The challenges in implementing CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumors

Richard D. Kim, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, discusses the challenges faced when implementing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for the treatment of solid tumors. To date, CAR-T cells have shown success only in the treatment of hematological malignancies, however, it remains uncertain whether they will be useful in treating solid tumors. Currently, the main hurdle is finding a suitable antigen in solid tumors for CAR-T cell therapy to bind and carry out their function. Dr. Kim explains that due to the lack of immunogenicity in solid tumors, such as colon and pancreatic cancer, generally they do not tend to harbor the type of cells that respond well to immunotherapy. There are ongoing studies investigating CAR-T therapy alone as well as in combination with immunotherapies for the treatment of solid tumors, however, it is still very much a work in progress and the data is currently premature. This interview took place at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2022.