CAR T-cell therapy is a treatment that may be approved to fight mesothelioma in the future
Posted on: April 4, 2024 *Updated on: May 27, 2024CAR T-cell therapy represents a significant advance in cancer treatment, employing the body’s immune system to combat cancer more effectively. By modifying T cells, which are a type of white blood cell crucial for immune response, this therapy turns them into more efficient cancer-fighting tools. These engineered T cells are equipped with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that enable them to recognize and attack cancer cells, a capability that normal T cells lack due to the ability of cancer cells to evade immune detection.
The process involves collecting T cells from the patient, genetically modifying them to express CARs that target specific cancer cell antigens, and then expanding these modified cells in the laboratory. Once a sufficient number of CAR T cells have been produced, they are infused back into the patient, where they seek out and destroy cancer cells.
A notable recent study has shown promising results for the use of CAR T-cell therapy in treating pleural mesothelioma, a type of cancer often associated with asbestos exposure. Patients in this study, who had previously undergone standard treatments, received CAR T cells along with Keytruda® (pembrolizumab), a type of immunotherapy drug. The treatment resulted in a median survival rate of 23.9 months, significantly extending life expectancy by over a year compared to traditional second-line treatments.
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not approved CAR T-cell therapy for mesothelioma as of 2022, it has been approved for treating several other types of cancer. This includes certain leukemias and lymphomas, where it has demonstrated substantial effectiveness. The success of CAR T-cell therapy in these cancers and the promising results from studies like the one on pleural mesothelioma underline its potential as a powerful treatment option, leading to ongoing research and clinical trials aimed at expanding its use to other types of cancer.