Navigating CAR-T cells through the solid-tumour microenvironment

The adoptive transfer of T cells that are engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has shown remarkable success in treating B cell malignancies but only limited efficacy against other cancer types, especially solid tumours. Compared with haematological diseases, solid tumours present a unique set of challenges, including a lack of robustly expressed, tumour-exclusive antigen targets as well as highly immunosuppressive and metabolically challenging tumour microenvironments that limit treatment safety and efficacy. Here, we review protein- and cell-engineering strategies that seek to overcome these obstacles and produce next-generation T cells with enhanced tumour specificity and sustained effector function for the treatment of solid malignancies

Molecular Mediators of Liver Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury: A Brief Review

Ischemia and reperfusion injury is a dynamic process that involves multiple organ systems in various clinical states including transplantation, trauma, and surgery. Research into this field has identified key molecular and signaling players that mediate, modulate, or augment cellular, tissue, and organ injury during this disease process. Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms should provide the rationale to identify much-needed novel therapeutic options to prevent or ameliorate organ damage due to ischemia and reperfusion in clinics