CPT® Code 0540T

Deleted

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a form of immunotherapy that harnesses the power of the patient's own immune system to combat cancer. This innovative treatment involves the extraction of the patient's white blood cells, specifically lymphocytic T-cells, which play a crucial role in the immune response. The process begins with the collection of these T-cells from the patient's blood, which may take place over one or more days. Once collected, the T-cells are genetically modified in a laboratory setting using a disarmed virus. This virus is engineered to introduce specific genetic material into the T-cells, enabling them to produce chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. These CARs are designed to recognize and bind to particular protein antigens found on the surface of cancer cells, thereby enhancing the T-cells' ability to identify and attack malignant cells. After the T-cells have been successfully modified to express CARs, they are expanded and multiplied to create a substantial population, often numbering in the hundreds of millions. Concurrently, the patient undergoes lymphocytic cell-depleting chemotherapy to prepare their immune system for the subsequent infusion of the engineered T-cells. Once the CAR-T cells are ready and the patient is adequately prepared, the modified T-cells are infused back into the patient's bloodstream. Upon reintroduction, these CAR-T cells seek out and bind to the cancer cells, initiating a targeted immune response that leads to the destruction of the cancerous cells. The CAR-T cells can persist in the body for an extended period, providing ongoing surveillance and defense against potential cancer recurrence.