Myelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by clonal hematopoietic dysregulation, amplification of chronic inflammation, and progressive remodeling of the bone marrow fibrotic niche, clinically manifesting as bone marrow failure, splenomegaly, and systemic inflammatory symptoms. Although Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors can alleviate symptom burden and reduce spleen size, they have limited capacity to eradicate malignant clones or reverse fibrosis. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains the only potentially curative option; however, its application is constrained by advanced age, comorbidities, unavailable donor, and transplant-related risks. Therefore, the development of disease-modifying therapeutic strategies has become a central focus in MF research. Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T)-cell therapy has demonstrated robust efficacy across various hematologic malignancies. Its application in MF holds the potential not only to selectively eliminate malignant hematopoietic clones but also to modulate the immunosuppressive and profibrotic microenvironment through advanced cellular engineering, thereby enabling a dual therapeutic paradigm involving both clonal control and microenvironmental reprogramming. In this context, potential targets and pathways include CD123, myeloproliferative leukemia protein (MPL), fibroblast activation protein (FAP), the TGF-β signaling axis, the CXCR4–CXCL12 niche-regulatory axis, and molecules associated with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Future strategies may optimize both efficacy and safety through combinatorial approaches, including integration with JAK inhibitors, development of armored CAR-T constructs, and bridging to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Collectively, CAR-T-cell therapy offers a promising avenue for shifting MF management from symptomatic control toward true disease modification.
Kong et al. (Wed,) studied this question.