Advances in T Cell Targeting for Cancer Immunotherapy
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 51
Special Issue Editor
Interests: immunology; IBD; cancer; probiotics; cytokines; exhaustion; macrophages
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Over the past few decades, translational research has significantly advanced cancer immunotherapy across a wide range of tumor types. Central to these breakthroughs are T cells, particularly through adoptive cell therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. While these strategies have shown remarkable success in treating hematologic malignancies, their effectiveness against solid tumors remains limited. A significant obstacle is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which hinders T cell infiltration, persistence, and function. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving clinical outcomes. Beyond adoptive T cell engineering, several innovative approaches are emerging to enhance T cell-mediated tumor targeting. For instance, bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) represent a promising strategy by physically bridging endogenous T cells to tumor cells. Additionally, immune checkpoint inhibitors release inhibitory signals on exhausted T cells, tumor vaccines aim to prime and expand tumor-specific T cells, and cytokine therapies promote T cell proliferation and persistence within the hostile TME. Collectively, these approaches seek to overcome the suppressive tumor environment and enhance the efficacy and durability of cancer immunotherapies. This Special Issue aims to further explore various strategies addressing the challenges posed to T cell targeting by the tumor microenvironment.
Dr. Ryma Toumi
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- immunotherapy
- immune checkpoint blockade
- immunosuppressive microenvironment
- exhaustion
- armored T cells
- adoptive cell therapy
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