What Is 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 engineered T cells to fight cancer.

T cells are a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the immune system. They are able to recognize and destroy foreign cells, such as cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy works by taking T cells from a patient's blood and genetically engineering them to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).

A CAR is a synthetic receptor that is made up of the extracellular domain of an antibody that is specific for a certain antigen, linked to the intracellular signaling domains of a T cell. When a CAR T cell binds to an antigen on a cancer cell, it becomes activated and starts to proliferate. The activated CAR T cells then attack and destroy the cancer cells.

CAR T-cell therapy has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. However, it is still a relatively new treatment, and there are some risks associated with it. These risks include cytokine release syndrome, neurotoxicity, and infection.

Cytokine release syndrome is a condition that can occur when CAR T cells release too many cytokines, which are small proteins that are involved in the immune response. Cytokine release syndrome can cause fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.

Neurotoxicity is a condition that can occur when CAR T cells attack the nervous system. Neurotoxicity can cause seizures, confusion, and hallucinations.

Infection is a risk for any patient who has a weakened immune system. CAR T-cell therapy can temporarily weaken the immune system, making patients more susceptible to infection.

CAR T-cell therapy is a promising new treatment for cancer, but it is important to be aware of the risks involved. Patients who are considering CAR T-cell therapy should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor.