Breakthrough for Anticancer Immunotherapy: Current Advances in Manufacturing Protocols of Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Based Therapies
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based immunotherapy has emerged as a transformative strategy in anticancer treatment, driven by advances in CAR construct design, manufacturing platforms, and expansion to diverse immune cell types. The landmark success of CD19-targeted CAR-T cell therapy in B cell malignancies has paved the way for broader clinical applications. As of 2025, the U.S. FDA has approved multiple autologous CAR-T products, underscoring their therapeutic promise. However, challenges persist, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurotoxicity, product inconsistency, and the high cost and complexity of cell manufacturing. Variations in cell source, gene delivery methods, expansion protocols, and CAR design significantly influence the safety, efficacy, and scalability of these therapies. In this review, we comprehensively examine the current advances in manufacturing protocols for CAR-modified T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and unconventional T cell subsets, including γδ T, invariant natural killer T (iNKT), and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. We also highlight emerging innovations such as in vivo CAR-T generation and off-the-shelf allogeneic approaches. By integrating updated strategies with a critical evaluation of current limitations, this review aims to support the development of standardized, robust, and accessible CAR-based immunotherapies.
Source: Antibodies
Authors: Yuxin Qian, Weiwei Ma, Xiao-Ning Xu
Institution: Imperial College London
Language: English
Topic: CAR-T cell therapy research
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
OpenAlex ID: W4417120974