The landscape of CAR-engineered innate immune cells for cancer immunotherapy

Nat Cancer. 2025 Jul;6(7):1145-1156. doi: 10.1038/s43018-025-01015-z. Epub 2025 Jul 18.

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have improved the cure rate and quality of life of patients with lymphoid malignancies but have yet to demonstrate clinical benefits in solid tumors. Thus, several CAR-engineering strategies are currently being explored to overcome the functional limitations and the high cost of CAR T cells. Key among these are CAR-engineered innate immune cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells, NK T (NKT) cells, γδ T cells and macrophages. In this Review, we discuss the potential and limitations of efforts to develop and use innate immune CAR-engineered cells for cancer immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Immunotherapy* / methods
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive* / methods
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen* / genetics
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen* / immunology

Substances

  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen