In vivo CAR T cells on the highway: a roadmap for the next decade.

Authors

Markus Barden, Dennis C Harrer, Hinrich Abken

Published in

Expert opinion on biological therapy. Aug 21, 2026. Epub Aug 21, 2026.

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has shown efficacy in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, the application to a broader patient population is still limited by the complex logistics in coordinating the lymphodepleting chemotherapy and the labor-, time-, and cost-intensive ex vivo manufacturing of patients' CAR T cells in specialized centers. By combining recent advances in lipid nanotechnology, RNA chemistry, and viral particle targeting, engineering CAR T cells in the patient's blood stream is becoming an emerging option that may overcome current limitations. Advanced pre-clinical and early clinical studies support this approach by demonstrating successful engineering of CAR T cells in vivo and producing some anti-tumor responses in clinical trials.
We review delivery strategies using viral and non-viral vectors, summarize the translation into clinical application, and outline strategies for optimization. We further discuss current challenges with respect to targeting specificity, genomic safety, pharmacokinetics, host immune responses, and regulatory oversight.
Although still in its infancy, in vivo genetic engineering shows promise for CAR T cell therapy in a wide range of cancer patients. It also has the potential to reprogram patients' immunity in autoimmunity, chronic infections, and regenerative medicine.

PMID:
42625558
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 21 Aug 2026.

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