Researchers propose new target, repurposed drugs to make CAR T-cell therapy safer
CAR T-cell therapy has transformed cancer care, offering new hope to patients with aggressive blood cancers who once had few treatment options. But for some patients, the powerful immunotherapy can trigger a potentially life-threatening complication that causes brain inflammation, confusion, seizures and other serious neurological symptoms.
CAR T-cell therapy, a groundbreaking immunotherapy for aggressive blood cancers, carries a potential risk for patients - immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). This condition, which affects the brain and nervous system, can result in brain inflammation, confusion, and seizures. Researchers from UC Irvine have identified mitochondrial dysfunction as a significant contributor to ICANS.
Rather than developing entirely new drugs, the team proposes evaluating existing medications, many of which have established safety profiles, to repurpose them for managing the neurological side effects of CAR T-cell therapy. This approach could potentially accelerate clinical testing and improve patient outcomes, offering a safer alternative to corticosteroids while preserving the lifesaving benefits of CAR T-cell therapy.
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