Learn more about CAR T and the SWECARNET initiative
CAR-T-cell therapy is a new type of immunotherapy that has revolutionized cancer care. In simple terms, the treatment involves reprogramming the immune system's T cells (white blood cells) so that they can more effectively identify and destroy tumor cells. SWECARNET works for solving challenges around the implementation of these therapies in Sweden.
What is CAR-T-cell therapy?
CAR T stands for chimeric antigen receptor T. CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy called effector cell therapy or engineered cell therapy. Immunotherapy is still relatively new, but it shows promise for adults and children for whom other treatments have stopped working.
T-cells are the central components of the immune system. In CAR T-cell therapy, T-cells are collected from the patient’s blood. Then, in a laboratory, specialists modify the T-cells so they can recognize and attack certain blood cancers.
The modified cells are then returned to the patient’s body. If the treatment is successful, the newly modified T-cells will help a person’s immune system kill off cancer cells, sending the disease into remission.
More about ATMP at Karolinska Institutet
The Karolinska ATMP Center is a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital that aims to consolidate all activities in advanced therapeutics (ATMP) at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital to strengthen the development and implementation of cell, gene and tissue therapies.
Filmed introductions of SWECARNET and CAR T
Who is SWECARNET? Implementing CAR T in Sweden
(2020) Stephan Mielke talks about the activities of SWECARNET, Sweden’s National cancer network towards driving solutions for implementation of CAR T immunotherapy treatments for cancer in Sweden and future challenges.
Stephan Mielke explains the progression of cancer treatments and the progress made in the 20 years since discovery of 'T bodies' in Israel to the gene/cell therapy product CAR T. Why was Sweden so early to develop a CAR T, invented the third generation CAR T and treating the first patient in Sweden in 2014, and yet is falling behind in bringing CAR Ts to standard of care?
Jobba på CAST - möt kollegorna från Stamcellstransplantation på Karolinska
(Work at CAST - meet your colleagues from Stem Cell Transplantation at Karolinska)
(2021, in Swedish) From KUH/CAST doctors, nurses and nurses assistants on the patient experience of having life threatening disease and through CAST receiving possibly life saving treatments. Further, how it is to work in such a treatment environment, being a physchologist, friend and decision maker, combining resources and strategies, novel and standard, in high competence teamwork for the best of the patients.
SWECARNET - för införande av CAR T i Sverige
(SWECARNET - towards implementation of CAR T in Sweden)
(2020, in Swedish) Watch the Swedish video for introduction to CAR-T development and implementation in Sweden and then interviews Sweden’s first 2nd generation CAR T patient and Gunilla Enblad, the first physician in Europe to treat a patient with CAR T in a clinical trial, a medicine produced at Karolinska’s Vecura under the leadership of Pontus Blomberg. Hear the patient perspectives on the implementation and use of CAR T and discussion between Stephan and Gunilla on the challenges of CAR T implementation and where energy and attention must be invested.
Hur skapar vi en gemensam målsättning för CAR T i Sverige?
(How do we create a common goal for CAR T in Sweden?)
Seminar/panel discussion (2020, in Swedish): Patients who currently have few or no options are waiting for innovative cell and gene therapy treatments. What do we need to save lives?
Organizer: Swedish Competence Network for CAR T-cells - SWECARNET