M1 polarization enhances the antitumor activity of chimeric antigen receptor macrophages in solid tumors

Chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M) therapy, integrating CAR structure and macrophage functions, shows promising antitumor effects in solid tumors. This study hypothesized that inducing M1-type polarization would further enhance CAR-M antitumor activity. A novel HER2-targeting CAR-M was constructed and tested in vitro and in vivo. M1 polarization significantly enhanced CAR-M phagocytosis, tumor-killing capacity, and proinflammatory cytokine production. In syngeneic tumor models, M1-polarized CAR-Ms effectively suppressed tumor progression and prolonged survival, demonstrating their potential for solid cancer immunotherapy.

Yi Huo, Han Zhang, Longqi Sa, Wenjing Zheng, Yang He, Haohan Lyu, Mengjie Sun, Lingling Zhang, Lequn Shan, Angang Yang, Tao Wang