What is Car T-cell therapy?
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?
Who is eligible?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 to expect during CAR T-cell therapy
What to expectNewYork-Presbyterian is a leader in providing life-saving treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy. You’ll meet with a team of experts to create a course of action specific to your needs.
During the CAR T-cell therapy process, you can expect the following:
- A comprehensive evaluation. You’ll consult with an expert multidisciplinary team, including world-class specialists, nurses, social workers, and care coordinators, who will evaluate your case and refer you to perform tests and see other specialists as needed in order to better understand your health and eligibility for treatment.
- Collecting your T cells. If CAR T-cell therapy is deemed appropriate, your T cells will be collected from your blood through a process called leukapheresis. During this 2-4-hour process, blood enters the apheresis machine through a catheter where your T cells are separated and collected. The rest of your blood returns to your body.
- Engineering your CAR T cells. Your T cells are sent to a specialized laboratory, where they are genetically modified to recognize and attack cancer cells. The engineered cells are sent back to NewYork-Presbyterian for your treatment.
- Preparing your body for CAR T-cell therapy. Before receiving the CAR T cells, you will undergo a short course of chemotherapy called lymphodepleting chemotherapy. This helps prepare your immune system so the CAR T cells can work effectively.
- Receiving your CAR T-cell infusion. Your CAR T cells are infused into your bloodstream through a vein. Once inside your body, these cells seek out and destroy cancer cells.
- Monitoring and supportive care. After the infusion, our team closely monitors you for side effects. Patients may stay in the hospital for a few days or for up to two weeks.
- Ongoing follow-up care. Once home, you will continue to have regular follow-up visits with your team to monitor your response to treatment, assess your progress, and watch for any delayed side effects.
Side effects of Car T-cell therapy
Side effectsOur 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.
Clinical Trials
Clinical TrialsNewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Cancer Center are highly committed to advancing the effectiveness of cell therapy research. We offer clinical trials of new and innovative cell therapies that aim to reduce side effects and extend life-saving benefits to patients in need.
Learn more about our clinical trials:
Why choose us
Why choose usNewYork-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.
When you choose NewYork-Presbyterian, you’ll benefit from:
- Treatment by pioneers in the cell therapy field who are actively investigating new CAR T-cell therapies for different diseases.
- An on-site facility to manufacture new cell therapies.
- Accredited programs. Our cell therapy programs are accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).
- Personalized care. With a low nurse-to-patient ratio, you will get quality, individualized care to aid your recovery.
- Access to experts in every field. While cell therapies can be very effective, complications may arise. Your team has access to infectious disease specialists, cardiologists, intensivists, and other doctors with the skills to promptly treat any complications.
- Logistical support. Most complications of cell therapies occur within the first weeks after receiving the treatment. If coming to NewYork-Presbyterian for treatment means traveling some distance from your home, we can assist you and your family with accommodations closer to the hospital to bring you closer to your treatment team.
This content has been reviewed by the following medical editors.