Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 7, 2025
![Dynamic Imaging of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells with [18F]Tetrafluoroborate Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F62334.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
09:34
Dynamic Imaging of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells with [18F]Tetrafluoroborate Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography
Published on: February 17, 2022
3.5K
Imaging Primer on Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Radiologists
Patricia M de Groot1, Octavio Arevalo1, Komal Shah1
1From the Departments of Thoracic Imaging (P.M.d.G., C.D.S., G.S.S., J.A., M.T.T., I.V.), Neuroradiology (O.A., K.S.), and Neuro-oncology (J.F.d.G.), University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 1478, Houston, TX 77030.
Summary
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy offers a breakthrough in treating B-cell lymphomas and leukemia, with high remission rates. Understanding CAR T-cell therapy
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cellular Therapy
Background:
- Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a significant advancement in treating relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas and acute lymphoid leukemia.
- This cellular immunotherapy enhances T cells to target and eradicate malignancies by activating the immune system.
- The CAR construct, a synthetic receptor, is engineered onto patient T cells to recognize specific tumor antigens, initiating an anti-tumor immune response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the treatment paradigm, advantages, and toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy.
- To emphasize the importance of understanding the timeline of therapeutic response and adverse events for optimal patient management.
- To highlight the role of imaging in identifying and interpreting therapy-related toxicities.
Main Methods:
- Review of CAR T-cell therapy principles, including construct design and mechanism of action.
- Analysis of clinical outcomes, such as remission rates and response times.
- Discussion of common and severe adverse events, including cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity.
- Examination of the radiological manifestations of CAR T-cell therapy toxicities.
- Consideration of future directions in CAR T-cell therapy research and application.
Main Results:
- CAR T-cell therapy demonstrates high efficacy, with remission rates exceeding 80% in eligible patient populations.
- Therapeutic responses are rapid, occurring within a 2-3 week treatment episode, and can lead to durable disease elimination.
- Significant toxic effects, including cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, occur in a substantial percentage of patients.
Conclusions:
- CAR T-cell therapy is a transformative treatment for specific hematologic malignancies, offering rapid and durable responses.
- Vigilant monitoring for and understanding of treatment-related toxicities, including radiologically evident and clinically occult events, are crucial for patient safety.
- Continued research into expanded indications, novel targets, and advanced imaging techniques will further refine CAR T-cell therapy.
