CAR T: HOPE FOR CANCER PATIENTS WORLDWIDE

The key difference between CD19 CAR-T therapy and BCMA CAR-T therapy lies in the type of cancer they target and the specific antigen they focus on.

CD19 CAR-T Therapy

Target: CD19, a protein found on the surface of B-cell malignancies.
Used for:

  • Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) (especially B-cell ALL)
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
  • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) (including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma – DLBCL)

How it Works: Genetically modified T cells attack CD19-expressing cancerous B cells, leading to tumor destruction. CD19 CAR-T therapy has been highly effective, particularly in cases of relapsed or refractory B-cell cancers, achieving high remission rates in children and adults.

BCMA CAR-T Therapy

Target: BCMA (B-Cell Maturation Antigen), a protein found on plasma cells.
Used for:

  • Multiple Myeloma (MM) (a blood cancer affecting plasma cells)

How it Works: BCMA CAR-T therapy specifically targets and destroys malignant plasma cells while sparing other immune cells. BCMA-targeted therapies have shown remarkable success in multiple myeloma patients, even those who have undergone multiple previous treatments.

Key Differences

Feature CD19 CAR-T Therapy BCMA CAR-T Therapy
Target Antigen CD19 (B-cell cancers) BCMA (plasma cell cancers)
Main Use Leukemia & Lymphoma Multiple Myeloma
Common Approved Therapies Kymriah, Yescarta, Breyanzi Abecma, Carvykti
Efficacy High remission rates in leukemia & lymphoma Effective for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Both therapies represent groundbreaking advancements in personalized cancer treatment, offering hope to patients with difficult-to-treat blood cancers.