Replies to post #172304 on Biotech Values

[genisi]

Chimaeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy vs. T-cell receptor(TCR)

But there is one difficulty: the T-cell receptors must be genetically matched to the patient's immune type.
A more flexible tactic, called chimaeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy, avoids this constraint. It uses a gene that encodes artificial, antibody-like proteins that bind the antigens studding the tumour cell's surface without needing to match the patient's immune type.

In other words, CARs work in an MHC independent manner.

[goodJohnhunting]

Thanks for the article.

malignant cells should be ideal targets for T cells, but tumours have ways of shielding themselves from an immune attack

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v504/n7480_supp/full/504S13a.html

One such way of shielding is undoubtedly "flipped" Phosphatidylserine, However, it's not exactly known how valuable this "clocking" is to proliferation..

It's also interesting to know that Phosphatidylserine is an "invisibility cloak" for metastatic disease, but blocking it, is somehow worthless?

Cancer finds a way.. Knowing how it finds a way is not "worthless", IMO.

All the best,
John