Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a revolutionary cancer treatment, but it has severe side effects. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanovesicles released by CAR T cells, known as CAR T-cell-derived EVs (CAR-EVs), are a potential alternative owing to their role in intercellular communication. This review comprehensively explores the clinical potential of CAR-EVs for cancer therapy, starting with their biogenesis and cargo, which include unique therapeutic molecules.
It reviews the mechanisms underlying CAR-EV-mediated anticancer effects and presents preclinical evidence demonstrating efficacy across various cancers, including hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The review further discusses preclinical data and advantages over existing CAR T-cell therapies, emphasizing the need for future clinical studies to assess the safety and efficacy of CAR-EVs in cancer patients. This review also summarizes preliminary findings and challenges, proposing strategies to improve EV targeting and cargo delivery.
Additionally, this review highlights unexplored aspects of EV biology in the context of CAR T-cell therapies.
In conclusion, CAR-EVs offer a viable option for cancer therapy, with potential advantages over conventional CAR T-cell therapies.
However, future research is needed to optimize manufacturing, distribution, and clinical application for achieve maximum therapeutic efficacy and favorable patient outcomes. CAR T-cell therapy is a novel and effective cancer treatment, but it can also cause serious side effects. CAR stands for chimeric antigen receptor, a specially engineered protein that enables T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells. Researchers are now exploring an alternative approach using CAR-EVs, which are tiny extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by CAR T cells.
Lacking the serious adverse effects of CAR T-cell therapy, these CAR-EVs may combat cancer by communicating with other cells and delivering therapeutic molecules. This review discusses how CAR-EVs are produced, what they contain, and how they target cancer cells.
It also summarizes findings from laboratory and animal studies showing their potential against both solid tumors and blood cancers. The review highlights the benefits of CAR-EVs over traditional CAR T-cell therapy and addressing challenges related to enhancing their targeting and delivery. In summary, CAR-EVs represents a promising new approach for cancer therapy.
However, further research is needed to confirm their safety, efficacy, and feasibility for use in patients.