Normally, T-cells fight cancer cells to prevent them from multiplying and causing disease.
Most of the research on CAR-T treatment has been focused on blood cancers likeleukemiaandlymphoma.
The immune cells are removed from a persons blood and altered before being placed back into the body.
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The immune cells then multiply within the body and work to help eradicate the cancer.
White blood cellsinclude two major types of immune cells: T-cells and B-cells.
Normally, T-cells fight cancer cells to prevent them from multiplying and causing disease.
Both Kymriah and Yescarta generically modify T-cells to produce anti-CD19 receptors.
Gene Editing
The genetic modification of the T-cells is described as gene editing.
Kymriah and Yescarta use a lentiviral vector to insert the anti-CD19 gene into the T-cells.
SomeCAR-T researchuses CRISPR rather than retroviral vector gene editing.
With blood cancers, like lymphoma and leukemia, the cancer cells tend to circulate throughout the body.
Procedure
CAR-T treatment involves several steps.
First, T-cells are collected through leukapheresis, which is the removal of white blood cells from the blood.
This can take two to four hours.
The modified T-cells multiply in the laboratory for several weeks.
Side Effects
A number of side effects can develop as a result of CAR-T treatment.
CAR-T therapy uses genetic modification to help fight cancer.
Food and Drug Administration.Breyanzi label.
Food and Drug Administration.Carvykti label.
Food and Drug Administration.KYMRIAH (tisagenlecleucel).
Food and Drug Administration.Tecartus label.
Food and Drug Administration.YESCARTA (axicabtagene ciloleucel).
Cai Y, Mikkelsen JG.Lentiviral delivery of proteins for genome engineering.Curr Gene Ther.
