Navigating the Challenges: Effective Management of Toxicities in CAR T-Cell Therapies

Abstract

CAR T-cell therapy has dramatically changed the treatment landscape of many hematologic cancers, but it carries some risk. Cytokine-release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome can be life-threatening acute toxicities that require prompt identification, severity grading, and intervention. Appropriate use of tocilizumab and steroids may mitigate the side effects of CRS. Some of the chronic toxicities, such as cytopenias and hypogammaglobulinemia, should be differentiated from other possible causes; they also may respond to well-informed management.