NKG2D-CAR-M

NKG2D-CAR-M is an experimental cell therapy consisting of macrophages engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs). These ligands, which include MICA, MICB, and ULBP proteins, are stress-inducible markers broadly overexpressed in various malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while remaining largely absent from healthy tissues. Unlike traditional CAR-T cell therapies, CAR-macrophages (CAR-Ms) leverage the innate phagocytic capabilities of macrophages to directly engulf tumor cells and are uniquely capable of penetrating the dense stroma of solid tumors. NKG2D-CAR-M is designed to remodel the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) by promoting pro-inflammatory (M1-like) polarization and stimulating adaptive immune responses, potentially overcoming the antigenic heterogeneity and immunosuppression that limit current HCC immunotherapies.

Other names

NKG2D-specific CAR-macrophagesNKG-2D-specific CAR-macrophagesNKG 2D-specific CAR-macrophagesNKG2D-CAR-macrophagesNKG-2D-CAR-macrophagesNKG 2D-CAR-macrophages