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Key Points
➤ Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of many different
types of cancers.
➤ Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy, an expanding
immunotherapeutic approach, modifies T cells to redirect them to
eradicate malignant cells.
• CAR T cell therapy is regarded as a "living drug" since cells are expected to persist
long term with efficacy that may last for decades.
➤ CAR T-cell therapy is administered with a single infusion and close
monitoring.
➤ CAR T-cell therapy is associated with severe, even fatal, toxicities
such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or immune effector cell-
associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS).
• The incidence of CRS has been reported to range from 57%–93%, and ICANS
from 20%–70%, based on the agent used.
