CPT® Code 38228

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a groundbreaking form of immunotherapy that utilizes the patient's own immune cells, specifically lymphocytic T-cells, to combat cancer. This innovative treatment involves a sophisticated process where T-cells are extracted from the patient's blood and genetically modified in a laboratory setting. The modification is achieved by introducing a disarmed virus that carries genetic material, which instructs the T-cells to produce chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. These CARs are crucial as they enable the T-cells to identify and bind to specific protein antigens present on the surface of cancer cells, thereby facilitating targeted destruction of these malignant cells. The procedure begins with the withdrawal of blood from the patient, which may take place over one or more days. Following this, the T-lymphocytes are isolated from the blood. In the laboratory, these T-lymphocytes undergo genetic engineering to express CARs, resulting in the creation of modified T-cells known as CAR-T cells. These engineered cells are then expanded and multiplied to reach a substantial quantity, often numbering in the hundreds of millions. Concurrently, the patient receives lymphocytic cell-depleting chemotherapy to prepare their immune system for the subsequent infusion of CAR-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 body. The CAR-T cells, equipped with their engineered receptors, actively seek out and destroy cancer cells, and they remain in the body for an extended period to help prevent cancer recurrence.