What cancers can be treated with CAR-T cell therapy?

CAR-T cell therapy involves genetically modifying T lymphocytes to express chimeric receptors associated with specific antigens, enabling them to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Currently, it is primarily used to treat hematologic malignancies, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, gastric cancer, and others. The details are as follows:

1. Hematologic Malignancies

For refractory or relapsed types of acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, including cases relapsing after bone marrow transplantation, it is essential to first confirm CD19 positivity before treatment. This therapy may be considered for patients aged 3–75 years who have relatively stable conditions and good cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, and renal function, provided they do not have severe infections.

2. Multiple Myeloma

For patients with difficult-to-cure or multiply relapsed multiple myeloma, CAR-T cell therapy can be applied, achieving a response rate of approximately 60%.

3. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

In patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, CAR-T cell therapy involves isolating the patient's T lymphocytes from their blood, expanding and culturing these cells in vitro, and then reinfusing them into the patient’s body to target and destroy tumor cells.

4. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

This is a hematologic malignancy caused by abnormal and excessive proliferation of lymphocytes. Patients may experience symptoms such as anemia, infection, fever, and bleeding. CAR-T cell therapy has demonstrated over 90% clinical remission rates in treating precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia expressing CD19, with adverse effects generally tolerable by patients.

5. Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer originates in the mucosal lining of the stomach and is one of the most common malignant tumors. The main principle of CAR-T cell therapy is to isolate immune T cells from the patient, then use genetic engineering techniques to insert into the T cells a substance capable of recognizing cancer cells and activating the T cells to attack them, thereby enhancing the body's immune system to achieve cancer treatment.

In summary, CAR-T cell therapy has shown relatively effective results for certain types of cancers. However, if this treatment is needed, it should only be administered at reputable large medical centers.