CAR T-cell therapy and its uses

While reading ahead in our textbook, many of the immune therapies impressed me with their clinical applications. However, one in particular stood out to me. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy (CAR T), discussed in chapter 17.3 of our textbook, is a form of T cell tranfer therapy in which cells are removed from the patients body and augmented with a receptor for a specific kind of cancer, according to The American Cancer Society. This therapy is still relatively new, and research is being constantly conducted concerning its potential applications (NIH National Cancer Institute). Currently, it is only used to treat leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma (The American Cancer Society).

(NIH National Cancer Institute)

To dive further in depth on the actual treatment process, one must understand how the aforementioned cancers function. Leukemia and Lymphoma are both cancers that target the blood and the lymphatic system, respectively (NIH National Cancer Institute). As a result, they are able to spread throughout the body rapidly, and treating the disease can be hard to do without killing things like healthy red blood cells. CAR T therapy is invaluable in this respect. Blood is harvested from the patient, their white blood cells are extracted from the sample, and then the rest of the blood is returned (The American Cancer Society). The T cells are then grown in a laboratory where they are fitted with an antigen-specific receptor that correlates to a certain kind of cancer such as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (The American Cancer Society).

The patient is then treated with a low-dose of chemotherapy to suppress immune function (The American Cancer Society). The augmented T cells are reintroduced, where they then kill cancerous cells by latching on to the antigen presented on the surface of the malignant cell (The American Cancer Society). Just as a key fits into a lock, so does the cancerous antigen fit into the antigen-specific receptor on the augmented T cell. Currently, research is being conducted on the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy against solid tumors such as ovarian cancer (Medscape). According to Medscape, CAR T cell therapy is being combined with an mRNA vaccine and is delivered intravenously. These therapies, while still in early stages, are showing promising results that suggest they may be able to be employed in the coming years (Medscape).

The current state of Tuberculosis

Prior to taking this class, I always regarded Tuberculosis as a thing of the past. You hear the name and automatically think of the 19th century, with its large, open air houses constructed to mitigate spread of the disease. You don’t, however, think of it as one of the leading causes of global death and sickness (ScienceDirect). While in the United States, our incidences of Tuberculosis remain low, an estimated 10 million people contracted Tuberculosis in 2019, according to a 2021 report on the state of Tuberculosis (ScienceDirect). Moreover, a very high majority of these cases are located in Southeast Asia, with even more of them being concentrated in India, which accounts for 26 percent of all cases worldwide (ScienceDirect).

A BCG vaccine is administered to a baby in 1949 (The Scientist).

In 2021, the world celebrated the one hundred year anniversary of the development of the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Tuberculosis vaccine (The Scientist). The vaccine, however, is largely ineffective at preventing contraction of the disease (The Scientist). Its main usage is in infants born to families with active tuberculosis infections (The Scientist). The BCG vaccine is effective in reducing the development of a specific, virulent form of tuberculosis that often results in death (The Scientist). So, while the infant most likely will contract thte disease and prevent with the typical symptoms such as coughing and difficulty breathing, they will be easier to treat and have a better chance at surviving (The Scientist). Recent research developments regarding the BCG vaccine have shown that it may in fact rely on an antibody-mediated immune response to protect its host, and not a humoral response (Nature).

These findings provide an opportunity to better understand the mechanisms behind the effectiveness of the BCG vaccine and how to improve its protectiveness. While the global Covid-19 pandemic replaced tuberculosis as the infectious disease with the highest mortality rate in 2020, its persistence is still very worrisome (ScienceDirect). Global health experts desired to reduce tuberculosis cases by twenty percent by the end of 2020; however, they were only able to do so by nine percent (ScienceDirect). Better health education and access to healthcare will be one of the main routes toward reducing tuberculosis globally (ScienceDirect). If affected individuals can receive consistent treatment and be made aware of the risks regarding the disease, incidence should be drastically reduced (ScienceDirect).

Going mediterranean

Growing up in the United States, I’m definitely accustomed to a diet chock-full of processed sugars and grains, pumped full of GMOs and pesticides. While this hasn’t really bothered me, learning about the importance of the gut biome this year has really affected my thoughts regarding the subject. According to an article by Harvard, the gut microbiome is directly fed by what we eat; more complex starches and fibers are digested in the small intestine by microbiota which supplies the body with important nutrients it can’t get elsewhere. As a result, they recommend a high fiber diet, as it triggers chemical reactions in bacteria which lower the pH of the stomach and stunt the growth of certain pathogens Harvard). Sugars and lactose feed microbiota in the stomach, but if you feed them too much sugar, unhealthy levels of unnecessary microbiota can grow Harvard). The list of ways your diet can affect your gut health go on and on, and a poor gut microbiome can lead to things such as poor digestive health Harvard).

A recipe from the mediterranean diet that I’d like to try is the infamous “tik tok pasta. (The Washington Post)” It combines a block of feta cheese, fresh grape tomatoes, whole grain pasta, garlic, basil, and olive oil to make a creamy, unforgettable dish (The Washington Post). It went viral last year for being so quick, easy, and delicious. Not only is this dish rich, but it provides the stomach with complex grains from the pasta, good fats such as olive oil, and nutrients from the grape tomatoes (The Washington Post). Detailed on The Washington Post, there are many potential variations to this recipe, but this one stands out to me the most (The Washington Post).

I am so excited for the national championship game tomorrow! I am leaving for New Orleans immediately after I finish this. I’m not entirely sure where I’m staying tonight … whether that be in my car or in a hostel, but I’m just planning on figuring it out when we get there! I think the matchup between UNC and Dook last night was win they will NEVER be able to top. I am so proud to be a Tar Heel! Enjoy this picture of Hubert Davis below.

https://clutchpoints.com/unc-news-hubert-davis-emotional-reaction-to-north-carolina-reaching-final-four/