Why in the News?

A new study published in Science journal shows that “In-Body CAR T-Cell Therapy” marks a breakthrough by enabling direct immune cell reprogramming for faster, safer treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

What is CAR T-Cell Therapy?

• Overview: CAR T-cell therapy is a treatment where a patient’s own T cells are genetically modified to detect and kill cancer cells.
• Science behind it: Scientists extract T cells and add a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) gene, which enables them to identify cancer cells.
• Working: These modified T cells are infused back into the patient, where they multiply and actively attack cancer.
• Effectiveness: The therapy has shown high success against certain blood cancers and is now being studied for autoimmune disorders like lupus.
• Issues: The traditional therapy is expensive (₹60–70 lakh), slow, and requires chemotherapy and specialised lab facilities.

Recent Breakthrough: In-Body CAR T-Cell Therapy

• Approach: A new technique uses mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver instructions directly inside the body.
• Targeting Cells: These nanoparticles are programmed to locate and enter killer T cells, converting them into CAR T-cells internally.
• Benefits offered: This method eliminates the need for cell extraction, chemotherapy, or viral vectors, making it faster and safer.

Significance for India:

• Scalable Innovation: This platform may lower treatment costs and offer wider access in countries like India with high cancer and autoimmune burdens.
• Infrastructure Relief: Its in-body nature avoids dependence on advanced labs, making it suitable for resource-constrained settings.

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