What is the Difference Between CAR-T and TCR-T?

CAR-T and TCR-T are both gene-engineered technologies aimed at improving the recognition and destruction potential of T cells to target cancer cells. However, there are differences between the two methods:

1. Target Antigens: CAR-T cells recognize and target cell surface antigens, while TCR-T cells can target both cell surface antigens and intracellular antigens.
2. Receptor Binding: CAR-T cells bind to naturally occurring antigens on the surface of cancer cells, while engineered TCR therapy relies on the MHC to mark cancer cells with recognizable antigens.
3. Immune System Involvement: CAR-T-cell therapy does not rely on the immune system, as T lymphocytes are borrowed for the process. In contrast, TCR therapy involves the immune system marking cancer cells with predetermined antigens.
4. Versatility: TCR therapy is currently a more versatile method that can be applied to more cancers, while CAR-T-cell therapy is limited by the antigens it can recognize.
5. Potency: CAR T cells have been found to be more potent effector cells, producing higher levels of cytokines and killing more efficiently than engineered TCR (eTCR) T cells in a short time. However, high antigen exposure can impair CAR T cell expansion, while eTCR T cells expand better under high antigenic pressure.

In summary, CAR-T and TCR-T are both engineered T cell therapies for cancer treatment, but they differ in the antigens they target, their reliance on the immune system, and their versatility in treating various cancers. CAR-T cells are generally more potent, but TCR-T cells can target a broader range of antigens and expand better under high antigenic pressure.

Comparative Table: CAR-T vs TCR-T

CAR-T and TCR-T are both gene-engineered technologies targeted for the destruction of cancer cells. However, there are differences between the two:

In summary, CAR-T recognizes and targets cell surface antigens using an artificial receptor, while TCR-T targets both cell surface and intracellular antigens using a naturally occurring or minimally modified T-cell receptor. TCR-T therapy has shown advantages in targeting tumor cells and has potential for broader applicability, as there are more tumor-specific sequences within a cell and presented in the MHC than there are on the cell surface.