Preparations Before Myeloma CAR-T Therapy: Dual Evaluation of Physical Condition and Disease Status to Ensure Smooth Treatment
Preparations Before Myeloma CAR-T Therapy: Dual Evaluation of Physical Condition and Disease Status to Ensure Smooth Treatment
Dear readers, if you or someone around you is about to undergo CAR-T cell therapy, it is crucial to be well-prepared before the treatment. Every step, from physical condition to disease assessment, is critical for the treatment’s effectiveness and the patient’s safety. In the following section, we will provide a detailed introduction to the various preparations required before undergoing CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma, helping you better understand and cope with the pre-treatment requirements. Let’s get fully prepared for the upcoming journey to recovery!
Myeloma CAR-T
Planning to receive CAR-T therapy? Don’t rush, let’s first look at what preparations you need to make!
Physical Condition Preparation
Fitness assessment: You must have sufficient physical fitness, with a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score of 50 or above, or an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of 2 or below.
Organ examination: Your heart, lungs, and liver must be in good health, especially with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50% or above. Additionally, your alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, as well as total bilirubin, should be within normal ranges.
Blood oxygen testing: Your blood oxygen saturation must be maintained at 92% or above in room air.
Infection screening: You cannot have any active infections.
Life expectancy: The doctor must also assess your expected lifespan, which should exceed 12 weeks.
Special circumstances: If you are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman, have plans for pregnancy within the next six months, or have infectious diseases, you may not be suitable for this treatment.
Disease Assessment
Myeloma evaluation: The doctor must assess your myeloma condition, including tumor burden, clinical staging, extramedullary disease, and organ involvement.
Antigen expression assessment: Although B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is expressed on most plasma cells, late-stage relapsed or BCMA-treated patients may experience BCMA antigen loss. Therefore, the expression of BCMA and other targets must also be evaluated.
All these preparations are essential to ensure the smooth progress and better effectiveness of the CAR-T therapy. So, everyone must take them seriously!