We recently created a page explaining what CAR T cell and gene therapy is on the AGCT website. This innovative cancer treatment allows the patient to make use of their own T cells to kill the cancer cells. The first FDA approved CAR T cancer gene therapy drug called Kymriah is currently approved to treat children and young adults with relapsed Leukemia and adults with large B-cell lymphoma. This CAR T Cell drug is being called the “living drug” since it is giving a new future to cancer patients who may have once had a terminal condition.
How Can Someone’s Own Body Be Programmed to Kill It’s Own Cancer Cells?
While not a simple task, modern medicine makes it possible for just this to happen. First, the patient’s T cells are removed from their blood through an IV. The T cells are then made into Car T cells with the insertion of the CAR gene. Then, millions of the patient’s own CAR T cells are grown in a lab and are infused in the patient. Once the CAR T cells find the cancer cells, they bind to them and kill them.
What Are the Benefits to CAR T Cell Therapy?
The benefits of this unique approach to cancer treatment is it uses the own patient’s immune system to kill the cancer. It strengthens the immune system of the patient instead of previous methods like radiation and chemotherapy which weaken the immune system. This less invasive approach to treating cancer is showing lasting results in many patients with much less adverse side effects than traditional methods.
Does this Benefit Everyone?
For many children and adults who have cancer, this is an appropriate and alternative treatment. This may not work for every cancer type, but there are many clinical trials that are currently going on. For many patients who have undergone the CAR T cell therapy, many of them are cured of the disease and have positive responses. The treatment is promising for many cancers since it is showing lasting results.
What is the Future for CAR -T cell therapy?
As scientists progress into the future with CAR T cell therapy, we can be seeing many new cancers that are approved for treatment. Since most of our patients that have participated in clinical trials for Kymriah are leading cancer free and active lives, we can hope to have this outcome for many other types of cancer in the future. We are in the age that is constantly pushing the boundaries of medicine, and what doctors once thought was impossible is now a reality.