Commentary: IL-12-secreting tumor-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T cells: An unaddressed concern on Koneru et al. (2015)

To date, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown remarkable responses in patients with certain hematological malignancies particularly acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), but have led to more limited success with solid tumors probably due to immunosuppressive networks in the tumor environment. To overcome this issue, Koneru et al. have recently demonstrated IL-12-producing CAR T cells, also known as armored CAR T cells, to simultaneously target both ovarian tumor cells and their microenvironment. This commentary challenges the study design of Koneru et al. study and highlights the importance of choosing the most appropriate experimental animal model in preclinical cancer studies.