CAR-T CELL-BASED IMMUNOTHERAPY

Abstract

Cell-based immunotherapy has emerged in recent decades as a new treatment for hematological malignancies such as Leukemias and Lymphomas resistant to conventional therapies such as chemotherapy. Known as CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) cells, this technology uses T lymphocytes, cells of the immune system responsible for fighting pathogenic agents and killing infected cells. T lymphocytes taken from the patient are

removed through leukoapheresis, isolated and specifically reprogrammed to be able to identify cancer cells and destroy them. CARs are proteins artificially produced in the laboratory and consisting of a single-chain variable fragment of an antibody (ScFv) that recognizes the tumor antigen and the T cell activation domain. eliminate tumor cells. CARs have evolved to be more efficient, with that 4 CAR generations have emerged, each with its own specificity to attack the tumor. As with other therapies, therapy with CAR also has side effects and one of them is the cytokine release syndrome (CLS) which, if left untreated, can lead to the patient's death. Because it is a new therapy, its cost is high and for this reason its use is limited in the last case when the treatment protocols are no longer effective in the patient. In partnership, the Butantan Institute together with USP and the Blood Center of Ribeirão are setting up centers to bring the therapy to Brazil and make it more accessible.