Parameswaran Hari, MD, MRCP, MS of the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) described the changes he has seen in the field of hematologic oncology over the past 20 years with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He stated that the singular advancement which has captured the imagination of so many is chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell technology.

The Stage II clinical trial of (JULIET) included the use of CD19-directed CAR T-cells in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. The clinical trial reported outcomes of a 52% overall response rate, including 40% achieving a complete remission at 3 months among the 93 patients who received the CAR T-cell infusion. It is because of these successful measures of the JULIET trial which led to the approval of this agent by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Unfortunately, cost of treatment, insurance barriers, limited points of care, and production challenges pose major challenges to the advancement of CAR-T. However, various companies, institutions, and innovators in the CAR T-cell field have given Dr. Hari hope as he believes these challenges will soon be overcome.