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Published on: October 18, 2011
Cognitive dysfunction associated with cellular immunotherapy for cancer
Anna G Hauswirth1, Michael W Parsons2, Jorg Dietrich1
1Department of Neurology, Division of Neuro-Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Neuro-Oncology Advances
|June 24, 2026
Summary
T-cell engaging immunotherapies like CAR-T cells show promise against cancer but can cause neurotoxicity. Acute cognitive effects are clearer, but long-term impacts of these cancer treatments require further study.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Immunotherapies, including T cell engagers (TCEs) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CAR-T), harness the immune system to combat hematologic and solid malignancies.
- While effective, these therapies can induce significant systemic and neurologic toxicities, notably cognitive dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current and emerging literature on the cognitive effects of T-cell engaging immunotherapies.
- To examine acute, subacute, and potential long-term cognitive outcomes associated with CAR-T cells and similar therapies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing and emerging research.
- Analysis of studies investigating neurotoxicity and cognitive outcomes following T-cell based immunotherapies.
Main Results:
- Acute cognitive effects, including immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), are increasingly understood.
- Data regarding long-term subjective and objective cognitive outcomes after T-cell immunotherapies remains mixed and requires further investigation.
Conclusions:
- T-cell engaging immunotherapies offer durable responses but necessitate careful monitoring for neurotoxicity.
- Additional research is crucial to fully understand and manage the long-term cognitive sequelae as these cancer therapies gain wider application.
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