fig5

Figure 5. Key challenges and engineering strategies for CAR-NK cells in HCC. Schematic diagram illustrating four major barriers to CAR-NK cell efficacy (black arrows): immunosuppressive TME, inefficient tumor trafficking, tumor heterogeneity, and limited persistence, alongside their corresponding precision-engineered solutions (red arrows). Created in BioRender. Tong, C. (2025) https://BioRender.com/wcom6k8. CAR-NK: Chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; TME: tumor microenvironment; MDSC: myeloid-derived suppressor cell; Treg: regulatory T cell; TAM: tumor-associated macrophage; CAFs: cancer-associated fibroblasts; TGF-β: transforming growth factor-β; PD-L1: programmed death ligand-1; sPD-L1: soluble programmed death ligand-1; CXCR2: C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2; IL: interleukin.