A new research update outlines a promising lab/animal-model strategy to turn immune cells already inside tumors into active cancer fighters—without extracting and engineering cells in a lab.
The idea centers on macrophages, immune cells that can attack cancer but are often “switched off” by the tumor’s suppressive environment. Researchers described injecting a formulation directly into a tumor so local macrophages absorb it and begin producing cancer-targeting CAR proteins, effectively converting them into CAR-macrophages on site.
Why this matters for solid tumors
Solid tumors (like lung, liver, gastric cancers) are notoriously tough for cell therapies because their dense structure and local biology can block immune cells from entering or functioning. Macrophages are different: they can infiltrate tumors, engulf cancer cells, and **activate other immune responses—**making them attractive for next-generation immunotherapy.
What’s new here
Instead of the slow, expensive “extract → engineer → reinfuse” workflow, the approach aims to reprogram tumor-associated macrophages inside the body using lipid nanoparticles loaded with:
- mRNA instructions to produce a cancer-recognition CAR, and
- an immune-activating compound to help overcome the tumor’s suppressive signals.
What the animal data suggested
In animal models (including melanoma), the injected treatment was reported to significantly reduce tumor growth and to stimulate surrounding immune cells—hinting that the response might extend beyond the treated tumor.
The takeaway
This is early-stage science, not a ready treatment. But the concept is compelling: generate engineered immune-cell therapy inside the patient, potentially lowering cost and complexity while tackling the hostile tumor environment that undermines many immunotherapies. If the results translate beyond animal models, it could open a new path for treating solid tumors where current cell therapies struggle.
