New guidelines help ensure optimal outcomes for children treated with CAR-T Cell Therapy

While chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has demonstrated positive response rates in children with relapsed and/or refractory CD19-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), severe toxicities can also be associated with such treatment. So, a group of researchers issued guidelines to help ensure these patients experience optimal outcomes.

“These guidelines are meant to be a truly comprehensive guide to ensure safe delivery of CAR-T therapy to pediatric patients,” Kris Mahadeo, M.D., associate professor of Pediatrics and chief of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy at MD Anderson, said in an interview with CURE.

“This includes recommendations regarding pediatric clinical management algorithms and staff training, infrastructural needs, disaster preparedness and future research needs,” he added. “We also hope that they may help guide payors to ensure children receive adequate supportive care when indicated.”

CAR-T cell therapy involves the removal of a patient’s own T cells that are then re-engineered to find and destroy cancer proteins or targets. After they are re-engineers, these cells are then infused back into the patient’s body, where they attack the cancer cells.

Read more: https://www.curetoday.com/articles/new-guidelines-help-ensure-optimal-outcomes-for-children-treated-with-cart-cell-therapy