How do you explain the concept of CAR-T therapy and why it may work to patients with autoimmune disease who are interested in pursuing a clinical trial?

In full transparency, I have not personally obtained informed consent from a patient immediately before CAR-T or a related cellular therapy. My center has a highly active immune therapeutics program, however, and I have spoken and written extensively about this area. I also serve on our health syste...

When explaining CAR-T therapy, I would first clarify that there are two broad approaches. Autologous CAR-T uses the patient’s own T cells. These cells are collected by leukapheresis, genetically modified to recognize a selected immune-cell target—often CD19 on B cells—expanded, and infused back into...

CAR-T therapy is a treatment designed to give part of your immune system a fresh start.

In lupus, B cells contribute to the immune system mistakenly attacking your own tissues. CAR-T therapy tries to remove these B cells very deeply so that the immune system can rebuild in a healthier way.

We collec...