CAR-T cell therapy and reconstructive oncologic surgery in peripheral solid tumors-A narrative review

This review addresses the integration of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy with reconstructive oncologic surgery in treating peripheral solid tumors, including melanoma, sarcomas, breast cancer, and head and neck cancers. While CAR-T cells have demonstrated effectiveness in blood cancers, their efficacy in solid tumors has been limited due to tumor heterogeneity, immune suppression, and poor cellular infiltration. Emerging approaches involving localized CAR-T cell delivery, improved CAR design, and targeted antigen selection (such as HER2, MUC1, GD2, and B7-H3) are discussed as promising strategies to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Clinical studies highlighted in this review indicate improved local tumor control and potential to optimize surgical resections. Additionally, combining CAR-T therapy with surgery may reduce tumor recurrence and positively influence reconstructive outcomes. Overall, this review underscores CAR-T cell therapy as a potential adjunctive treatment in oncologic surgery, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to improve patient outcomes in solid tumor management.