Immune niche remodeling: sustaining CAR-T persistence in solid tumors

In a recent study published in Nature Cancer, Navarre and colleagues identified a previously underappreciated role for dendritic cells (DCs) in maintaining engineered immunity within solid tumors. 1 Using syngeneic models of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma and melanoma, the authors demonstrate that tumor-directed radiotherapy does more than sensitize malignant cells to immune-mediated killing. Irradiation reshapes local immune interactions, generating a supportive niche that promotes CAR-T cell persistence and function.