[Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells for patients with hematologic malignancies]

The targeted and personalized cell and gene therapy with autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) transduced T‑cells (CAR T‑cells) has become established as the standard therapy for patients with B‑cell diseases, such as CD-19 positive leukemia and lymphomas and B‑cell maturation antigen (BCMA) positive multiple myeloma (MM). This therapy has been approved in Europe since 2018 and is administered in more than 50 clinics in Germany. With increasing experience and expertise in understanding of the principles of action and underlying mechanisms as well as mitigation of side effects have significantly improved. In the near future expansion of CAR T‑cell applications are to be expected, aimed at addressing further targets and therefore other disease entities. Currently, the indications have already expanded beyond hematology and oncology to rheumatology, neurology and other fields.