CAR T-Cell Therapy at the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy uses a person's own T cells to find and kill cancer cells.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center was one of the first centers in the U.S. to offer CAR T-cell immunotherapy.

UPMC also tests new forms of this cutting-edge cancer treatment through clinical trials.

To learn if a CAR-T cell clinical trial is right for you, call 1-833-876-2227.

What Is CAR T-Cell Therapy?

A T cell is a type of white blood cell that fights infection and disease. When a T cell sees a threat — like a virus-infected cell — it kills that cell to protect the body.

The goal of CAR T-cell therapy is to make T cells attack cancer cells instead of just infected cells.

First, doctors harvest a person's T cells and send them to a special lab. The lab genetically alters the cells to spot a certain protein in cancer cells. They then grow large numbers of the altered T cells.

After a few weeks in the lab, the CAR T cells will be ready for infusion.

Once the CAR T cells return to UPMC, our team puts them back into the person. The CAR T cells then attack and kill cancer cells as they were “trained."

Why Choose UPMC Hillman Cancer Center for CAR T-Cell Treatment?

CAR T-cell therapy is challenging to provide, so few hospitals can offer this potentially lifesaving treatment.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center:

• Is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. This means we're well-equipped to offer CAR T-cell therapy.
• Offers the highest level of blood cancer care to people from western Pa. and beyond.
• Doctor-scientists conduct groundbreaking research into all types of cancer. In particular, our blood cancer research program is thriving and robust. Many clinical trials are underway, and many are recruiting new patients.

Contact Us About CAR T-Cell Clinical Trials

Physician Referrals

To refer a patient for evaluation for one of these clinical trials, please call 1-833-876-2227.

Patients

If you think you might be a candidate for one of these clinical trials, please call 1-833-876-2227.