India's first homegrown gene therapy (CAR-T cell therapy) for cancer launched by the President | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    India's first homegrown gene therapy (CAR-T cell therapy) for cancer launched by the President

    Posted 05 Apr 2024

    1 min read

    • It is developed through collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Tata Memorial Hospital, and ImmunoACT.

     

    • About Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy
      • It modifies immune cells, specifically T-cells, by turning them into potent cancer fighters known as CAR-T cells.
        • T-cells are special cells (types of white blood cells) whose primary function is cytotoxic, meaning killing other cells.
      • T cells are taken from patient blood and are changed in lab by adding a gene for a man-made receptor (called CAR).
        • CARs are proteins that assist the T-cells to recognise and attach to a specific protein present on cancer cells.
      • CAR-T cells are then given back to the patient.

     

    • Benefits of the CAR T Cell therapy
      • Can treat cancer for an extended period.
      • It has the potential to cure specific cancers completely. 
      • Short treatment time is needed and more rapid recovery.

     

    • Challenges: CAR T cell therapy for one cancer won't work for another type of cancer, can have negative effects on the nervous system, risk of infection, etc.
    • Tags :
    • Cancer
    • CAR-T
    • T-cells
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