Tisagenlecleucel (brand name Kymriah) is a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of certain types of cancer. It is used to treat children and young adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and adults with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It is a type of immunotherapy that uses a patient's own immune system to fight cancer. It works by extracting a patient's T-cells, genetically modifying them to recognize and attack cancer cells, and then reinfusing them back into the patient.
Tisagenlecleucel, sold under the brand name Kymriah, is a unique treatment that falls under the category of CAR T-cell therapy. Here's a breakdown of what it is and how it works:
Function: CAR T-cell immunotherapy for B-cell cancers [1].
Medical Uses:
- Treats B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in patients up to 25 years old when it's refractory (not responding to treatment) or in second or later relapse (cancer has come back after treatment) [1, 2].
- Targets adults with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma after other therapies haven't been successful, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) [1, 2].
How it Works:
- T-cell Extraction: Your blood is drawn to collect T cells, a type of white blood cell that fights infection.
- Genetic Engineering: In a lab, the T cells are genetically modified to express a special receptor called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) on their surface [1].
- CAR Function: The CAR helps T cells recognize and attack specific proteins on the surface of cancer cells (B cells) [1].
- Reinfusion: The engineered T cells (CAR-T cells) are then multiplied in the lab and infused back into your body through an intravenous (IV) line [1].
Key Points:
- Tisagenlecleucel is a personalized treatment because it uses your own T cells to fight cancer [1].
- It's a complex therapy with potential serious side effects that require careful monitoring by a healthcare team experienced in CAR T-cell therapy [1].