Abstract:
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell therapy offers promising new avenues for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, several challenges hinder its full potential. Firstly, the high heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma results in a lack of ideal targets, complicating the ability of CAR cells to specifically recognize and effectively eliminate tumor cells. Secondly, the immunosuppressive microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma, characterized by regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, diminishes the efficacy of CAR cell therapy, further affecting treatment efficacy. Additionally, safety concerns such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity remain significant obstacles to clinical application. Finally, the high cost and complex manufacturing processes involved in CAR cell therapy present major barriers to its widespread use. Future research should focus on optimizing target selection, particularly by identifying hepato-cellular carcinoma specific molecular markers; improving CAR cells resilience in immunosuppre-ssive environments; enhancing safety protocols; and streamlining production methods to reduce costs. Addressing these critical issues will facilitate the broader application of CAR cell therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma and other solid tumors, paving the way for a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. Based on relevant literature and combined it with clinical practice, the authors explore the prospects and challenges of CAR cell therapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, aiming to provide new ideas for its clinical application.