Abellán Ana Tapia-Abellán Ginés Luengo-Gil Ginés Luengo-Gil |
| author_sort | Ahsen Morva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) macrophage therapy represents a promising new frontier in cancer immunotherapy, with the potential to overcome the limitations of CAR-T cell approaches, particularly in solid tumours. This comprehensive review focuses on the current state and future prospects of CAR macrophage technology, emphasising its applications in solid malignancies across preclinical and early clinical development. The key topics covered included CAR design optimisation, macrophage sources and engineering strategies, mechanisms of antitumour activity, in vivo efficacy in animal models, initial clinical trial results, and challenges for broader implementation. The unique properties of macrophages, including tumour penetration and microenvironment modulation, offer significant advantages over T cell-based therapies in solid-tumour settings. However, strategies to enhance persistence, maintain proinflammatory phenotypes, and improve manufacturing are required. Although early research suggests additional applications beyond oncology, including for infectious and inflammatory diseases, this review primarily concentrates on the oncologic potential of CAR-M therapies. Continued optimisation and larger randomised trials will be critical to establish clinical efficacy and define the role of this approach in the treatment of solid tumours. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ef8a1db9c844ef7be33736f92f202b2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ef8a1db9c844ef7be33736f92f202b22025-08-20T03:46:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16157601615760Unleashing the power of CAR-M therapy in solid tumors: a comprehensive reviewAhsen Morva0Ahsen Morva1Ana Belén Arroyo2Ana Belén Arroyo3Liudmila Andreeva4Ana Tapia-Abellán5Ana Tapia-Abellán6Ginés Luengo-Gil7Ginés Luengo-Gil8Biotechnology Research Group, Climat & Life Sciences, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli, TürkiyeTransplant Immunology Research Center of Excellence TIREX, Koc University School of Medicine, Istanbul, TürkiyePathology Department, Santa Lucía University General Hospital, Murcian Institute of Biosanitary Research (IMIB), Cartagena, SpainHealth Sciences Department, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Guadalupe, SpainStructural Immuno-Oncology Research Group, Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, GermanyPathology Department, Santa Lucía University General Hospital, Murcian Institute of Biosanitary Research (IMIB), Cartagena, SpainImmunology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, SpainPathology Department, Santa Lucía University General Hospital, Murcian Institute of Biosanitary Research (IMIB), Cartagena, SpainHealth Sciences Department, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Guadalupe, SpainChimeric antigen receptor (CAR) macrophage therapy represents a promising new frontier in cancer immunotherapy, with the potential to overcome the limitations of CAR-T cell approaches, particularly in solid tumours. This comprehensive review focuses on the current state and future prospects of CAR macrophage technology, emphasising its applications in solid malignancies across preclinical and early clinical development. The key topics covered included CAR design optimisation, macrophage sources and engineering strategies, mechanisms of antitumour activity, in vivo efficacy in animal models, initial clinical trial results, and challenges for broader implementation. The unique properties of macrophages, including tumour penetration and microenvironment modulation, offer significant advantages over T cell-based therapies in solid-tumour settings. However, strategies to enhance persistence, maintain proinflammatory phenotypes, and improve manufacturing are required. Although early research suggests additional applications beyond oncology, including for infectious and inflammatory diseases, this review primarily concentrates on the oncologic potential of CAR-M therapies. Continued optimisation and larger randomised trials will be critical to establish clinical efficacy and define the role of this approach in the treatment of solid tumours.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1615760/fullCAR-Mchimeric antigen receptormacrophagescellular immunotherapyadvances in research |
| spellingShingle | Ahsen Morva Ahsen Morva Ana Belén Arroyo Ana Belén Arroyo Liudmila Andreeva Ana Tapia-Abellán Ana Tapia-Abellán Ginés Luengo-Gil Ginés Luengo-Gil Unleashing the power of CAR-M therapy in solid tumors: a comprehensive review Frontiers in Immunology CAR-M chimeric antigen receptor macrophages cellular immunotherapy advances in research |
| title | Unleashing the power of CAR-M therapy in solid tumors: a comprehensive review |
| title_full | Unleashing the power of CAR-M therapy in solid tumors: a comprehensive review |
| title_fullStr | Unleashing the power of CAR-M therapy in solid tumors: a comprehensive review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unleashing the power of CAR-M therapy in solid tumors: a comprehensive review |
| title_short | Unleashing the power of CAR-M therapy in solid tumors: a comprehensive review |
| title_sort | unleashing the power of car m therapy in solid tumors a comprehensive review |
| topic | CAR-M chimeric antigen receptor macrophages cellular immunotherapy advances in research |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1615760/full |
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