CAR-T cell therapy: Transforming the landscape in the treatment of haematological malignancies

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy represents one of the most significant advances in cancer treatment of the 21st century. This revolutionary therapeutic modality, which utilizes the adoptive cellular immunity has made a paradigm shift in the outcome of relapsed/refractory haematological malignancies. Initiated as simple laboratory experiments, it has deve-loped into multiple FDA-approved products, making a strong impact on current haematological practice.
CAR-T therapy is available for regular use widely across the world, including some countries in Asia. India made history in 2023, when it approved its first locally manufactured CAR-T product, NexCAR19. Sri Lanka has yet to implement this potentially life-saving treatment.
This review discusses the mechanism of action, clinical applications, safety profile, and future directions of CAR-T therapy, with particular attention to its potential implementation in Sri Lankan healthcare settings.