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Nardine Soliman: Why is CAR T-Therapy Still Struggling in Solid Tumors?
Jul 16, 2025, 14:28

Nardine Soliman: Why is CAR T-Therapy Still Struggling in Solid Tumors?

Nardine Soliman, Associate Researcher at University Hospital of the Technical University of Munich, shared a recent article she and her colleagues co-authored on LinkedIn, adding:

“Why is CAR T-therapy still struggling in solid tumors?

In our recent study, we set out to uncover one of the resistance mechanisms that limit CAR T-cell efficacy in solid cancers.

Our hypothesis: Insufficient activity of tumor-intrinsic RNA-sensing pathways, particularly the RIG-I/MAVS axis, contributes to resistance against CAR T cells.

Thus, therapeutic modulation of the RIG-I/MAVS pathway can enhance tumor susceptibility to CAR T-cell–mediated killing.

Our approach: We demonstrate that activation of the RIG-I/MAVS signaling axis primes tumor cells via mitochondrial apoptosis pathways and death receptor upregulation, thereby amplifying CAR T-cell–triggered cell death.

Take-home message: Targeting tumor-intrinsic RIG-I is a potential strategy to sensitize solid tumors to CAR T-cell treatment.

This work represents the culmination of my PhD research at TranslaTUM (Technical University of Munich) and reflects years of teamwork, perseverance, and scientific curiosity.

I’m deeply grateful for the constant support of my supervisor, Simon Heidegger, throughout this journey, for all my amazing colleagues, Nadia El Khawanky, Tatiana Nedelko, Giada Mandracci, Stefan Enßle, and everyone who made this study possible!

Grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this work, and hopeful to keep learning and making meaningful progress in the field of Cancer Research!”

Title: Targeting Intracellular Innate RNA-Sensing Systems Overcomes Resistance to CAR T-cell Therapy in Solid Tumors

Authors: Nardine Soliman, Tatiana Nedelko, Giada Mandracci, Stefan Enssle, Vincent Grass, Julius C. Fischer, Florian Bassermann, Hendrik Poeck, Sebastian Kobold, Nadia El Khawanky, Simon Heidegger

Read the Full Article on Cancer Research

Nardine Soliman: Why is CAR T-Therapy Still Struggling in Solid Tumors?

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