Microfluidic Perspectives on Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Migration in Solid Tumours: Highlighting Physical Confinement as a Key Barrier

Key Points

• The aim is to explore factors that affect CAR T-cell migration into solid tumors, focusing on physical confinement.
• Utilized microfluidic systems to simulate solid tumour environments
• Analyzed the impact of ECM stiffness on T-cell infiltration
• Examined the role of chemokine gradients in migration
• Increased ECM stiffness significantly reduced CAR T-cell migration efficiency (HR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.60-0.90, p<0.05).
• Lower chemokine gradients correlated with diminished infiltration.
• Physical confinement emerged as a primary barrier, highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies.