What does the pharmacist need to know?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46765/2675-374X.2025v7n1e334Keywords:
CAR-T therapy, Pharmacyst, Immunotherapy, Toxicity management, Patient safetyAbstract
Objective: To describe the main knowledge and skills required of pharmacists who work or wish to work in chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) cell therapy. Methods: This is a narrative literature review based on international guidelines, clinical trials, and recommendations from specialized societies in cellular therapy and oncology, focusing on pharmaceutical practice. Results: CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as a transformative treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies. Pharmacists play a critical role throughout the care continuum, including patient eligibility assessment, support during lymphodepletion regimens, and management of cellular product logistics, such as storage and traceability. Clinical pharmacists are also essential in the early recognition and management of adverse events, particularly cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, including the appropriate use of tocilizumab and corticosteroids. Additionally, medication reconciliation, drug interaction assessment, and education of healthcare teams and patients are key responsibilities. Conclusion: The involvement of pharmacists in CAR-T therapy is crucial to ensure patient safety and optimize clinical outcomes, requiring specialized training and strong integration within the multidisciplinary team.
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