New Hope for Kids with Cancer

CHKD has received approval to provide CAR-T cell therapy, an exciting new type of immunotherapy for children with certain types of cancer. In this breakthrough treatment, the patient’s own immune cells, called T cells, are sent to a special lab where a protein called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is added. This protein is designed to help T cells find and attack hidden cancer cells. When the T cells are ready, they are infused back into the patient to begin their cancer-fighting work.

Kymriah, the CAR-T treatment used by CHKD, is currently approved for patients up to age 25 with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who did not respond to chemotherapy or whose leukemia has come back.

The foundations of cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, will continue to play a dominant role in most patients’ treatment plans. However, innovative new treatment options, like CAR-T therapy, are giving oncologists at CHKD powerful new weapons to offer hope to patients with difficult-to-treat and relapsed cancers.