CPT® Code 38227

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a groundbreaking immunotherapeutic approach that utilizes the patient's own lymphocytic T-cells, a type of white blood cell, to target and eliminate cancer cells. This innovative treatment involves the genetic modification of T-cells using a disarmed virus, which enables these cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surfaces. These CARs are specifically designed to recognize and bind to particular protein antigens found on the surface of cancer cells, thereby facilitating the immune response against the tumor. The process begins with the withdrawal of blood from the patient, which may take place over one or more days, allowing for the separation of T-lymphocytes from the blood. In a controlled laboratory or manufacturing environment, these T-lymphocytes are then genetically engineered by introducing an inactive virus that carries the necessary genetic material to produce CARs. Following this modification, the CAR-T cells are expanded and multiplied to reach a substantial quantity, 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 CAR-T cells. Once the CAR-T cells are ready and the patient is adequately prepared, the modified cells are infused back into the patient’s bloodstream. The CARs on the surface of these engineered T-cells enable them to identify and destroy cancer cells effectively. Importantly, the CAR-T cells can persist in the body for an extended period, providing ongoing surveillance against potential cancer recurrence.