CAR-T cell therapy for myeloma is a multi-step process that unfolds over several weeks. Here's a general timeline of what to expect:
- T cell collection (apheresis): Your immune cells are collected from your blood — this is usually a single session
- Lab engineering: Your T cells are genetically modified in a lab to Show Full Answer
CAR-T cell therapy for myeloma is a multi-step process that unfolds over several weeks. Here's a general timeline of what to expect:
- T cell collection (apheresis): Your immune cells are collected from your blood — this is usually a single session.
- Lab engineering: Your T cells are genetically modified in a lab to target myeloma cells. This can take up to 3 weeks.
- Lymphodepletion chemotherapy: Just before receiving your new T cells back, you'll have a short round of chemotherapy to make room for them.
- Infusion: The modified T cells are returned to your body through an IV infusion.
- Hospital stay: After the infusion, you'll likely stay in the hospital for several weeks so your care team can monitor you and manage any side effects.
- Post-discharge monitoring: Even after leaving the hospital, you may need to stay close to the treatment center for a month or more in case complications arise. All in all, from start to finish, the entire process can take 2 to 3 months or more. It's worth discussing the full timeline with your care team so you can plan accordingly — things like travel, support at home, and time off work are all worth thinking through ahead of time.
August 24
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