Researchers developed lipid nanoparticles that reprogram immune cells directly inside the body to create panCAR T-cells—engineered immune cells capable of recognizing multiple cancer targets simultaneously rather than just one specific antigen. The nanoparticles deliver genetic instructions that transform circulating T-cells into these multi-target hunters without requiring the complex ex vivo cell harvesting and engineering process of traditional CAR-T therapy. This represents a significant advancement in cancer immunotherapy methodology. Traditional CAR-T treatments require extracting a patient's immune cells, genetically modifying them in laboratory conditions, then reinfusing them—a costly, time-intensive process limited to specialized centers. The in vivo approach could democratize access to engineered cell therapies while addressing solid tumors' notorious resistance to single-target treatments. Solid tumors create immunosuppressive microenvironments that current therapies struggle to penetrate, but panCAR cells' ability to recognize multiple cancer markers simultaneously could overcome tumor escape mechanisms. However, this early-stage research requires extensive safety validation, particularly regarding off-target effects and immune system overstimulation. The delivery system's efficiency in reaching sufficient numbers of circulating immune cells and the durability of the genetic modifications remain critical unknowns before clinical translation becomes feasible.
Lipid Nanoparticles Create Universal Cancer-Fighting Cells Inside Body
📄 Based on research published in PNAS
Read the original research →For informational, non-clinical use. Synthesized analysis of published research — may contain errors. Not medical advice. Consult original sources and your physician.