Chimeric Antigen Receptor Targeting Tumor-Associated Antigens (CAR-T)

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are engineered proteins expressed on the surface of T cells, designed to enable these immune cells to specifically recognize and attack cancer cells. CAR-T cell therapy involves collecting a patient’s T cells, genetically modifying them in the laboratory to express CARs that target specific antigens found on tumor cells, and then infusing these modified T cells back into the patient. The primary targets are tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), proteins overexpressed in tumor cells but also present at lower levels in some normal tissues. Upon antigen binding, the CAR-T cell releases cytotoxic molecules and inflammatory cytokines, leading to targeted killing of tumor cells. CAR-T therapies have shown remarkable success against hematological malignancies and are being explored for solid tumors. Key challenges include off-tumor toxicity, antigen heterogeneity, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments.

Other names

CAR-T therapyCAR-T cell therapyChimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy

Genetically modified T-cells bind to tumor-associated antigens via a chimeric antigen receptor, leading to T-cell activation and targeted killing of tumor cells through cytotoxicity (perforin/granzyme release, death receptor pathway activation) and cytokine release (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α).