Emerging trends in clinical allogeneic CAR cell therapy
Yan-Ruide Li, Yichen Zhu, Ying Fang, Zibai Lyu, Lili Yang
Abstract
There has been significant progress in the clinical development of allogeneic off-the-shelf chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Unlike autologous CAR cell therapies, allogeneic approaches overcome challenges such as high costs, labor-intensive manufacturing, and stringent patient selection. This makes allogeneic therapies a more universally applicable option for a diverse patient population. In this review, we examine recent clinical advancements in allogeneic CAR cell therapies, including CAR-T cell therapy derived from healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as CAR-NK cell therapy from cord blood or induced pluripotent stem cells. We provide an overview of their genetic engineering strategies, clinical designs, and outcomes, highlighting their promising efficacy and safety. Additionally, we summarize key preclinical developments, address key challenges, and explore future directions to provide insights into emerging trends in the field.