Yan Leyfman: Can Macrophages Revolutionize Cancer Immunotherapy?
Yan Leyfman, Co-founder and Executive Director of MedNews Week, shared a post on X:
“Can macrophages revolutionize cancer immunotherapy?
Macrophages naturally infiltrate tumors, reshape the TME, phagocytose cancer cells, and activate T cells – making them powerful tools for next-gen therapy.
Enter CAR-Ms: Chimeric Antigen Receptor–engineered Macrophages.
In early trials and preclinical studies, CAR-Ms:
Kill tumors via phagocytosis
– Modulate immunosuppressive TMEs
– Induce endogenous anti-tumor T cell responses
– Show low CRS risk vs CAR-T cells
– Infiltrate solid tumors more efficiently than CAR-T/NK cells
Key strategies boosting efficacy:
Anti-CD47 (“don’t eat me” blockade)
Anti-PD-1 combination
Proinflammatory signaling (e.g. IL-12, IFN-γ)
In vivo delivery via LNPs or hydrogel platforms
CAR-Ms may solve CAR-T’s biggest limitations:
— Toxicity
— Cost
— Solid tumor resistance
Future focus:
Safer vectors (CRISPR > lentivirus)
Off-the-shelf or in vivo platforms
Targeting oncogenic drivers, not just surface antigens
Read more about how CAR-Ms may reshape the future of immunotherapy.”
Title: Engineering myeloid cells for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Jianzhu Chen, Yingjie Zhao, Xiaotong Chen, Jiayao Yan, Fuguo Liu, Rizwan Romee
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