ABSTRACT
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy is an immunotherapy that involves genetically modifying the patient's own T cells to express a chimeric antigen receptor, enabling them to recognize and destroy cancer cells. This treatment has revolutionized the prognosis and management of hematological malignancies, leading to a significant increase in long-term survivors. However, there is limited evidence regarding late sequelae and post-treatment care due to the recent emergence of this therapy. The rapid advancement of CAR-T therapies has created opportunities for advanced practice nurses to play a crucial role in coordinating care, providing education, and ensuring the ongoing well-being of survivors. This article provides an overview of the physical, psychosocial, and financial challenges faced by long-term survivors of CAR-T therapy and proposes a comprehensive nursing care plan to address these issues.
ABSTRACT
La terapia celular CAR-T es una inmunoterapia personalizada de última generación. Se basa en la modificación genética de linfocitos T autólogos del paciente para expresar un antígeno quimérico que identifique a las células cancerosas y las destruya. El rápido progreso de nuevos tratamientos de inmunoterapia ha generado una oportunidad a las enfermeras para que aporten su experiencia y sus competencias para liderar y facilitar la coordinación, educación y continuidad de cuidados a los pacientes beneficiarios de estas terapias. La enfermera de práctica avanzada de hematología en terapia CAR-T (EPACAR-T) es esencial para garantizar la continuidad de cuidados y la seguridad en la atención a pacientes tratados con CAR-T. En el presente trabajo se describen las competencias de la EPACAR-T basadas en el marco conceptual de Hamric y se determinan sus funciones en las diferentes etapas del proceso (acogida y valoración, leucoaféresis, producción celular y terapia puente, tratamiento linfodeplectivo, infusión de linfocitos T modificados, seguimiento y vigilancia activa), con el objetivo principal de ofrecer un plan de cuidados centrados en la persona y coordinar la atención, colaboración y comunicación entre centros remitentes y proveedores y conseguir su manejo exitoso
The CAR T-cell therapy is a personalized last-generation immunotherapy. It consists in the genetic modification of the patient's autologous T-lymphocytes in order to express a chimeric antigen that will identify cancer cells and destroy them. The fast progress of new immunotherapy treatments has created an opportunity for nurses to provide their experience and skills to lead and ensure coordination, education, and continuity of care for patients who will benefit of said therapies. The Hematology Advanced Nurse Practitioner in CAR-T therapy is essential to ensure continuity and safety of care for patients treated with CAR-T. The present article describes the competencies of the Hematology Advanced Nurse Practitioner in CAR-T therapy based on the conceptual framework by Hamric, and determines their role in the different stages of the process (reception and assessment, leukapheresis, cell production and bridge therapy, lymphodepletion treatment, infusion of modified T-lymphocytes, follow-up and active monitoring), with the main objective to offer a plan of care focused on the patient, and coordinate the care, collaboration and communication between referring centers and providers, and achieve a successful management
