Page 20 - Science Focus (Issue 018)

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有著「 程 式控 制 癌 症 殺 手（programmed cancer
killer）」的美譽，CAR-T 細胞近年來受到廣泛關注。儘管我
們以往都按照傳統地偏向使用化學性藥物，CAR-T 細胞卻
What is an immune checkpoint 向我們展示了一類嶄新的「活體」藥物。包括 CAR-T 細胞在
inhibitor? 內的免疫療法與其他療法不同之處，在於這類療法是利用我
們自身的免疫系統來對抗疾病。事實上，免疫系統一直是我
From the passages above, you can learn that once the
antigen is bound to the TCR, the T-cell will be triggered 們的忠實守護者，不知不覺間全天候地保護著我們的身體。
to kill the cancer cell. However, as a counter mechanism 藉著把它們用創新方法升級，它可以用來殺死難以對付、叛
to prevent over-activation of an immune response, it 變的癌細胞。希望這個療法在將來能變得更有效和副作用能
was discovered that an additional regulator, immune 大大減少，使人類可以更有效地治療癌症。
checkpoint, can override this decision and spare the
target cell [8]. Harnessing this discovery, the novel
checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy, which earned its
discoverers a Nobel Prize in 2018, employs inhibitors to References 參考資料：
block the checkpoints expressed by cancer cells, so that [1] Shiel, W. C. Jr. (n.d.). Medical Definition of Cancer.
ideally, they cannot be spared. Retrieved from https://www.medicinenet.com/script/
main/art.asp?articlekey=2580
[2] Cancer Research UK. (2020, June 10). How
chemotherapy works. Retrieved from https://www.
cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-
Summary general/treatment/chemotherapy/how-chemotherapy-
works
Owing to its reputation as the programmed cancer [3] Ghorashian, S., Pule, M., & Amrolia, P. (2015).
killer, CAR-T cells have garnered much attention in CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy for
haematological malignancies. British Journal of
recent years. Where humans have traditionally relied Haematology, 169(4), 463–478. doi: 10.1111/bjh.13340
on chemical drugs, CAR-T cells represent a new class [4] Bartosch, J. (2019, October 17). Three years after CAR
of “living” drugs. Immunotherapy, which includes T-cell therapy for lymphoma, patient still cancer-free.
Retrieved from https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/
CAR-T cells, is set apart from other therapies because forefront/cancer-articles/a-walking-miracle-car-t-cell-
such treatments utilize our own immune system to therapy
fight against diseases. In truth, the immune system [5] Tormoen, G. W., Crittenden, M. R., & Gough, M. J. (2018).
Role of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in
has always been a faithful guardian, defending our immunotherapy. Advances in Radiation Oncology, 3(4),
520–526. doi: 10.1016/j.adro.2018.08.018
body from diseases all the time, sometimes even
without us noticing; it is only fitting that, with the help [6] Morsut, L., Roybal, K. T., Xiong, X., Gordley, R. M., Coyle,
S. M., Thomson, M., & Lim, W. A. (2016). Engineering
of an innovative upgrade, it can be used to dispatch Customized Cell Sensing and Response Behaviors Using
Synthetic Notch Receptors. Cell, 164(4), 780–791. doi:
rebellious cells that turn cancerous. Hopefully, this will 10.1016/j.cell.2016.01.012
prove to be a more effective therapy, with substantially [7] Goodman, A. (2018, December 25). Combining
less side effects, bringing humans one step closer to a Checkpoint Inhibitor With CAR T-Cell Therapy
May Augment Immune Response. Retrieved from
curing cancer effectively! https://www.ascopost.com/issues/december-25-2018/
combining-a-checkpoint-inhibitor-with-car-t-cell-
therapy-may-augment-immune-response/
[8] The Nobel Prize. (2018, October 1). Press release: The
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2018. Retrieved
from https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2018/
press-release/