Adoptive cell therapy in paediatric extracranial solid tumours: current approaches and future challenges

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Cell Therapy

Background:

• Immunotherapy offers new hope for paediatric solid tumours resistant to conventional treatments.
• Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), especially with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, is a leading immunotherapy approach.
• Paediatric solid tumours present challenges due to their immunosuppressive microenvironment and tumour-intrinsic factors affecting ACT efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current ACT strategies for paediatric extracranial solid tumours.
• To evaluate preclinical and clinical evidence for promising ACT approaches.
• To identify challenges and future opportunities in ACT for paediatric oncology.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on ACT for paediatric solid tumours.
• Analysis of clinical trial data and preclinical studies.
• Discussion of novel cell engineering and combination therapy strategies.

Main Results:

• CAR T-cell therapy is a focal point in clinical studies for paediatric solid tumours.
• Tumour immune evasion and T cell dysfunction remain significant hurdles for ACT.
• Emerging strategies include innate-like lymphocytes, advanced cell engineering, and combination therapies.

Conclusions:

• ACT holds significant potential for treating paediatric solid tumours.
• Overcoming tumour immunosuppression and T cell exhaustion is critical for ACT success.
• Continued innovation in cell engineering and combination therapies is essential to improve outcomes for children with solid tumours.