Honors Program Theses
Award/Availability
Open Access Honors Program Thesis
First Advisor
David McClenahan
Abstract
Non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of lung cancer diagnoses and remains a leading cause of cancer‑related mortality despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. While immunotherapy has improved outcomes for some patients, many develop treatment resistance or experience significant toxicity, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), which involves the infusion of autologous immune cells expanded or engineered ex vivo, has demonstrated substantial success in hematologic malignancies and is now being investigated for use in solid tumors such as NSCLC. This literature review examines the current state of ACT in NSCLC, with emphasis on two major approaches: chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR‑T) cell therapy and tumor‑infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. The mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and limitations of each modality are reviewed, with attention to tumor antigen targeting, immune evasion, toxicity, and feasibility in solid tumor environments. Evidence from preclinical studies and early‑phase clinical trials indicates that both CAR‑T and TIL therapies can elicit anti‑tumor responses in NSCLC, including in cases resistant to conventional treatments and immune checkpoint inhibition. However, significant barriers remain, including treatment‑associated toxicities, tumor heterogeneity, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments, prolonged manufacturing timelines, and limited patient eligibility. Overall, ACT represents a biologically compelling but still investigational approach to NSCLC treatment. Continued refinement of cell engineering strategies, combination therapies, and manufacturing processes will be critical in determining the future role of ACT in the management of NSCLC.
Year of Submission
2026
Department
Department of Biology
University Honors Designation
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the designation University Honors
Date Original
2026
Object Description
1 PDF file (40 pages)
Copyright
©2026 Brianna Wickham
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Wickham, Brianna, "A Literature Review of Adoptive Cell Therapy (ACT) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) With Emphasis on Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapies" (2026). Honors Program Theses. 1042.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/hpt/1042
