CAR T-Cell Therapy Studied for Hairy Cell Leukemia
Researchers are testing a new immune-based treatment for patients whose hairy cell leukemia has returned after standard care.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Cancer
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Researchers at the National Institutes of Health are investigating CAR T-cell therapy as a potential treatment for relapsed hairy cell leukemia. One patient treated with the experimental therapy has remained free of detectable leukemia for over two and a half years.
Why it matters
This research aims to provide longer-lasting remissions for patients whose disease returns after standard therapies. By using a patient's own modified immune cells to target the CD22 protein, scientists hope to avoid the risks associated with donor-cell treatments.
In early research at the National Institutes of Health, one patient treated with CD22-targeting CAR T-cell therapy has remained free of detectable leukemia for over two and a half years. The long-term safety and broader efficacy of this approach in patients who relapse after standard treatments remain under investigation.
The players
National Institutes of Health
The primary federal agency for medical research in the United States, overseeing clinical investigations into novel cancer therapies.
The details
CAR T-cell therapy functions by collecting a patient's own T cells and genetically engineering them to recognize and bind to the CD22 protein, which is strongly expressed on hairy cell leukemia cells. Once returned to the patient, these modified cells identify and destroy the malignant leukemia cells. This approach avoids the risks of graft-versus-host disease because it does not require donor cells, though patients with high leukemia cell counts may face significant inflammatory toxicities.
Timeline
Over 2.5 years: Patient has remained leukemia-free following CAR T-cell therapy.
25 years ago: Patient received the earlier treatment BL22 and remains disease-free.
Health Landscape
This study sits within a broader effort at the National Institutes of Health to expand the scope of cell-based immunotherapies for hematologic malignancies. It marks a transition from historical treatments like BL22 toward more precise, personalized approaches in the cancer care pipeline.
This research is currently in the investigative stage and is not a standard treatment option for most patients. If you or a loved one are managing relapsed hairy cell leukemia, it is worth discussing the status of new clinical trials and emerging options with your oncologist.
The takeaway
CAR T-cell therapy is an emerging approach that uses a patient's own immune system to target cancer cells expressing CD22. Patients interested in the latest treatment developments should maintain regular communication with their oncology team regarding new clinical trial opportunities.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research and standard treatment approaches at the Cancer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Curetoday.
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