At NewYork-Presbyterian, our multidisciplinary team genetically engineers your own T-cells to target cancer with precision. Through FACT-accredited programs, advanced facilities, and access to clinical trials, we provide expert care and unwavering support throughout your journey with blood cancers and autoimmune diseases.
Expert care through an accredited program
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Cancer Center are home to some of the nation’s leading specialists in CAR T-cell therapy. Our compassionate health care professionals provide these potentially lifesaving treatments in state-of-the-art facilities designed for your safety and comfort.
Clinical trials for CAR T-cell therapy
We’re highly committed to cell therapy research to improve its effectiveness, reduce side effects, and extend its benefits to people with cancer and other rare diseases. Our programs have an onsite facility to manufacture new cell therapies, and we are working on clinical trials to bring these treatments to more patients in need.
Clinical trials at Weill Cornell Medicine
Clinical trials at Columbia University
What is CAR T-cell therapy?
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a cutting-edge immunotherapy treatment for blood cancer that genetically modifies a patient’s own white blood cells to identify and attack cancer cells. The T-cells are extracted from a patient’s blood and fortified with specialized proteins that can recognize and target cancer. The re-engineered cells are multiplied and returned to the patient’s body to find and destroy the cancer cells.
Who is eligible for CAR T-cell therapy?
CAR T-cell therapy is a groundbreaking treatment for pediatric and adult patients with certain blood cancers that have returned or have not responded to traditional treatments. At NewYork-Presbyterian, we use CAR T-cell therapy to treat:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma.
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adults.
- Multiple myeloma
- Autoimmune diseases, such as treatment-resistant cases of lupus and scleroderma, provided through clinical trials.
What are the side effects of CAR T-cell therapy?
Our specialists at NewYork-Presbyterian are highly experienced in recognizing and treating complications and side effects of CAR T-cell therapy. They are conducting ongoing research to better understand why side effects occur and how to prevent them from happening. Most are reversible with prompt monitoring and treatment.
CAR T-cell therapy side effects can include:
- Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS). When CAR T-cells become activated and multiply in the body, they release inflammatory proteins called cytokines. In some patients, this immune activation becomes excessive and can cause malaise, fever, chills, low blood pressure, and, in severe cases can be life threatening and require management in the intensive care unit. Your NewYork-Presbyterian team is highly experienced in prompt recognition of this and other complications in order to start prompt treatment.
- Immune Effector Cell–Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS). ICANS is a potential neurologic side effect that can occur after CAR T-cell therapy. Symptoms include confusion, speaking and word-finding difficulties, headaches, and, in more severe cases, seizures and brain swelling, which can be life threatening.
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