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Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a highly specialized immunotherapy that can be used to treat aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other types of cancer. CAR T works by bolstering the capabilities of the body’s immune system, which protects against infections and illnesses by recognizing and destroying potentially dangerous invaders, such as viruses and bacteria.

Can the immune system target lymphoma?

Much like bacteria and viruses, lymphoma is also a harmful invader. However, many cancerous cells have complex features that help them avoid detection by the immune system, enabling the cancer to spread and form tumors. CAR T-cell therapy for lymphoma involves genetically modifying a patient’s white blood cells (T cells) to improve the ability of the immune system to identify, target and destroy cancerous cells.

Moffitt is continually advancing lymphoma treatment

Through extensive research performed in collaboration with cancer centers across the U.S., Moffitt has achieved several significant breakthroughs in CAR-T therapy for lymphoma, including the introduction of:

  • Yescarta™ – Approved by the FDA for treating aggressive, relapsed and/or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma and transformed follicular lymphoma. It is also approved for large B-cell lymphoma refractory or relapsing within 12 months of first-line therapy. Yescarta is also approved for relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma after two lines of therapy.
  • Kymriah™ – Approved by the FDA for treating relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma, including DLBCL, high-grade B-cell lymphoma and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma. It is also approved for relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma after two lines of therapy.
  • BreyanziTM – Approved by the FDA for treating relapsed and/or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma and transformed indolent lymphoma. It is also approved for large B-cell lymphoma refractory or relapsing within 12 months of first-line therapy. Breyanzi is also approved for refractory or relapsed DLBCL patients for first-line therapy if they are ineligible for a transplant. 

Moffitt is proud to have been one of the first cancer centers in the nation to make these novel therapies available as a standard of care for many patients who are fighting lymphoma. Our commitment to research endures as we continue to investigate promising new immunotherapies and other treatment options, and we are making progress every day.

Medically reviewed by Julio Chavez, MD, MS

If you have questions about CAR T-cell therapy for lymphoma, we encourage you to reach out to a specialist in our renowned Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy Program. You can request an appointment by calling 1-888-663-3488 or completing our new patient registration form online.