FAQ: How are chimeric antigen receptors made?

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are artificially engineered in a laboratory setting. To make CARs, scientists modify T-cells, a type of white blood cell, by introducing genetic material that encodes for the specific CAR protein. This genetic material is typically delivered to the T-cells using viral vectors, which act as carriers. Once inside the T-cells, the genetic material instructs them to produce the CAR protein on their surface. The CAR protein consists of several components, including an antigen-binding domain, a spacer region, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular signaling domain. This complex structure allows CARs to recognize cancer cell antigens and trigger the immune response of these T-cells against the cancer.

Find out more on CAR T-cell therapy at Sheba.