Car-T Therapy Frequently Asked Questions

A type of immunotherapy, CAR-T therapy galvanizes the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It uses genetically engineered immune T cells to recognize specific proteins on tumor cells. Some of a patient’s white blood cells are extracted, modified, and replicated so that they recognize and attack cancer cells. View an infographic that explains CAR-T therapy here.

CAR-T therapy is offered to adult patients who have been diagnosed with either relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or acute lymphocytic leukemia, and who have failed two or more types of therapy as another treatment option. CAR-T clinical trials may be available for other hematologic malignancies or solid tumors, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, pancreatic cancer, and others.

To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two forms of CAR-T cell therapy for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or acute lymphocytic leukemia. Texas Oncology–Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center is conducting multiple clinical trials to test CAR-T therapies for several types of cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, pancreatic cancer, and others, through a collaboration with Baylor University Medical Center.

Texas Oncology–Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center is conducting multiple clinical trials to test CAR-T therapies for several types of cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, pancreatic cancer, and others, through a collaboration with Baylor University Medical Center.

Yes, in some cases, patients could receive initial consultations and assistance with managing aspects of follow-up care via telemedicine. While this may provide added convenience for out-of-town patients, patients will need to travel to Dallas for treatment.

Texas Oncology offers CAR-T therapy at two Dallas area locations, including Texas Oncology–Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Texas Oncology–Medical City Dallas, through collaborations with Baylor University Medical Center and Medical City Dallas Hospital.

Patients who are eligible for CAR-T treatment and who live outside the Dallas area may be able to access CAR-T treatment experts via telemedicine, in conjunction with a local Texas Oncology physician in the patient’s community.

Texas Oncology, in collaboration with Baylor University Medical Center and Medical City Dallas Hospital, is one of a select group of sites nationally that has been certified to provide this leading-edge treatment.

A multidisciplinary selection committee guides the process for determining eligible patients for this new therapy, which takes into consideration clinical testing based on past clinical trial criteria and FDA guidelines. Patients interested in a CAR-T therapy clinical trial should contact Texas Oncology–Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at 214-370-1999.

Texas Oncology participates in most health insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and selected Health Insurance Marketplace plans. Not all plans are available at all of our cancer centers, so it's important to call your insurance company to confirm if your plan is available at Texas Oncology centers in your area. Regarding CAR-T therapy, health insurers are preparing their coverage policies for the FDA-approved CAR-T therapies. In the meantime, coverage is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as is typical when new therapies are first approved. Our patient benefits representatives can help verify coverage for clinically-eligible patients.

Patients interested in CAR-T therapy should contact:

• Texas Oncology-Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at 214-370-1999, or
• Texas Oncology-Medical City Dallas Blood and Marrow Transplant at 972-566-8141 (Chris Nelson, BSN, RN - CAR-T Coordinator).