This disclosure relates to a chimeric antigen receptor for binding with a target antigen. The chimeric antigen receptor comprises at least one antigen specific targeting region evolved from a wild-type protein or a domain thereof and having at least one of: (a) a decrease in activity in the assay at the normal physiological condition compared to the antigen specific targeting region of the wild-type protein or a domain thereof, and (b) an increase in activity in the assay under the aberrant condition compared to the antigen specific targeting region of the wild-type protein or a domain thereof. A method for generating the chimeric antigen receptor and cytotoxic cells that express the chimeric antigen receptor are also provided.
