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Peer-Review Record

Engineering of Humanized PSMA-Directed CAR T Cells for Potent and Specific Elimination of Prostate Cancer Cells

Cells 2025, 14(17), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14171333
by Tobias D. Deller 1,2,3, Jamal Alzubi 1,2,4, Laura Mosti 1,†, Marie Peschers 3,5,6, Christian Gratzke 3,5, Philipp Wolf 3,5 and Toni Cathomen 1,2,3,*
Reviewer 1: Anonymous
Reviewer 2: Anonymous
Cells 2025, 14(17), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14171333
Submission received: 2 August 2025 / Revised: 22 August 2025 / Accepted: 25 August 2025 / Published: 28 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CAR T Cells in Human Cancers)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The work presented is a good step towards improving CAR T cell therapy for prostate cancer. The in vitro study is logical and one of the humanized CAR construct (hA5) seems to be more useful in preventing cytokine storms, which is a major problem in CAR T cell therapy. An in vivo study using humanized mouse model would clearly strengthen the significance of this study before going into any clinical studies. 

The in vitro studies are logical and well addressed. Should emphasize the advantage of  hA5 CAR T cell construct with respect to cytokine storms in CAR T cell therapy.

In the Discussion, you should include “Off-the-Shelf” CAR -NK cells, along with the discussion of “Off-the-Shelf” CAR T cells.

Please correct the numbering of references in the text (it stars with reference 3, in introduction, instead of 1).

In Fig.3C, UT shows killing at high ET ratio, please explain.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this preclinical in vitro study, the authors characterized humanized CAR T cells targeting PSMA in cultured prostate cancer cell lines. They demonstrated that humanization improved the germinality index while preserving CAR expression on the cell surface. The humanized CAR T cells maintained antigen-specific function in vitro. Importantly, humanization did not compromise cytotoxicity, activation, differentiation, or cytokine secretion. The authors suggest that these findings may support future clinical applications targeting prostate cancer and solid tumors more broadly. The manuscript is illustrated with six figures and two supplementary figures and includes 58 references. It is logically structured and meticulously prepared. It can be accepted in its present form.

Author Response

We thank the reviewer for this very positive evaluation.

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