Chimeric antigen receptor (CD19-directed) (CAR-T cell (CD19-CAR-T cell))

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy utilizes a genetically engineered receptor, commonly with specificity for CD19, to arm a patient’s own cytotoxic T cells against cancer. The CAR construct comprises an extracellular antigen recognition domain (often a single-chain variable fragment targeting CD19), a hinge region, a transmembrane domain, and intracellular signaling/co-stimulatory domains (e.g. CD3ζ, CD28, 4-1BB). When infused back into the patient, these engineered cells selectively bind and eradicate CD19-expressing malignant B cells independently of MHC recognition, often producing durable remissions in relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. FDA-approved therapies include tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel. Severe toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity remain key challenges, and ongoing research seeks to improve efficacy, safety, and broaden applications beyond hematologic cancers

Other names

CAR T cellCD19 CAR T cellCD19-directed CAR T cellChimeric antigen receptor-modified T cell (CD19)Genetically engineered CD19-targeted CAR-T cell

Genetically engineering T cells to express CAR with extracellular single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that binds CD19 antigen, resulting in T cell activation, proliferation, and targeted lysis of CD19-expressing cancer cells