CAR T-cell therapy for gastric cancer: Potential and perspective (Review)

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed digestive malignancies and is the third leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. Delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis indicate the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for chemotherapy-refractory hematological malignancies has inspired the development of a similar strategy for GC treatment. Although using CAR T-cells against GC is not without difficulty, results from preclinical studies remain encouraging. The current review summarizes relevant preclinical studies and ongoing clinical trials for the use of CAR T-cells for GC treatment and investigates possible toxicities, as well as current clinical experiences and emerging approaches. With a deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment, novel target epitopes and scientific-technical progress, the potential of CAR T-cell therapy for GC is anticipated in the near future.