The Progress and Prospects of Immune Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer

Abstract

Immune cell therapy as a revolutionary treatment modality, significantly transformed cancer care. It is a specialized form of immunotherapy that utilizes living immune cells as therapeutic reagents for the treatment of cancer. Unlike traditional drugs, cell therapies are considered “living drugs,” and these products are currently customized and require advanced manufacturing techniques. Although chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have received tremendous attention in the industry regarding the treatment of hematologic malignancies, their effectiveness in treating solid tumors is often restricted, leading to the emergence of alternative immune cell therapies. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) cell therapy, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy, dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, and DC/CIK cell therapy are designed to use the body’s natural defense mechanisms to target and eliminate cancer cells, and usually have fewer side effects or risks. On the other hand, cell therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell, T cell receptor (TCR)-T, chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK), or CAR-macrophages (CAR-M) typically utilize either autologous stem cells, allogeneic or xenogeneic cells, or genetically modified cells, which require higher levels of manipulation and are considered high risk. These high-risk cell therapies typically hold special characteristics in tumor targeting and signal transduction, triggering new anti-tumor immune responses. Recently, significant advances have been achieved in both basic and clinical researches on anti-tumor mechanisms, cell therapy product designs, and technological innovations. With swift technological integration and a high innovation landscape, key future development directions have emerged. To meet the demands of cell therapy technological advancements in treating cancer, we comprehensively and systematically investigate the technological innovation and clinical progress of immune cell therapies in this study. Based on the therapeutic mechanisms and methodological features of immune cell therapies, we analyzed the main technical advantages and clinical transformation risks associated with these therapies. We also analyzed and forecasted the application prospects, providing references for relevant enterprises with the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding their R&D direction selection.

The causal role of immune cells on lung cancer: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) study

“…The immune system recognizes the mutated cells and the metastatic tumor cells in the body and directly kills tumor cells by releasing cytotoxics, cytokines, and other methods to block the development and metastasis of tumors. In addition, immune cells could regulate the activity of the immune system, enhance immune response, and thus enhance immune attack against tumors [ 7 , 8 ]. At the same time, immune cells can also inhibit the immune escape ability of tumor cells, preventing them from attacking the immune system [ 9 ].…”

Different origin-derived exosomes and their clinical advantages in cancer therapy

“…( 30 – 32 ), and blood cell therapy ( 33 ), are also attracting considerable research attention for the treatment of cancer. Various macromolecules can be synthesized and secreted to exert paracrine effects and affect the local microenvironment, thus enhancing the effect of traditional surgical treatment ( 34 , 35 ). This therapeutic approach can also locate the damage site, repair the damaged tissue, and achieve precise molecular targeting.…”