Deciding if CAR T-Cell Therapy is Right for You
- While it’s not approved for first-line therapy, CAR T-cell therapy could help even more multiple myeloma patients in the coming years.
- Dr. C. Ola Landgren tells SurvivorNet that he believes that this therapy may be able to reach more patients, even those who are newly diagnosed.
- If CAR T-cell therapy is part of your treatment plan, it’s important to work closely with your oncologist to make sure you understand how this therapy works, along with the risks and benefits.
“There is one CAR T-cell therapy that is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of myeloma,” Dr. C. Ola Landgren, leader of Experimental Therapeutics Program & Leader of Myeloma Service at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, tells SurvivorNet when asked about this treatment option.
Read MoreWhat is CAR T-Cell Therapy for Multiple Myeloma?
CAR T-cell therapy, which stands for chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, is a type of immunotherapy that uses your own immune cells to fight cancer. In this case, the immune cells are called T cells. RELATED: Which Multiple Myeloma Patients Can Receive CAR T-Cell TherapyT cells are removed from the blood and then genetically altered in the lab to make them recognize and attack myeloma cells.
“I think it’s important to emphasize that the CAR T cells go after markers on the surface of the myeloma cells,” Dr. Landgren says. “They are T cells from the patients that have been taken out and given back.”
How Does CAR T-Cell Therapy Work Against Multiple Myeloma?
Typically, this therapy is used when multiple myeloma has relapsed or progressed after at least four lines of therapy.
During a process known as leukapheresis, blood is drawn from the individual. A machine separates the T cells from other blood cells. The T cells are frozen and sent to a lab, while the remaining unused blood is infused back into the patient.
At the lab, the T cells are genetically modified into CAR T-cell therapy and then multiplied in a process that takes several weeks to complete.
RELATED: The Future of CAR T-Cell Therapy
According to Dr. Landgren, the T cells are modified in a way that allows them to express surface receptors, which are designed to bind to a particular structure.” Dr. Landgren adds. “This structure is selected to be something that’s unique to the myeloma cells.”
When is This Therapy Used?
As mentioned earlier, CAR T-cell therapy is approved by the FDA for use in some patients whose disease has progressed after at least four prior cancer treatment therapies.
Dr. Landgren stresses that, as of now, it’s not approved as first-line therapy. CAR T-cell therapy is used in those who have exhausted other treatment options, causing their condition to progress.
In the future, however, Dr. Landgren believes that this therapy may be able to reach more patients, even those who are newly diagnosed.
“There is ongoing work to give the CAR T cells in the newly diagnosed setting in a randomized fashion, compared to transplant,” explains Dr. Landgren. He concludes that “this is early development,” and is not yet FDA-approved.
Side Effects and Risks
As with almost every therapy, there are several risks and side effects associated with CAR T-cell therapy.
One of the most common side effects is cytokine release syndrome. This is a reaction that the body has to the CAR T cells.
Other signs of cytokine release syndrome include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
- Increased heart rate
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
Other side effects of CAR T-cell therapy include:
- Confusion or changes in consciousness
- Coordination and balance problems
- Tremors or seizures
- Weakened immune system
- Low blood cell counts
Talk to Your Doctor About CAR T-Cell Therapy for Multiple Myeloma
Remember, the goal of myeloma treatment is to maintain your quality of life for as long as possible.
If CAR T-cell therapy is part of your treatment plan, it’s important to work closely with your oncologist to make sure you understand how this therapy works, along with the risks and benefits.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
