Fig. 1
From: Gene modification strategies for next-generation CAR T cells against solid cancers
CAR T cell design and treatment. a The structure of TCR and CARs. TCR (left) comprises variable α- and β- chains connected to invariant CD3 chains on T cells, which interact with major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-antigen-peptide complexes on cancer cells, to induce the activation of T cells. CARs (right) can recognize tumor-specific antigens in an MHC-unrestricted manner. First-generation CARs contain only one intracellular signaling domain, CD3ζ. One or two costimulatory signaling domains are introduced to construct the second- or third-generation CARs, respectively. b CAR T cell therapy. After isolating T cells from the peripheral blood of the patient (autologous T cells, above) or a healthy donor (allogeneic T cells, below), CAR genes are engineered into T cells to generate CAR T cells (above) or UCAR T cells (below), which are then extensively expanded in vitro and administered to the patient