Contact Us
If you’d like to learn more about CAR-T cell therapy at CHKD or find out if your child may be eligible, please contact:
Phone: (757) 668-7243
Innovative, Personalized Care for Children and Young Adults with Blood Cancer
CHKD is proud to offer CAR-T cell therapy, one of the most advanced and personalized cancer treatments available today. This breakthrough therapy empowers a patient’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, bringing new hope to children and young adults when other treatments have not been successful.
What Is CAR-T Cell Therapy & How Does it Work?
CAR-T therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy) is an advanced form of immunotherapy offered at CHKD. It is used to treat patients with certain types of leukemia or lymphoma when standard treatments are no longer effective or when the cancer has returned.
The process involves collecting a patient’s T cells (a type of white blood cell), modifying them in a laboratory so they can recognize and attack cancer cells, and then infusing the engineered cells back into the patient to fight the disease.
Why Choose CHKD for CAR-T Therapy
- Innovative treatment close to home: Access world-class therapy without leaving the region.
- Collaborative team approach: Specialists across multiple disciplines working together for your child.
- Family-centered care: You’re an essential part of the care team.
Who Is Eligible for CAR-T Therapy?
Before treatment begins, our team will perform a series of tests to ensure each patient can safely receive CAR-T therapy.
These assessments may include:
- Blood tests and chest X-rays
- Heart and lung function tests
- MRI, CT, or PET scans
- Bone marrow biopsies and lumbar punctures
These evaluations confirm that the diagnosis is appropriate for CAR-T cell therapy, and the patient’s body is ready for treatment, enabling us to create a customized care plan for each child.
Preparing for Treatment
Families play a vital role in CAR-T therapy. Each patient will designate a caregiver that will attend all appointments, help manage medications and symptoms, provide emotional support and help protect the patient from infection.
Because the immune system will be temporarily weakened, families may need to adjust daily routines and remain close to CHKD after the infusion for careful monitoring.
Your CHKD CAR-T Therapy Team
Our multidisciplinary team provides complete, coordinated care throughout every stage of CAR-T therapy.
Your care team may include:
- Pediatric oncologists and hematologists
- Case Managers
- Cell therapy and oncology nurse coordinators
- Oncology nurses
- Nurse practitioners and advanced practice providers
- Social workers and child life specialists
- Clinical pharmacists
- Dietitians and other supportive care experts
- American Red Cross nurses and staff
Together, we focus not only on treatment success, but also on your child’s comfort, emotional well-being, and recovery.
After Infusion: Monitoring and Side Effects
After the infusion, your child will be closely monitored for side effects, which can include:
- Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS): An immune reaction that may cause fever, low blood pressure, or fatigue.
- Neurotoxicity (ICANS): Temporary changes in behavior, mood, or alertness.
Our expert team monitors for these and other side effects and provides immediate treatment as needed. With appropriate recognition and treatment, most side effects are temporary and manageable.
Plan to stay within a 30 minute drive for up to two weeks after the therapy and within a two hour drive of the center for up to four weeks after therapy.
What to Expect After CAR-T Cell Infusion
- Appointments on day 1 and day 3 after infusion.
- Appointments at least 3 times per week for the first two weeks.
- Monitoring for CRS, ICANS, HLH, infection, low blood counts, and other possible side effects.
- Weekly appointments, monitoring for CRS, ICANS, HLH, infection, low blood counts, and other possible side effects.
- Bone marrow biopsy and labs to assess effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy.
- Monthly visits to monitor labs to check for CAR-T cell persistence, absence of malignancy, low blood counts, infection, and organ function.
- Treatment based off assessment. Patient may need blood and platelet transfusions, medications to prevent infection, MG, or other supportive care measures.
- Monitor IgG levels every other month
- Additional lab tests every 6 months.
Long-Term Follow-Up and Recovery
Follow-up care is critical for long-term success.
- Visits are frequent during the first month, then gradually decrease over time.
- Monitoring for a minimum of 5 years to ensure lasting remission and monitor late effects that could occur.
- Ongoing lab work and scans track the persistence of CAR-T cells and the patient’s overall health.
Our goal: lasting recovery, restored health, and renewed hope for every patient and family.
Support for Patients and Families
At CHKD, we understand that CAR-T therapy can be an emotional journey for the whole family. That’s why we provide a full range of supportive services, including:
- Emotional counseling and coping support from social workers and child life specialists
- Assistance with housing and travel arrangements during treatment
- Financial and insurance guidance
- Educational resources to help families prepare and plan