Wake Forest University researchers engineered CAR macrophages (CARMA) that demonstrated brain‑penetrant immunotherapy activity against lung‑cancer brain metastases in preclinical studies. The cells were designed to traffic into the central nervous system and target tumor cells, showing promise where CAR‑T approaches have struggled due to the blood‑brain barrier and immunosuppressive microenvironment. The preclinical work details mechanisms for CNS entry and antitumor activity in murine models; investigators emphasized translational steps needed before clinical testing. The authors argue CAR macrophages could complement or provide alternatives to T‑cell platforms for solid tumors with CNS involvement. If validated in safety studies, CARMA approaches would expand the cell‑therapy toolbox for brain metastases and reshape development strategies for solid‑tumor cell therapies.