What is CAR T Cell Therapy

This infographic provides a clear, easy-to-understand overview of CAR T-cell therapy for patients and caregivers. CAR T-cell therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses a person’s own immune cells, called T-cells, to find and destroy cancer cells. In this process, T-cells are collected from the blood, changed in a lab to better recognize cancer, and then returned to the body through an IV.

The infographic walks through each step of the CAR T-cell therapy process, from collecting T-cells through a procedure called apheresis, to modifying and growing the cells in a lab, and finally infusing them back into the patient. It explains how the added CAR protein acts like a tracking device, helping the T-cells find and kill cancer cells more effectively.

Key Takeaways:

• CAR T-cell therapy uses your own immune cells to help find and destroy cancer cells.
• T-cells are collected from your blood, changed in a lab, and then infused back into your body.
• The CAR protein helps T-cells better recognize and attack cancer cells.
• CAR T-cell therapy is a personalized treatment.

Authors/Reviewers: Heather Difilippo, CRNP, Patient perspective: Izak, Caregiver perspective: Sharon

Sponsors and Partners: Kite Bristol Myers Squibb, Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC)