Dr. Deol on CAR T-Cell Therapy in Earlier Lines of Therapy in Cancer Care

Abhinav Deol, MD, physician, Karmanos Cancer Center, associate professor, Clinical Hematology and Oncology, Wayne State University, discusses shifting CAR T-cell therapy to earlier lines of therapy in cancer care.

Data continue to emerge on the benefits of CAR T-cell therapy in earlier treatment setting for different cancers, Deol says. For example, in patients with multiple myeloma, ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel; Carvykti) is approved by the FDA following 4 or more lines of prior therapy. However, data have continued to demonstrate that patients who achieve minimal residual disease–negativity earlier can remain off treatment longer, Deol explains. Karmanos Cancer Center will participate in several studies examining the earlier use of CAR T-cell therapy for patients who might not be candidates for other forms of therapy, Deol adds.

As CAR T-cell therapy continues to be researched in other diseases, such as B-cell lymphomas, the use of it in earlier settings will be further investigated to potentially help patients avoid the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy before they become candidates for CAR T-cell therapy, Deol concludes.