# Precision Reprogramming in CAR-T Cell Therapy: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Directions of Advanced Gene Editing

**Authors:** Zimo Jia, Jiajin Wu, Jiyue Zhang, Peixian Zheng, Haoxuan Zhang, Yiqin Lin, Tao Pan, Meng Wu, Yuqin Song

PMC · DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.124144 · 2025-10-24

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how gene editing can improve CAR-T cell therapy for cancer, addressing challenges like toxicity and limited effectiveness.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in gene editing for CAR-T cell therapy and outlines future directions.

## Key findings

- Gene editing technologies like CRISPR/Cas can enhance CAR-T cell efficacy and safety.
- Challenges remain in applying CAR-T therapy to solid tumors and managing toxicities.
- Emerging tools like base and prime editing offer new possibilities for optimizing CAR-T cells.

## Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy represents a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy, demonstrating impressive clinical outcomes, particularly for hematologic malignancies. However, its broader therapeutic application, especially against solid tumors, remains limited. Key challenges include T cell exhaustion, limited persistence, cytokine-mediated toxicities, and logistical hurdles associated with manufacturing autologous products. Emerging gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas systems, base editing, and prime editing, offer novel approaches to optimize CAR-T cells, aiming to enhance efficacy while managing toxicity and improving accessibility. This review comprehensively examines the current landscape of these gene editing tools in CAR-T cell therapy, highlighting the latest advancements, persisting challenges, and future directions. Leveraging gene editing holds the potential to transform CAR-T therapy into a more potent, safer, and broadly applicable modality for cancer and beyond.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** cancer (MONDO:0004992)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** cancer (MESH:D009369), hematologic malignancies (MESH:D019337), toxicities (MESH:D064420)
- **Chemicals:** CAR-T (-)

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12631245/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12631245