IL-21- and CXCL9-engineered GPC3-specific CAR-T cells combined with PD-1 blockade enhance cytotoxic activities against hepatocellular carcinoma

Researchers engineered GPC3-specific CAR-T cells to coexpress IL-21 and CXCL9 and evaluated them with PD-1 blockade in hepatocellular carcinoma models. The combined strategy improved T-cell expansion, chemotaxis, cytokine production, cytotoxicity, and antitumor activity, supporting further investigation of coordinated immune-cell engineering and checkpoint inhibition.

The Countstar Mira FL automated cell counter quantified fluorescently labeled responder T cells that migrated through Transwell inserts, supporting calculation of migration ratios.