It is early days, but the engineered expression of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on the surface of T cells the redirection of T‑cell specificitymay lead to improvements in clinical outcomes for patients with solid tumors.

1. CAN CAR-T CELLS CURE SOLID TUMORS?
It is early days, but the engineered expression of chimeric antigen
receptors (CARs) on the surface of T cells the redirection of T‑cell
specificitymay lead to improvements in clinical outcomes for
patients with solid tumors. See targets and CAR structures.
Several studies are underway to explore the use of CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumors.
These studies require the identification of new antigens and the development of preclinical models in
which to test therapies based on these antigens eg, given the expression pattern of glutamate
carboxypeptidase 2 (commonly known as prostate specific membraneantigen; PSMA), CAR-T cells
targeting this antigen is expected to have anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects.
DEPICTION OF ADOPTIVE CELL
TRANSFER USING CAR-T CELLS
PSMA;
CD3ζ and CD28
Prostate cancer
Mesothelin;
CD3 and 4‑1BB
Malignant
pleural
mesothelioma
Mesothelin;
CD3 and 4-1BB
Pancreatic cancer
Mesothelin;
CD3 and 4-1BB
Metastatic pancreatic
(ductal) adenocarcinoma,
epithelial ovarian cancer
and malignant
epithelial pleural
mesothelioma
Mesothelin;
CD3 and CD28
Mesothelioma and
malignant
pleural disease
Mesothelin;
CD3ζ, CD28 and
4‑1BB
Mesothelioma,
pancreatic and
ovarian cancer
FAP; CD3ζ and
CD28
Mesothelioma
EGFRvIII;
CD3ζ and 4‑1BB/
CD3ζ, CD28 and
4‑1BB
Glioma/Glioma
EGFR; Unknown;
Malignant glioma
CEA; CD3ζ and CD28
Liver metastases
CD171;
CD3ζ and 4‑1BB or
CD3ζ, CD28 and
4‑1BB
Neuroblastoma
CEA; Unknown;
Lung, colorectal,
gastric, breast and
pancreatic cancer
GD2;
CD3ζ, OX40, CD28
Neuroblastoma,
osteosarcoma
and melanoma
GD2; Unknown;
Neuroblastoma
GD2;
CD3ζ, Ox40, CD28,
virus specific;
Sarcoma
Glypican‑3;
CD3ζ, CD28 and
4‑1BB;
Advanced‑stage
hepatocellular
carcinoma
HER2;
CD3ζ and
CD28
virus-specific;
Sarcoma
HER2;
CD3ζ and CD28;
Glioblastoma;
Glioblastoma
multiforme
IL‑13;
RαCD3ζ and 4‑1BB
Glioma
Source: Jackson, H. J., Rafiq, S. & Brentjens, R. J. Driving CAR T-cells forward. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 13, 370-383, doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.36 (2016).
Image (Wikimedia Commons): Jacobson, C.A. and Ritz, J.: http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/118/18/4761.full