fibroblast activation protein chimeric antigen receptor T cells

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells represent a specialized form of adoptive cell immunotherapy designed to target the tumor stroma rather than the malignant cells themselves. The therapy involves genetically engineering a patient's T cells to express a CAR specific to FAP, a serine protease highly overexpressed on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) across various solid tumors, including pancreatic, colorectal, and hepatic cancers. By selectively depleting FAP-positive CAFs, these CAR-T cells dismantle the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and physical barriers, such as collagen deposition, that typically limit the efficacy of other treatments. Recent advancements, such as the FAP/IL-15 CAR-T construct developed by researchers at Hainan Medical University, incorporate an autocrine Interleukin-15 (IL-15) secretion mechanism. This endogenous IL-15 production promotes the expansion of stem cell memory T (TSCM) subsets, improves intratumoral persistence, and enhances anti-tumor activity without the systemic toxicity associated with exogenous cytokine administration.

Other names

FAP CAR-T cellsFAP-directed CAR-T cellsFAP-targeted CAR-T cellsstroma-targeting CAR-TTME-targeting CAR-T