Unlocking CAR T cell potential: Inosine-induced stemness and enhanced potency

Adenosine (Ado) drives immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Klysz et al. investigate Ado-mediated immunosuppression. Overexpression of Ado deaminase (ADA-OE), metabolizing Ado to inosine (INO), induces stemness and improves CAR T cell functionality. Likewise, exposure to INO enhances CAR T cells' function and induces stemness features.