Treatment in

CAR T-cell Therapy

CAR T-cell therapy is a revolutionary new immunotherapy treatment for cancer. Like other immunotherapy treatments, CAR T-cell therapy uses the body’s own immune system to target and fight the cancer.

Overview

It works by adapting certain cells – called T-cells – to recognize and kill cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy has the potential to give hope to patients with certain blood cancers (lymphoma and leukemia).

Our approach

M Health Fairview is proud to be among the few centers nationwide approved to offer CAR T-cell therapy to fight cancer. CAR T-cell therapy starts by harvesting T-cells from the patient’s blood. T-cells (also called T-lymphocytes) are a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the body’s immune system. The T cells’ job is to protect the body from infection by finding and killing abnormal cells like those infected with bacteria or viruses. CAR T-cell therapy harnesses that immune response and aims it at cancer cells.

The patient’s T-cells are collected from the blood and then modified so that they will recognize and destroy cancer cells. Using a disarmed virus, the T-cells are engineered so that they have chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) on their surface that match a corresponding part of the cancer cell’s surface. The new CAR T-cells are then strengthened, multiplied, and added back into the patient’s blood, where they attack cancer cells.

What are the benefits of CAR T-cell therapy?
CAR T-cell therapy has shown remarkable results for patients whose cancer has returned or whose cancer has not responded to other treatments, with high remission rates. It is administered in a single dose and begins to work right away, with the CAR T-cells reaching full strength in days.

What CAR T-cell treatments does M Health Fairview offer?
M Health Fairview is a leader in CAR T-cell therapy for cancer treatment. We were proud to participate in the clinical trials that paved the way for FDA approval of two CAR T-cell therapies, both of which are now available at M Health Fairview:

Yescarta™ for adults with certain types of lymphoma
Kymriah™ for adults with certain types of lymphoma and for children and young adults up to age 25 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) – designated a breakthrough therapy by the FDA
Breyzani® for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Abecma® for multiple myeloma
Tecartus® for follicular and mantle cell lymphoma.

In addition to CAR T-cell therapy, our research team also participates in ongoing novel cellular therapy trials for treatment of leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumors.

To learn more about CAR T-cell immunotherapy treatment through M Health Fairview, please call 612-273-2800.