CAR-T: A boon or a curse

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

A breakthrough technology that changed the outcome for many patients having blood cancer, CAR-T, has recently come under flare following the FDA’s scrutiny.

The FDA identified serious threats to patients due to the development of secondary cancer post-treatment with these oncology drugs. The agency reported the development of T-cell malignancies, including CAR+ lymphoma in patients who received a specific type of immunotherapies.

Although many patients have been reported to have adverse side effects from CAR-T, its benefits continue to outweigh its risks for patients who were already suffering from a risk of cancer-related mortality prior to this therapy.

The cancer risk in CAR-T therapy is believed to occur from the viral vectors used for cell and gene therapy as the insertion of genetic material inside humans may initiate secondary cancers.

Currently, specific CAR-T modalities are marketed by Gilead Sciences, Kite Pharma, Novartis, BMS and Johnson & Johnson. Inspite of the CAR-T labels suggesting the possible inception of secondary cancers, the FDA is planning regulatory actions on these firms.

Reference here.