Advances in Immune Cell Engineering for Treating Cancers and Other Diseases

The adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells has marked a significant breakthrough in the treatment of haematological malignancies, with promising strides also being made against solid tumors. Recent years have seen considerable advancements in CAR T-cell therapy, driven by the development of cutting-edge gene-engineering tools, innovative CAR constructs such as remote-controlled and logic-gated designs, and strategies aimed at enhancing T-cell persistence, leveraging endogenous immune mechanisms, mitigating T-cell exhaustion, and navigating the complex tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the exploration of CAR T-cell co-engineering techniques and combined treatment methodologies is showing encouraging clinical results, alongside the pioneering use of CAR-engineered macrophages and NK cells.

This Research Topic is dedicated to furthering the development of CAR T-cell therapies across a spectrum of diseases, including autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases, where early clinical trials reveal potential for remission of autoimmune conditions with reduced incidences of side effects typically observed in cancer treatments, such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. The burgeoning field of immune cell engineering presents a transformative era in therapeutic approaches, highlighting the vast potential of CAR T-cell interventions beyond oncology.

We are particularly interested in submissions covering a range of themes, including but not limited to:

- Novel CAR designs and the engineering strategies behind them
- Enhancements in gene-engineering tools to boost CAR T-cell therapy
- Innovative approaches to increase the efficacy and safety of immune cell therapies
- CAR-engineered cells in non-cancerous diseases and their impact

Accepted article types for this Research Topic include Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Opinions, and Perspectives. Through this compilation, we aim to catalyze further research and discussion in this exciting and rapidly evolving area of medical science, potentially changing the landscape of disease treatment worldwide.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: CAR engineering, Immune cells, Solid cancers, TME (tumor microenvironment), Therapeutic applications, Preclinical development, cancer, Chimeric Antigen Receptor, CAR, Immuno-Engineering, Gene-Engineering, Rare Diseases, T lymphocytes, NK Cells, Macrophages

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.