CAR T Immunotherapy
Engineering the Immune System to Fight Cancer
Author(s)
Abstract
This directed case study was written to help students learn about an innovative cancer therapy that harnesses a patient's immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. The critical insight underlying this therapy is to use a cancer patient's own immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. The process involves the removal of T lymphocytes from a cancer patient's blood stream, which are then genetically engineered to express a novel cell surface protein called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). The approach is known as "CAR T cell therapy." Written as a conversation between a cancer patient and an oncologist, the case details the immunological protein components used to construct the CAR that permit the targeting of cancer cells and the activation of T cells. The case covers the cell biology, biochemistry, and immunology underlying CAR T cell therapies, and is appropriate for an upper-level undergraduate immunology course or a clinical course covering oncology, immunology, or therapeutics.
Objectives
- Describe the typical interaction between T cells and antigen-presenting cells.
- Explain the domains of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and their respective functions.
- Explain how CARs allow T cells to interact with and attack both cancer cells and normal cells.
- Apply knowledge of the immune system to current applications of cancer immunotherapies.
- Understand side effects of immunotherapy treatment and compare this treatment with typical chemotherapy.
Keywords
Immunology; cancer; T cells, immunotherapy; antigen; lymphocytes; CAR; chimeric antigen receptor;Topical Areas
N/AEducational Level
Undergraduate upper division, Graduate, Professional (degree program), Clinical educationFormat
PDFType / Methods
Directed, InterruptedLanguage
EnglishSubject Headings
Biology (General) | Biomedical Engineering | Biotechnology | Cell Biology | Medicine (General) | Molecular Biology |
Date Posted
2/4/2019Teaching Notes
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