Editing method generates immunotherapeutic CAR T cells in the body

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00634-5Laboratory-engineered immune cells called CAR T cells provide effective treatment for some cancers. Progress is being made towards creating these cells in vivo.

Editing method generates immunotherapeutic CAR T cells in the body
Editing method generates immunotherapeutic CAR T cells in the body Photo: Nature News

Robert Holt is in the Basic and Translational Research Department, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver V5Z1L3, Canada, in the Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby.

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Laura Evgin is in the Basic and Translational Research Department, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver V5Z1L3, Canada, and in the Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

The use of genetically modified immune cells called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is a standard therapy for certain relapsed or treatment-resistant cancers 1 , including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

The approach, a type of immunotherapy, is also under evaluation for some difficult-to-treat autoimmune diseases 2 .

Writing in Nature , Nyberg et al .

3 present a gene-editing strategy that can create CAR T cells directly in the bodies of mice ( in vivo ), circumventing the production hurdles that currently limit their clinical use.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00634-5
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L.E.

reports consulting activities and has received in-kind reagents from NanoVation Therapeutics.

L.E.

reports intellectual-property applications describing in vivo CAR-T-cell therapies.

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