CAR T-cell therapy

CAR T-cell therapy, also known as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is a type of immunotherapy that uses genetically modified T cells to treat certain kinds of cancer. This innovative therapy represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment, particularly for patients with certain types of blood cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Overview

CAR T-cell therapy involves the collection of a patient's T cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a central role in the immune response. These cells are then genetically engineered in a laboratory to produce special structures called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. Once these CARs are in place, the T cells are capable of recognizing and attaching to specific antigens on the surface of cancer cells.

After the modification process, the engineered T cells are expanded in number and infused back into the patient. The enhanced T cells can then circulate throughout the body, identifying and killing cancer cells that exhibit the target antigen.

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of CAR T-cell therapy hinges on the ability of the engineered T cells to recognize and bind to specific antigens present on the surface of tumor cells. This binding initiates a series of immune responses that lead to the destruction of the cancer cells. The primary advantage of this therapy is its specificity, as the CAR T cells are designed to target only the cancer cells, sparing the normal cells.

Applications

CAR T-cell therapy has been primarily used in the treatment of advanced blood cancers, including:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
• Follicular lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma

Challenges and Side Effects

Despite its effectiveness, CAR T-cell therapy can cause significant side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is a severe inflammatory response that can be life-threatening. Other potential side effects include neurotoxicity, febrile neutropenia, and an increased risk of infections due to the prolonged weakening of the immune system.

Future Directions

Research is ongoing to expand the use of CAR T-cell therapy to other types of cancer and to improve the safety profile of the treatment. Efforts are also being made to develop off-the-shelf CAR T-cell products, which would allow for the use of cells from donors rather than having to engineer a patient's own cells, potentially reducing the cost and complexity of the therapy.

See Also

• Immunotherapy
• Gene therapy
• Oncology
• Biomedical engineering