A chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) sprouts from the surface of a genetically reengineered white blood cell.

The receptor is a manufactured protein, and designed by molecular biologists to seek out and interact with specific antigens appearing on cancer cells.

Now empowered with CAR, these killer T-cells are infused into the patient to attack and kill cancer cells.

Cancer immunotherapy is a rapidly growing field that is showing incredible promise.

Numerous clinical trials are underway.

Animation credit: hybridmedical

Our immune system has some truly fascinating mechanisms of operation. Killer T cells, or cytotoxic T cells, identify and destroy infected or tumor cells.
When they are alerted by the presence of a tumor cell, they bind to it and release lethal chemicals, such as #perforins and #granzymes, which destroy the target cell.
Many innovative therapies in the fight against cancer, immunological therapies, aim to enhance the action of T cells and make them even more effective in fighting tumor cells.