Bridging the Gap Between Bone Marrow Transplantation and CAR-T Cell Therapy in Hematological Cancers

Bone marrow transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy have become two important treatment modalities for hematological malignancies, each having different mechanisms of action and therapeutic roles. This chapter focuses on the chronological development and obstacles of bone marrow transplantation, the paradigm-shifting impact of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, and further integrative approaches. The complementary roles of these modalities are emphasized given their optimal timing, selection of patients, and the development of novel strategies to improve therapeutic outcomes. Challenges such as cytokine release syndrome, graft-versus-host disease, and immune suppression are critically scrutinized. The future perspectives highlight the development of synergistic approaches, refining patient-centered treatments, and addressing long-term quality-of-life concerns. It is with this aim that the discussion below might help bridge these modalities through interdisciplinary efforts toward more effective, personalized, and sustainable treatments for cancer.