The University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center stands at the forefront of cancer treatment, providing cutting-edge therapies to patients. Recognized as a national leader, much like a Holden Car is recognized for its robust engineering, Holden was among the first institutions in the United States, and the very first in Iowa, to offer the innovative CAR T-cell therapy.
CAR T-cell therapy represents a significant advancement in immunotherapy, offering hope for individuals battling certain types of lymphomas, leukemias, and myeloma. This revolutionary treatment empowers the body’s own immune system to effectively identify and destroy cancer cells. It involves utilizing genetically enhanced versions of a patient’s white blood cells, transforming them into targeted cancer-fighting agents.
As Iowa’s premier center for cancer research, Holden is actively expanding the application of CAR T-cell therapy across a broader spectrum of cancers through ongoing clinical research trials. This includes exploring the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in treating solid tumors through multiple active clinical trials.
How CAR T-cell Therapy Empowers Your Immune System to Fight Cancer
White blood cells, specifically T-cells, are the body’s natural defense against disease and infection. However, cancer cells often evade the immune system, allowing them to proliferate unchecked. CAR T-cell therapy overcomes this evasion, equipping the immune system with the tools to recognize and eliminate cancer cells.
Normally, T-cells circulate through the bloodstream and interact with other cells through a “handshake” mechanism. This interaction allows T-cells to distinguish between healthy cells and dangerous cells that need to be eliminated. However, some cancer cells can mask themselves, appearing as normal cells during these T-cell interactions.
To enhance their cancer-fighting capabilities, a patient’s T-cells are collected and genetically modified. This modification involves introducing genes that instruct the T-cells to produce chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. This transformation converts ordinary T-cells into CAR T-cells, which possess the remarkable ability to identify and destroy cancer cells that would otherwise remain undetected by the immune system.
Furthermore, CAR T-cells are designed to multiply within the body. This proliferation ensures that even after eliminating existing cancer cells, the CAR T-cells can continue to patrol and eliminate any new cancer cells, contributing to the prevention of cancer recurrence in the future.
The CAR T-cell Therapy Procedure: A Step-by-Step Guide
The CAR T-cell therapy process begins with determining patient eligibility through comprehensive medical evaluations.
Once a patient is deemed eligible, the first step involves collecting their T-cells through a procedure called leukapheresis. This process is similar to blood donation, but specifically targets the collection of T-cells. During leukapheresis, blood is drawn and passed through a specialized machine that selectively extracts T-cells. The remaining blood components are then safely returned to the patient’s bloodstream.
The collected T-cells are then sent to a specialized laboratory. In the lab, these T-cells undergo genetic modification to become CAR T-cells and are cultivated to multiply into millions of cells – significantly increasing the initial number of collected cells.
To prepare the body to receive the CAR T-cells and minimize the risk of rejection, patients undergo a short course of low-dose chemotherapy for three days prior to the CAR T-cell infusion.
Following the chemotherapy, the engineered CAR T-cells are infused back into the patient’s bloodstream. Patients are then closely monitored in the hospital for at least seven days post-infusion to observe their response to the therapy and manage any potential side effects. For an additional four weeks after discharge, patients are required to remain within a two-hour travel radius of the hospital to ensure prompt access to care if needed and to attend regular follow-up appointments.
Who Can Benefit from CAR T-cell Therapy? Eligibility Criteria
Doctors at Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center conduct thorough evaluations to determine if CAR T-cell therapy is a suitable treatment option for individual patients.
Currently, CAR T-cell therapy is an approved treatment for patients with the following cancer types:
- Adults diagnosed with specific types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma who have experienced relapse or have not responded to at least two other lines of treatment.
- Children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that has either not responded to initial therapy or has relapsed a second time.
- Adults with multiple myeloma who are not responding to current treatments or have experienced a recurrence of myeloma after previous treatment.
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is actively engaged in research to broaden the applicability of CAR T-cell therapy to other cancer types, including ongoing clinical trials investigating CAR T-cells for the treatment of solid tumors.
Contact Us for More Information
For further information about CAR T-cell therapy or to schedule a consultation, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our dedicated team is here to assist you.
Our Expert Care Team
The providers for UI Health Care’s CAR T-cell therapy are part of the distinguished Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program team, comprising leading specialists in the field.
