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About CAR T-cell therapy
CAR T-Cell therapy stands for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. This treatment is a type of “living drug” cancer therapy that uses a patient's own immune system to fight cancer. CAR T-cell therapy involves removing some of a patient’s blood with the goal of collecting T-cells (a type of white blood cell). The collected cells are genetically modified in a specialized laboratory and then sent back to KHSC where they are re-infused to the patient. The new T-cells use a patient’s own immune system to target and attack cancer specific cells.
Some types of cancer that can be treated with CAR T-cell therapy include leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and solid tumor cancers. Patient eligibility for CAR T-cell therapy continues to expand as this treatment options become available. Please speak to your medical care team to discuss if CAR T-cell therapy would be a good fit for you. Currently at KHSC we are treating Lymphoma patients with plans to expand in the future.
How it works:
- T-cells are collected from your blood through a process known as leukapheresis.
- The collected cells are shipped to a manufacturing company.
- The manufacturing company changes your T-cells in a lab by adding a receptor known as a CAR (chimeric antigen receptor). This receptor is designed to target and destroy cancer specific cells. Once the CAR is added the cells are now called CAR T-cells.
- The manufacturing company makes copies of the CAR T-cells, freezes them and ships them to a storage facility.
- Bridging chemotherapy may be required to keep your cancer under control while CAR T-cells are being manufactured.
- Before you are ready to receive your CAR T-cells you will receive chemotherapy to make space for the new cells in your body.
- Your medical team will schedule you to receive your CAR T-cells back as an infusion.
- You will be closely monitored by your care team at KHSC for a few weeks for monitoring of any side effects.
The purpose of the CAR T-cell therapy may be to cure the disease or control the disease and improve your quality of life, and the success rate for this therapy varies based on individual circumstances.
For patients
To be considered for cellular therapy at KHSC, you must be referred by your hematologist. Once you are referred to the program, you will be booked for an appointment with the stem cell transplant and cellular therapy team. The purpose of this first meeting is to decide if cellular therapy will be an appropriate and safe treatment option for you.
Your cellular therapy doctor and nurse will explain your treatment options as well as possible benefits and risks of cellular therapy.
The cellular therapy unit is located on Kidd 9 in KHSC.
You will also receive care in other hospital areas during your cellular therapy, including Diagnostic Imaging, where you may get tests and procedures done.
Please see Cancer Care Ontario - CAR T-cell Therapy Enrolment Process and Forms for a full list of patient eligibility criteria.
