Other terms
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser Resurfacing
- Carbuncle
- Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)
- Carcinogens
- Carcinoma
- Cardiology
- Cardiomyopathy
- Case Report Form (CRF)
- Cataract
- Celiac Disease
- Cell and Gene Therapies
- Cell Therapy
CAR T-Cell Therapy
What is CAR T-Cell Therapy? Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a type of T-cell transfer immunotherapy similar to TIL therapy. The patient’s T-lymphocytes are extracted and genetically modified in the lab to express chimeric antigen receptors. These receptors allow the T-lymphocytes to bind to antigens on target cells in an MHC-independent manner. The modified CAR T-cells are then re-introduced into the patient’s body.
What Cancers are Treated with CAR T-Cell Therapy?
CAR T-cell therapy has been FDA approved to treat hematologic cancers such as:
- B-Cell non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
CAR T-cell therapy is also currently being studied for its application in the treatment of solid tumors.
Adverse Effects in CAR T-Cell Therapy
CAR T-cell therapy requires in-patient treatment because of its association with cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a serious side effect that results from a rapid increase in the levels of circulating cytokines in response to the activation of the CAR-T cells. CRS may cause:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Rashes
- Diarrhea
- Hypotension
- Multiorgan failure
- Death
Source: Sterner, R. C., & Sterner, R. M. (2021, April). CAR-T cell therapy: current limitations and potential strategies. Blood Cancer Journal, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-021-00459-7