From induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) to universal immune cells: literature review of advances in a new generation of tumor therapies

Background and Objective: Tumor therapy is still a tough clinical challenge, and cancer immunotherapy has drawn increasing attention. T cells and natural killer (NK) cells play crucial roles in the immune response. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology opens up a new way to produce functionally improved universal iPSC-derived chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T (CAR-iT) and iPSC-derived CAR-NK (CAR-iNK) cells. This study aims to comprehensively review the generation and clinical applications of iPSC-derived universal CAR-iT and CAR-iNK cells to explore their potential and future directions in cancer immunotherapy. Methods: We searched EBSCO, PubMed, and Web of Science databases for relevant literature from 1975 to 2024 on the transformation of iPSCs into universal immune cells. Key Content and Findings: iPSC technology enables the generation of enhanced CAR-iNK cells. Genetic modifications can boost the antitumor activity of iPSC-derived immune cells. CAR-iT cells have cytotoxicity issues. In contrast, CAR-iNK cells have advantages as they can be sourced from different origins and enhanced via genetic engineering. Conclusions: This review outlines iPSC technology's application in oncology, iNK cells' properties, and the pros and cons of CAR cells in cancer treatment. It also focuses on the current clinical status and modification strategies of CAR-iT and CAR-iNK therapies, facilitating the development of future effective off-the-shelf blood cell therapies.