Science Highlights
Published on May 12, 2026
Selective Irreversible Electroporation as a Strategy to Enhance CAR T-Cell Access to Solid Tumors
by Clinical Cancer Research
Vista W, Malik V, Sheehan MC, et al. Irreversible Electroporation Enhances Solid Tumor Infiltration and Selective Cancer Cell Lysis by CAR T Cells. Clinical Cancer Research. 2026; (doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-25-4159).
Researchers have demonstrated the potential for selective irreversible electroporation (sIRE) to improve chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell function in solid tumors, thus lowering cancer burden. They programmed sIRE to seek out and kill cancer cells but to leave infiltrating CAR T cells unharmed. Three-dimensional tumor mimics and mouse models of malignant pleural mesothelioma demonstrated the clinical benefit of the approach. Cytotoxic action against the cancer cells caused them to release a chemokine that promoted CAR T-cell migration and tumor infiltration. Importantly, sIRE can be repeated, unlike a subablative dose of tumor-targeted radiation, which produces a similar chemokine that stimulates infiltration and proliferation of CAR T cells in solid tumors but is also cytotoxic to those cells.
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