Expanding Access to CAR T-Cell Therapy, Bispecific Antibodies: Swarup Kumar, MD

The treatment landscape for multiple myeloma has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, according to Swarup Kumar, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine at UConn Health’s Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, who leads its multiple myeloma and plasma cell disorders program. Kumar pointed to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and bispecific T-cell engagers as 2 of the most significant advances to reshape care for patients with this blood cancer.

UConn Health was among the early adopters of bispecific T-cell engager therapy, Kumar said, and the institution has since built a comprehensive framework to identify appropriate candidates, screen them, and provide education throughout their treatment journey. That support extends well beyond the clinic visit itself: some patients require supportive care services, and others need housing near the center while undergoing treatment. More recently, UConn Health developed an outpatient protocol for T-cell engager therapy, allowing patients to receive treatment in the clinic rather than being hospitalized for the duration of their treatment.

“This has certainly proved to be more transformative,” Kumar said, “and our experience certainly with clinical trials on these bispecific T-cell engagers has also opened a lot of avenues for a richer kind of experience in terms of managing toxicities related to these drugs.” CAR T-cell therapy is the next frontier for the program. Kumar said UConn Health is currently finalizing protocols and anticipates offering the treatment on site soon.

Across both therapies, Kumar emphasized that preparation is central to positive outcomes. Educating patients, anticipating adverse effects, intervening early with preventive therapies when needed, and maintaining an institutionalized framework for outpatient delivery have all translated into better care and improved responses for patients, he said. Because patients receiving these therapies can become seriously ill, Kumar stressed the importance of recognizing adverse events quickly and intervening appropriately to keep patients safe throughout their treatment journey.