Car T Cell Therapy Lymphoma Side Effects

The modified cells are returned to the patient s body a process that takes less than 10 minutes.

Car t cell therapy lymphoma side effects.

Once they enter the body car t cells initiate a massive release of proteins called cytokines which summon other elements of the immune system to join the attack on tumor cells. Cytokine release syndrome fever and chills low blood pressure and low oxygen levels nervous system problems which might include brain problems encephalopathy headache twitching or shaking tremor. Serious side effects of this release can include very high fevers and dangerously low blood pressure in the days after treatment is given. What are the side effects of car t cell therapy in lymphoma patients.

Some side effects can be severe or fatal. Low white blood. Car t cell therapy involves extracting a cancer patient s white blood cells and reprogramming the t cells the roving warriors of the immune system with an antibody like protein called chimeric antigen receptor or car. The resulting onslaught can produce dangerously high fevers extreme fatigue difficulty breathing and a sharp drop in blood pressure.

To prepare the body for car t cell therapy patients receive a small dose of chemotherapy which may cause other side effects such as fatigue and low blood count. Car t cell therapy side effects. The most common side effects seen are. Some people have had serious side effects from this treatment especially as the car t cells multiply in the body to fight the cancer.

As car t cells multiply they cause massive amounts of chemicals called cytokines to be released into the blood. As the car t cells work to fight cancer they cause the release of large amounts of other t cells into the blood along with cytokines which are proteins released by cells that communicate to other cells that there s a job to be done. Neurologic events can also be experienced and can be serious in some patients. The possible side effects that your doctor will discuss with you include.

While the therapy can lead to long lasting remissions for some patients with very advanced cancer it can also cause neurologic side effects such as speech problems tremors delirium and seizures. Cytokine release syndrome which is similar to flu like symptoms headache.