Researchers Aim to Translate CAR T-Cell Therapy to Solid Tumors

Sonali Smith, MD, discusses the challenges and ongoing efforts to expand the use of CAR T-cell therapy beyond hematologic malignancies.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Sonali M. Smith, MD, the chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago Medical Center, discussed the efforts to translate the success of CAR T-cell therapy from hematologic malignancies to solid tumors. While CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with blood cancers, applying this approach to solid tumors presents unique challenges, including tumor suppressive environments and a lack of effective targets. Researchers at the University of Chicago, including Michael R. Bishop, MD, and Daniel Olsen, MD, are working to identify new targets and engineer effective cellular therapies for solid tumors.

Why it matters

The success of CAR T-cell therapy in hematologic malignancies has generated significant excitement and spurred investigators to pursue this approach for solid tumors. However, treating solid tumors with CAR T-cell therapy is more challenging, and overcoming these obstacles could potentially expand the reach of this transformative therapy to a wider range of cancer patients.

The details

Within solid tumors, there are additional challenges compared to liquid tumors, such as tumor suppressive environments that actively suppress the immune system and make the T cells less effective. Researchers are working to identify new targets for CAR T-cell therapy in solid tumors, including PD-L1, PSMA, Claudin 18.2, and EGFR. The engineering of CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumors also requires careful design, which has become possible through recent technological advances.

  • The research efforts discussed in this article are ongoing at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

The players

Sonali M. Smith, MD

The chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology and the holder of the Elwood V. Jensen Professorship of Medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Center (UChicago Medicine).

Michael R. Bishop, MD

A researcher at the David and Etta Jonas Center for Cellular Therapy of UChicago Medicine, working to develop effective cellular therapies for the treatment of patients with solid tumors.

Daniel Olsen, MD

A researcher at the David and Etta Jonas Center for Cellular Therapy of UChicago Medicine, working to develop effective cellular therapies for the treatment of patients with solid tumors.

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What they’re saying

“Within solid tumors, there are a few more challenges [with CAR T-cell therapy] than we see with liquid tumors. For example, there are tumor suppressive environments. In other words, the T cells that are within and around the tumor and the other cells of the immune system actively suppress the immune system and make those T cells particularly less effective.”

— Sonali M. Smith, MD (onclive.com)

The takeaway

Researchers at the University of Chicago are at the forefront of efforts to translate the success of CAR T-cell therapy from hematologic malignancies to solid tumors, which presents unique challenges but could significantly expand the reach of this transformative cancer treatment.