CAR T-Cell Therapy: Reprogramming the Immune System to Fight Cancer

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Medical science is undergoing a dramatic transformation. The traditional concept of “one pill for all” is steadily being replaced by personalized medicine, where treatment is tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup and immune profile. One of the most remarkable breakthroughs in this era is CAR T-cell therapy, which has revolutionized cancer treatment.

What does CAR T-cell therapy stand for?

CAR T-cell therapy stands for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy.
The basic concept behind CAR T-cell therapy is simple yet powerful:
to reprogram a patient’s own immune cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

What are CAR T cells?

T cells are a crucial component of the immune system. Their primary function is to identify and eliminate cells carrying abnormal antigens. Under normal circumstances, T-cell receptors recognize such abnormal cells and initiate an immune response.
However, cancer cells are smart. They develop multiple mechanisms to evade immune surveillance, allowing them to grow unchecked. This is where CAR T-cell therapy comes into play.

In this therapy, a patient’s T cells are genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. These engineered receptors enable T cells to recognize specific antigens present on cancer cells with high precision. Once activated, CAR T cells can efficiently seek out and destroy cancer cells.

How does CAR T-cell therapy work?

  1. Collection of T cells
    T cells are collected from the patient’s blood through a process called leukapheresis.
  2. Genetic modification
    The collected T cells are genetically engineered in the laboratory by inserting a gene that codes for a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).
  3. Expansion and infusion
    These modified CAR T cells are multiplied and then infused back into the patient.
  4. Targeted cancer cell destruction
    Once inside the body, CAR T cells selectively recognize and attack cancer cells expressing the target antigen.

Current clinical use

The US FDA has approved CAR T-cell therapy for several hematological malignancies, including:

  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma
  • Multiple myeloma

This therapy represents a major milestone in oncology, offering hope to patients with cancers that were previously difficult to treat.

MBH/PS

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CAR T-cell therapy exemplifies the shift toward precision oncology by harnessing a patient’s own immune system to deliver highly targeted and effective cancer treatment.

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This novel use of patient’s own T-Lymphocyte for targeted drug delivery holds promise for treatment of rare cancers. Studies have shown good outcomes in relapsed/refractory cancers and a potential for lasting remission and long-term survival.

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Compared to chemotherapy CAR T-cell therapy is more targeted and causes less damage to health cells which is really a plus point.

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