Immunotherapy has significantly advanced cancer treatment, particularly through T cell-driven strategies. Among these, adoptive cell therapies like Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy and Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy have demonstrated considerable promise. CAR T therapy involves engineering a patient's T cells to target specific cancer antigens, showing remarkable success in hematologic malignancies. Conversely, TIL therapy, which expands and reinfuses T cells that have naturally infiltrated tumours, is particularly effective for solid tumours. This distinction arises because CAR T therapy faces challenges in targeting the complex microenvironment of solid tumours, while TIL therapy can leverage T cells' natural ability to recognize and attack these tumours. Additionally, T Cell Engagers (TCEs) that can link T cells directly with cancer cells, are being investigated to enhance efficacy across both solid and blood cancers. Each approach has unique challenges and advantages, driving ongoing research to optimize these therapies.

Current T cell-based therapies, including CAR T therapy, TIL therapy, and TCEs, along with immune checkpoint inhibitors, have shown promise but face significant challenges. CAR T therapies struggle with solid tumours, while TIL therapies require improvements for broader use. This research topic aims to highlight these approaches as well as strategies to overcome tumour heterogeneity, antigen escape and immunosuppressive components of the tumour microenvironment. Innovative strategies, such as combination approaches to integrate oncolytic viruses, or methods to reduce time-to-vein for treating patients are necessary to overcome existing limitations and to enhance overall therapy effectiveness.

We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:

• T cell-based immunotherapies

• CAR T therapy

• TIL therapy

• TCE therapy

• Oncolytic viruses

• Biomanufacturing

Dr. Julian Smazynski is the co-founder of a private biotech company (Overture Therapeutics); Dr. Arthur Hurwitz is co-inventor of a licensed patent (BMS), share holder at Agenus/MiNK and employee of Reportoire Immune Medicine.
The remainder Topic Editors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Exploring T Cell Driven Immunotherapies: From CAR T and TILs to T Cell Engagers