Convergence of mRNA technology and chimeric antigen receptor therapy: targeted technology optimizing targeted therapy

Engineering cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) represents a novel approach in cancer immunotherapy, demonstrating remarkable efficacy in the treatment of hematologic malignancies while also encountering numerous challenges. Against the backdrop of the widespread application of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, the integration of mRNA technology to produce CAR cells and enhance CAR therapies marks the cutting edge of cancer treatment innovation, offering potential solutions to the challenges faced by traditional CAR therapies. This convergence offers distinct advantages. It enables the generation of CAR cells both in vitro and in vivo without transgene integration, thereby achieving transient expression that reduces the risk of various side effects. Meanwhile, this approach entails lower production costs. This method may therefore serve as a novel and promising alternative to existing therapies in the future. In this article, we review the latest advancements and clinical applications of mRNA-based CAR therapies, which utilize mRNA technology to generate CAR-T cells. Additionally, we explore the diverse therapies enabled by mRNA technology, such as gene editing and vaccines, and their combination with CAR therapies. By analyzing their challenges and prospects, we aim to provide new insights into comprehensively improving the therapeutic efficacy of CAR therapies and expanding their clinical application.