University of Minnesota Health 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 University of Minnesota Health offer?
University of Minnesota Health 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 University of Minnesota Health:
- 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
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 University of Minnesota Health, please call 612-273-2800.
