Boosting TNBC Treatment: A Innovative Hydrogel Combats CAR-T Cell Challenges

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is tough to tackle due to issues like poor blood vessels and high tumor cell load. These problems make it hard for CAR-T cells, a type of immune cell therapy, to work well. Researchers found that when there are fewer CAR-T cells compared to tumor cells, the immune response isn't as strong. They also discovered that problems with cellular waste management (mitophagy) in these cells can weaken their effectiveness.Using AI and other methods, scientists found a compound named BC1618. This compound boosts mitophagy, improving the function of CAR-T cells. To deliver both CAR-T cells and BC1618 effectively, they created special hydrogels. These hydrogels can be injected directly into the tumor, creating a local environment that enhances mitophagy and keeps the CAR-T cells active and effective.