chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy
Pronunciation: ky-MAIR-ik AN-tih-jen ree-SEP-tor TEE-sell THAIR-ah-pee
Also written as: CAR-T — Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy
Immunotherapy using genetically modified patient T-cells engineered to recognize and attack specific cancer cell surface proteins.
Full Definition
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) is a form of adoptive immunotherapy where a patient's T-cells are harvested, genetically modified to express artificial receptors that recognize specific tumor antigens, expanded in the laboratory, and then reinfused. The chimeric receptor combines antibody-based antigen recognition with T-cell activation domains. FDA-approved CAR-T therapies for pediatric cancers include tisagenlecleucel for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Significant toxicities include cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate 'T-cell' and 'CAR-T'. Do not capitalize 'cell' in the full form unless beginning a sentence.
In Context
- "The patient is being evaluated for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy after second relapse." — Consultation note
- "CAR-T therapy achieved complete remission in 81% of pediatric ALL patients in clinical trials." — Research summary