CAR-T Therapy, short for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Immunotherapy, is an advanced gene therapy method that involves genetically modifying a patient’s own T cells to target and destroy cancer cells. Unlike traditional medications, CAR-T therapy is tailored to each patient and requires collecting T cells from the patient’s blood before reinfusing them back into the body after genetic engineering.

Scientists then change these T cells in the laboratory to add a special new receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). This receptor acts like a “homing device” that helps T cells find and attach to cancer cells. The modified T cells, now called CAR T cells, are grown in large numbers until there are enough to fight the cancer effectively.

Once ready, the CAR T cells are infused back into the patient’s bloodstream, where they seek out and destroy cancer cells. This therapy is often called a “living drug” because the CAR T cells continue to multiply and stay active in the body, providing ongoing protection against cancer.