One of the most promising and recent breakthroughs in blood cancer treatment is CAR T-cell therapy. It’s a form of immunotherapy that turns your immune system into a smarter, stronger defense team. At Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center—which fuels Atrium Health Levine Cancer with innovation and research —this therapy is offered through the Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, where experts are helping patients tackle their cancer with renewed strength.
What is CAR T-cell therapy and how does it work?
Imagine your immune system as a football team. T-cells are your defensive players, trained to spot and tackle threats like viruses. But cancer is a tricky opponent. It disguises itself, dodges detection and slips past your immune defense.
CAR T-cell therapy, which is short for “chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy”, is like sending your T-cells to a high-tech training camp. Doctors collect these cells from your blood and reprogram them in a lab, equipping them with new and advanced playbook that help them recognize the cancer cells. Once infused back into your body, these upgraded players hit the field, targeting and destroying cancer with precision.
This approach is especially promising for blood cancers like multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and certain types of leukemia. For many patients, it offers hope when treatment options are limited.
Expanding access: outpatient CAR T-cell therapy
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center was the first in the Triad to offer CAR T‑cell therapy, but we didn’t stop there. We continued to expand access to this leading‑edge treatment, including providing CAR T‑cell therapy on an outpatient basis—making us the first in the Triad to offer it this way. Typically, CAR T-cell therapy requires spending days in the hospital but with an outpatient option, you can recover in your own space.
After the reprogrammed T-cells are infused, you’ll return regularly to the clinic for check-ins, lab work, and monitoring. The care team stays closely connected — ready to answer questions, manage any side effects, and ensure you’re recovering well.
Outpatient CAR T-cell therapy is best suited for patients who have the lowest risk of complications and have a strong support system at home to help manage their recovery and monitor for side effects.
Leading the way in research and comprehensive care
Beyond the clinic, Atrium Health Levine Cancer continues to shape the future of CAR T-cell therapy. Researchers are continuously exploring new and better ways to use this therapy in more cancer types. These efforts reflect a commitment not just to innovation, but to making advanced care more accessible and effective for those who need it most.
Learn more about CAR T-cell therapy at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and explore clinical trials underway at BeInvolved.AtriumHealth.org.