José David Plazas Mora

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has emerged as one of the most significant advances in contemporary oncology, representing a transformative approach within the field of personalized cancer immunotherapy. By genetically engineering T lymphocytes to recognize and eliminate malignant cells through specific antigen-targeting mechanisms, CAR-T therapy has demonstrated remarkable clinical efficacy in several hematological malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. This review analyzes the biological foundations, clinical applications, therapeutic outcomes, safety considerations, and future perspectives associated with CAR-T technology. The available evidence indicates that CAR-T therapy has achieved unprecedented response rates in patients with relapsed or refractory disease, significantly improving treatment possibilities for populations with historically poor prognoses. However, important challenges remain regarding treatment-related toxicities, manufacturing complexity, economic sustainability, accessibility, and limited effectiveness in solid tumors. Recent advances in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, biomarker discovery, and precision medicine are driving the development of next-generation CAR-T platforms designed to enhance efficacy, safety, and applicability across a broader spectrum of cancers. Furthermore, growing interest in Latin America, particularly in Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador, reflects increasing efforts to expand access to advanced cellular therapies through academic collaboration, translational research, and healthcare innovation. The findings suggest that CAR-T therapy will continue to play a central role in the evolution of precision oncology and may serve as a model for future individualized therapeutic strategies in cancer management.

Hantavirus infection is an emerging zoonotic disease that continues to pose important challenges for clinical practice, epidemiological surveillance, and public health systems worldwide. The objective of this review was to analyze the current scientific evidence regarding hantavirus infection and emerging respiratory diseases, emphasizing their epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, environmental determinants, diagnostic challenges, and prevention strategies. A structured literature review was conducted using the Scientific Method as the methodological framework. Scientific evidence was obtained from international databases and institutional sources, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google Scholar, the World Health Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization. The reviewed literature demonstrated that hantavirus infection remains strongly associated with rodent reservoirs, environmental changes, occupational exposure, and climate variability. Clinical findings revealed that Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome frequently presents with nonspecific symptoms during the early stages of disease, often delaying diagnosis and increasing the risk of severe respiratory complications. Epidemiological analysis highlighted significant regional differences in disease occurrence, surveillance capacity, and research development, particularly within Latin America. Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador were identified as relevant settings due to ecological conditions that may support viral circulation and zoonotic transmission. The findings also emphasized the importance of epidemiological surveillance, laboratory capacity, professional training, community education, and environmental management as essential components of disease prevention and control. Furthermore, the One Health framework emerged as a valuable approach for understanding the interactions among human health, animal reservoirs, and environmental factors. In conclusion, hantavirus infection remains a clinically significant and epidemiologically complex disease that requires multidisciplinary collaboration, strengthened surveillance systems, and continued research efforts to improve prevention, early diagnosis, and public health preparedness against emerging respiratory threats.