The field of CAR-T cell therapy development has experienced significant growth over the past ten years, resulting in the regulatory approval and marketing of six new therapies for hematologic malignancies. The remarkable response rates observed in clinical settings for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the rapid approval of these therapies based on pivotal phase 2 clinical data have been the primary source of excitement regarding these developments.

The technologies around CAR-T cell development have been changing rapidly, and the need for improvements in the functionality of the cells is critical. Despite the spectacular responses observed in heme malignancies, the function of CAR-T cells in the solid tumor setting has not kept pace. Further enhancements and the ability to evaluate the functionality of the T cells are crucial to identify functions that will facilitate their implementation across many cancer types.

This Methods Collection aims to explore established methods for understanding CAR-T cell characterization and functions, including signal transduction, tonic signaling, metabolism, secretion of cytokines, potency, serial killing, scRNA-Seq analysis, genome editing, and others. Implementing these methods will contribute to a better understanding of the diverse and multifunctional population dynamics of CAR-T cells, potentially leading to improvements that enhance their effectiveness across multiple cancer types.