Tisagenlecleucel Therapy: Nursing Considerations for the Outpatient Setting

Area of Science:

• Oncology Nursing
• Cellular Therapy
• Immunotherapy

Background:

• Tisagenlecleucel is a CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapy for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
• Outpatient management of CAR-T cell therapy, including tisagenlecleucel, presents complex challenges for patient safety and care coordination.
• Nurses and nurse practitioners are essential for successful patient management throughout the CAR-T cell therapy process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide guidance on the essential role of nurses in the outpatient administration and post-infusion care of tisagenlecleucel for adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
• To highlight the institutional processes and perspectives of oncology and apheresis nurses involved in the tisagenlecleucel patient experience.

Main Methods:

• The manuscript draws upon the experiences of oncology and apheresis nurses at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
• Discussion of institutional processes and perspectives related to outpatient tisagenlecleucel therapy and patient care.

Main Results:

• Nurses are vital for successful patient management in tisagenlecleucel therapy.
• Thorough education in therapy and adverse event management is critical for nurses.
• Effective communication among the multidisciplinary team, manufacturer, and patients/families is paramount.

Conclusions:

• The establishment of a nurse cellular therapy coordinator facilitated effective communication and management.
• An encompassing approach to patient management is particularly necessary for outpatient CAR-T cell therapies like tisagenlecleucel.