CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are modular synthetic molecules that redirect immune cell cytotoxicity toward tumor cells expressing a specific antigen. In this In Focus, sponsored by Sino Biological, we explore the differences and similarities between two types of CAR cell therapy: CAR-T and CAR-natural killer (NK). These cells are genetically modified, often using viral vectors, to express CARs on their surface, specifically engineered to recognize a certain antigen presented by cancer cells. Once binding has occurred, the intracellular domain of a CAR signals for the T or NK cell to produce anti-tumor responses.