Engineering cells for solid tumor therapy

Living cell therapy and nonliving drugs are both key approaches for treating solid tumors. Engineering living cells with nonliving drugs harnesses their complementary advantages to enhance therapeutic outcomes. However, inappropriate engineering methods or design strategies can compromise the synergy between cells and drugs. In this review, we provide a decision framework that matches engineering strategies to cell types and drug properties, yielding baseline-qualified engineered cells. To address barriers specific to solid tumors, we then discuss strategies for equipping cells with additional functions that enable deeper penetration, resistance to immunosuppression, and controlled release. We also discuss emerging strategies to increase their safety during clinical translation. This review aims to guide the rational design of next-generation engineered cell therapies to achieve improved clinical outcomes.