8legs: American chemical society (acs)

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Scientists turn tumor immune cells into cancer killers

KAIST researchers reprogram tumor macrophages in situ using lipid nanoparticles to create enhanced CAR-macrophages inside the body.
Injected therapy leads macrophages to produce cancer-recognition proteins, transforming them into anticancer cells inside tumors.
Animal studies in melanoma showed slowed tumor growth and potential broader immune protection beyond the injected tumor.
The approach addresses delivery and immunosuppressive barriers that hinder current CAR-macrophage therapies.
The study was published in ACS Nano and led by KAIST researchers including Professor Ji-Ho Park.
The therapy relies on tumor-associated macrophages that naturally gather around tumors.
CAR-macrophages can directly engulf cancer cells and activate nearby immune responses.
The lipid nanoparticles carry both mRNA encoding cancer-recognition and an immune-boosting compound.
The KAIST team reports the therapy could broaden clinical applicability by avoiding cell extraction.
The research was funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea and presented by KAIST.

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