CAR T cells are genetically engineered T cells designed to target and destroy cancer cells.
Understanding CAR T Cell Therapy
CAR T cell therapy is a form of immunotherapy that uses a patient's own T cells to fight cancer. Here's a breakdown:
- T Cells: T cells are a type of white blood cell that play a vital role in the immune system by attacking infected or abnormal cells.
- Genetic Modification: In CAR T cell therapy, T cells are extracted from a patient's blood and genetically modified in a laboratory.
- Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR): The modification involves adding a special receptor, called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), to the surface of the T cells. According to the reference, "Chimeric antigen receptor T cells are cells that are genetically engineered (changed) in a laboratory. They have a new receptor so they can bind to cancer cells and kill them." This CAR enables the T cell to recognize and attach to specific antigens (proteins) on the surface of cancer cells.
- Targeting Cancer Cells: Once the CAR T cells are infused back into the patient, they seek out and destroy cancer cells that have the target antigen. As the reference explains, "Different types of cancer have different antigens. Each kind of CAR T cell therapy is made to fight a specific kind of cancer antigen." This is why each CAR T cell therapy is specifically designed for particular cancer types and their antigens.
Key Features of CAR T Cells:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Genetically modified T cells |
| Function | Recognize and destroy cancer cells |
| Modification | Engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) |
| Specificity | Target specific antigens found on cancer cells |
| Personalization | Usually derived from the patient's own T cells, making it a form of personalized medicine |
How CAR T Cells Work:
- Extraction: T cells are collected from the patient’s blood.
- Engineering: In the lab, a CAR is inserted into the T cell's genetic code. This CAR is designed to recognize a specific antigen found on cancer cells.
- Expansion: The modified T cells are grown in large numbers.
- Infusion: The CAR T cells are then infused back into the patient's bloodstream.
- Attack: The CAR T cells use their new receptor to identify and attack cancer cells with the specific antigen.
CAR T cells are not a naturally occurring type of T cell, but they are engineered from a patient's own T cells in a lab. This modification allows them to actively target and destroy cancer cells.
