CAR-T therapy is an innovative treatment method that uses modified T cells to fight cancer cells.
This method gives a new chance to patients suffering from different types of blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, when traditional treatments fail.
In this article, we will explain what CAR-T therapy is, how it works, and for which patients it can be an effective solution.
What is CAR-T therapy?
CAR-T therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy) is a technique in which a patient’s T-cells are modified in the laboratory to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
T-cells are a type of immune system cells that normally fight infections and other diseases.
CAR-T therapy removes these cells from a patient’s body, modifies them, and then returns them to the body where they begin to attack cancer cells.
How does CAR-T therapy work?
The process of CAR-T therapy consists of several steps:
- Cell harvesting: T cells are extracted from the patient’s body using a procedure called leukoperfusion.
- Genetic modification: In the laboratory, these cells are altered using genetic engineering so that they begin to produce special receptors called antigen receptors (CARs). These receptors allow the cells to recognize cancer cells.
- Cell Retrieval: The modified cells are injected back into the patient’s body, where they begin to seek out and destroy cancer cells.
This method offers hope to patients whose diseases cannot be treated by conventional methods.
Advantages and disadvantages of CAR-T therapy
Benefits:
- Efficacy: CAR-T therapy has been shown to be highly effective in treating certain types of blood cancers, especially when other treatments have been ineffective.
- Personalized approach: The method allows individualization of treatment for each patient, which increases the chances of success.
Disadvantages:
- Side effects: Although effective, CAR-T therapy can cause serious side effects, such as cytokine storm, a reaction where the immune system begins to attack healthy tissue.
- High cost: The treatment process is quite expensive and may be out of reach for some patients.
Car-T therapy in Ukraine
In Ukraine, CAR-T therapy is still at the stage of introduction and its use is limited to a number of specialized clinics.
However, every year the technology is developing and more and more medical centers are starting to offer this method of treatment.
Many patients in need of this treatment may seek therapy abroad, where this technology is already in active use.
When is it recommended to use CAR-T therapy?
CAR-T therapy is used for a number of hematologic oncohematologic diseases including:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- Relapsed or refractory lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
It may be recommended for patients who have not been helped by other treatments such as chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation.
Table 1: Comparison of conventional treatments and CAR-T therapy
| Treatment method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Chemotherapy | Affordability, proven effectiveness | Side effects, relapses |
| Stem cell transplantation | Can produce long-lasting results | High risk of complications |
| CAR-T therapy | Highly effective, personalized treatment | High cost, side effects |
Forecasts and studies
According to recent studies, CAR-T therapy has demonstrated impressive results in the treatment of various blood cancers.
One of the largest studies conducted in 2020 showed that 80% of patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia achieved remission after treatment with CAR-T cells.
Table 2: Results of clinical trials of CAR-T therapy
| Disease | Percentage of patients who achieved remission |
|---|---|
| Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. | 80% |
| Lymphoma | 60-70% |
| Multiple myeloma | 50-60% |
Conclusion
CAR-T therapy is a revolutionary treatment method that offers hope to patients with oncohematologic diseases, especially those who cannot be cured by traditional methods.
It is important to remember that this method is not suitable for everyone, and each case requires an individualized approach.
Despite its high cost and possible side effects, CAR-T therapy continues to evolve and opens new horizons in cancer treatment.
Literature:
- Porter, D. L., et al. (2015). “Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.” New England Journal of Medicine.
- Maude, S. L., et al. (2018). “Tisagenlecleucel in Children and Young Adults with B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia.” New England Journal of Medicine.
- Neelapu, S. S., et al. (2017). “Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Large B-Cell Lymphoma.” New England Journal of Medicine.
- Abramson, J. S., et al. (2020). “Outcomes of CAR T-Cell Therapy in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.” JAMA Oncology.
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