Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is a personalized, one-time treatment being studied in various patient populations with certain types of cancer.1,2
What Is CAR T Cell Therapy and How Does It Work?
Autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that genetically modifies a patient’s own T cells to recognize and bind to specific proteins (tumor-associated antigens) on the surface of antigen-expressing cells. These include cancerous and/or healthy cells that may also express the tumor-associated antigen.
Unlike traditional small molecule or biologic treatments, autologous CAR T cell therapy is manufactured for each individual patient using their own T cells. After a one-time treatment, CAR T cells can continue to multiply in a patient’s body (cell expansion) and have the potential to remain in the blood for up to 1 year following administration.