Treatment of cancer with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells.
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Zahra-sadat Mousavi,1,* Amir Atashi,2 Mobarakeh Ajam-Hosseini,3
1. Student Research Committee, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
2. Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
3. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Kharazmi University, Karaj, Iran
- Introduction: Cancer means abnormal growth and proliferation of cells in the body. The incidence and mortality rate of this disease is increasing every year and causes serious problems in world health and public health. Factors such as mutations, cell cycle defects and damage to the DNA structure involve in cancer.
- Methods: Has been stated that cancer can be treated if diagnosed early. Cancer by methods such as; Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and the use of certain cancer drugs, such as hormonal drugs, can be treated. It is worth noting that surgery to remove cancerous masses was the first method that successfully used to treat cancer. As regards that many cancers resist treatment over time, recently has been shown that immune system, especially lymphocytes, involve in eradicating cancer.
- Results: T cells are involved in cellular immunity, for example, the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are considered in the treatment of cancer and malignancies. CARs consist of four main components: (1) a domain bound to the target antigen, (2) a hinge region, (3) a transmitting domain, and (4) one or more intracellular signaling domains. The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell is a recombinant receptor and a new treatment strategy that directly detects tumor and cancer antigens. When CAR T cells detect cancer cell antigens, are reproduced and kill them. CAR T cells are produced in a five-step process. First, T cells are isolated from cancer patients, then T cells are modified with CARs until T cells, in addition to identifying tumor cells, can produce CAR T cells. In the next step, under culture conditions, CAR T cells are cultured and the amount of these cells is increased by cytokines. Finally, the produced CAR T cells are injected into the patient at the appropriate dose. The process of producing CAR T cells takes about 3 weeks. These cells proliferate in vitro and are stored frozen for future use. Stimulating molecules such as CD28 can increase the antitumor activity of CAR T cells.
- Conclusion: Currently, Patient and donor-derived CAR T cells are used to treat cancer patients. The most successful products are CAR T cells (tisagenlecleucel, axicabtagene ciloleucel, and brexucabtagene autoleucel), which target B-cell CD19 antigen and are an important treatment option for patients with acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) or non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Studies have shown that through CAR T cells, patients can live without the risk of recurrence.
- Keywords: Cancer, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), T cell
