CAR T therapy moves from cancer to autoimmune disease, leveraging oncology safety lessons

Cell therapy that transformed treatment of blood cancers is now being tested for autoimmune disorders, according to a recent opinion piece.

Early cancer trials showed high complete response rates but also severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS). In autoimmune studies, researchers have applied oncology experience to keep CRS manageable.

The new trials use lower doses of CAR T cells and incorporate aggressive early monitoring and rapid intervention, reducing toxicity without sacrificing efficacy.

If these approaches succeed, CAR T could broaden its impact beyond oncology, offering a novel option for patients with inflammatory diseases and opening new avenues for drug developers.