Advancements in CAR-T Cell Therapy for Ovarian Cancer: Current Strategies and Future Directions

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has emerged as a transformative approach in oncology, particularly for hematologic malignancies. However, its application to solid tumors, such as ovarian cancer, remains challenging. This review discusses recent advancements in CAR-T cell therapy specifically targeting ovarian cancer, with a focus on current strategies and future directions. We first introduce the fundamental structure of CARs, detailing the core components including the antigen-binding domain, the transmembrane domain, and the signaling domains. The optimization of CAR-T design is then examined, highlighting innovative strategies such as bispecific CAR-Ts, co-expression CAR-Ts, fine-tuning of CAR constructs, and cytokine-modified CAR-Ts. The review further explores a comprehensive array of antigen targets relevant to ovarian cancer, ranging from HER2 and mesothelin to more novel targets like CD47 and L1CAM. Additionally, we investigate how nanotechnology is enhancing CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors, with specific attention to mRNA delivery systems, liposomal nanoparticles, hydrogel-based platforms, and the integration of photothermal therapy.