🚨 CAR-T Cell Therapy: Breakthrough Cancer Treatment Shows Minimal Risk of Secondary Cancers

Genetically engineered T cells have revolutionized blood cancer treatment, offering long-term remission for many patients. But recent FDA reports of 22 T cell malignancies raised concerns—could the therapy itself cause cancer? A new Nature Medicine study by Carl June (pioneer of CAR-T therapy) provides reassuring answers.

Key Findings:

✅ Extremely rare risk: Only 1 case of T cell malignancy found in 783 patients across 38 clinical trials (2001-2023).
🧬 No link to therapy: The single lymphoma case lacked the therapeutic gene, ruling out CAR-T as the cause.
💊 Chemo is the bigger culprit: Prior DNA-damaging treatments (not CAR-T) likely drive secondary cancers in survivors.

"Immortal time bias explains most cases—patients now live long enough for chemo side effects to manifest." — Carl June, Univ. of Pennsylvania

Why It Matters:

• CAR-T remains safer than feared, with overwhelming benefits for blood cancers.

• Research continues to make gene editing even safer (e.g., targeting "safe harbor" DNA sites).

• Opens doors for treating autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS) with engineered T cells.

#CancerResearch #Immunotherapy #CAR_T #MedicalBreakthrough #ScienceSavesLives

Reference

1. Verdun N, Marks P. N Engl J Med. 2024;390(7):584-586.
2. Jadlowsky JK, et al. Nat Med. 2025:1-11.