Advances in CAR T Therapy for Hematologic Malignancies

The introduction of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy has resulted in a paradigm shift in the management of relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who had exhausted all meaningful treatment options now have an opportunity for long-term remission and possibly cure. CAR T is rapidly expanding into the treatment paradigm for multiple myeloma with approvals expected in the near future. CAR T for chronic lymphocytic leukemia may not be far behind, while CAR T studies in Hodgkin lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia are ongoing. Such therapeutic success brings challenges in toxicity management related to cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Our understanding of these unique syndromes is evolving, with predictive models and additional treatment strategies on the horizon. This review aims to summarize the progress of CAR T therapeutics within malignant hematology thus far and highlight ongoing advances in the field.