Longevity & AgingIn Vivo CAR T Cells Could Make Engineered Immunotherapy Faster and Simpler
CAR T cell therapy works well for blood cancers, but it requires chemotherapy to deplete existing immune cells and weeks of costly lab manufacturing at specialized centers. This expert review examines a newer approach: delivering genetic instructions directly into the patient's bloodstream so T cells become CAR T cells in the body. The authors describe delivery tools including viral particles, lipid nanoparticles, and modified RNA, and summarize early preclinical and clinical data showing successful in vivo engineering and some anti-tumor responses. They also outline key hurdles: targeting the right cells, genomic safety, drug behavior in the body, host immune reactions, and regulation. The authors suggest the approach may eventually reach beyond cancer to autoimmunity, chronic infections, and regenerative medicine, though the field is still early.
